Overview
The Surgical Technology program focuses on the scrub role during general and specialty surgical procedures. The surgical technologist provides patient care before, during, and after surgery. Responsibilities include preparing operative equipment and supplies, providing instrumentation during operative procedures, and other intra-operative patient care activities. Surgical technologists also share circulating tasks (responsibilities that may require patient interaction) with nurses.
Students develop skills through integrated theory and practice in the classroom and simulated laboratory practice, and through clinical experiences in hospital and/or ambulatory surgery operating rooms.
Accreditation
The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), 6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 110, Littleton, CO, 80120-8031. Websites: www.caahep.org | www.arcstsa.org.
Credentialing: Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and are prepared to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification examination for designation as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
Program Outcomes: The pass rate for the Certified Surgical Technology exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) for May 2023 graduates was 89%.
Contacts
Program Chair
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Demonstrate competencies in entry-level surgical skills
- Serve in the scrub or assistant circulator role on the surgical team
- Serve in the private scrub role for surgeons
- Serve as central service manager
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Surgical Technologist
Graduate Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technology employment opportunities are expected to increase by 30% through 2022 (much faster than average).
$41,790 annually
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Program Chair
Curriculum
Progression
Learn about the Health & Public Safety Selective Admission (Progression) process and the TEAS test
Review the Progression Process Overview (PDF below) and then ask the Program Chair or Advisor for the Progression Packet
Effective 2023-2024 academic year
Surgical Technology (ST)
Program prerequisites: Students seeking admission to the Surgical Technology program must complete specific requirements. After completing Semester 1 of Year 1, students should apply for selective enrollment into the Surgical Technology program. Year 2 courses will begin in Fall Semester. Students should meet with their academic advisor to discuss eligibility and deadlines for selective enrollment.
| First Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
| BIO 151 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 ( B) | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| MAT 105 | Quantitative Reasoning ( G) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| ST 100 | Introduction to Surgical Technology ( T) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| After completing Year 1, Semester 1 courses, apply for Selective Enrollment into the ST program. | ||||
| Second Year | ||||
| Semester 1 | ||||
| BIO 152 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 ( B) | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| BIO 220 | Microbiology ( G) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ST 101 | Surgical Foundations and Procedures 1 ( T) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| ST 111 | Surgical Principles and Practice 1 ( B) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| MCH 101 | Medical Terminology 1 ( B) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| ST 102 | Surgical Foundations and Procedures 2 ( T) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| ST 112 | Surgical Principles and Practice 2 ( B) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| ST 181 | Surgical Technology Clinical Skills Application 1 ( T) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| COMM 105 | Interpersonal Communication ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ST 201 | Advanced Surgical Procedures 1 ( T) | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| ST 182 | Surgical Technology Clinical Skills Application 2 ( T) | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Third Year | ||||
| Semester 1 | ||||
| ENG 105 | English Composition 2: Business Communication ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ST 202 | Advanced Surgical Procedures 2 ( T) | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| ST 281 | Surgical Technology Clinical Directed Practice 1 ( T) | 1 | 24 | 5 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| ST 282 | Surgical Technology Clinical Directed Practice 2 ( T) | 1 | 24 | 5 |
| Total Credits: | 48 | 72 | 65 | |
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| FYE 120 | College Success Strategies: Campus Integration | 4 |
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.