Surgical Technology, A.A.S.
Entry Time
Spring (Cedar Rapids site)
Fall (Distance Education)
Award
Associate of Applied Science degree
2 years (4 terms)
Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings. The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. A surgical technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
This Allied Health program has a mandatory background check for clinical purposes.
Accreditation
The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Association of Surgical Technologies (AST) based on the recommendations of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). ST graduates will apply to take the Certified Surgical Technologist test. Certification is strongly recommended, and occasionally required, for employment. The Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA) can be contacted at:
19751 E. Main Street, Suite 339
Parker, CO 80138
303-694-9262
http://www.arcstsa.org
CAAHEP
9355-113th Street N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Career Opportunities
- hospital operating rooms
- ambulatory surgery centers
- hospital labor and delivery
- hospital central supply/sterile processing
- sales representative
- teaching
- advancement to management positions possible with experience and education
This curriculum is for the Cedar Rapids-based program or the spring start. Curriculum for the Distance Education program, or fall start, is slightly different. Contact Allied Health for information.
Degree Requirements
| Prerequisites | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HSC-115 | Medical Terminology 1,4 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 1,4 | 3 | |
| Basic Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Human Anatomy Physiology I and Human Anatomy Physiology II | ||
| SUR-108 | Intro to Surgical Technology 1,4 | 2 |
| Term Totals: | 9 | |
| Term 1 | ||
| ENG-105 | Composition I 2,4 | 3 |
| REL-101 | Survey of World Religions 2,4 | 3 |
| PSY-111 | Intro to Psychology 2,4 | 3 |
| SPC-101 | Fundamentals of Oral Comm 2,4 | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 12 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| SUR-230 | Fundamentals of Surgical Tech 4 | 4 |
| SUR-232 | Fundamentals of Surgl Tech Lab 4 | 3 |
| SUR-235 | Sciences of Surgical Tech 4 | 3 |
| SUR-342 | Surgical Specialties I 4 | 6 |
| Term Totals: | 16 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| SUR-343 | Surgical Specialties II 4 | 6 |
| SUR-336 | Surgical Specialties Lab 4 | 2 |
| HSC-107 | Professionals in Health 4,5 | 2 |
| Term Totals: | 10 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| SUR-344 | Surgical Specialties III 4,5 | 6 |
| SUR-500 | Surgical Technology Clinic I 3,4,5 | 3 |
| SUR-502 | Surgical Technology Clinic II 3,4 | 8 |
| Term Totals: | 17 | |
| Program Totals: | 64 | |
- 1
Course must be completed meeting minimum grade requirement for admission to technical program.
- 2
Courses may be taken before beginning the program.
- 3
Indicates a course which involves off-campus clinical experience.
- 4
Students must receive a B in all Surgical Technology courses.
- 5
Distance Education students should take HSC-107 in term 4; SUR-344 and SUR-500 should be taken in term 3.
Surgical Technology graduates will apply and take the Certified Surgical Technologist exam.
Optional Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC-103 | Studies in Health Sciences | 1-3 |
| SUR-924 | Honors Project | 1 |