Surgical Technology (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Surgical Technology
Program Code: 1651
About This Major . . .
The Associates of Applied Science in Surgical Technology Program is designed to cover both the academic and clinical skills necessary to perform as a surgical technologist. The program begins fall semester of each year. Prerequisite courses, including Essential Learning courses, are completed in year one prior to admission to the professional portion (year two) of the program. The application process occurs in the second semester of the first year. Once accepted to the program, the second year prepares students to work as surgical technologists and assist in surgical operations.
Surgical technologists work as members of a healthcare team alongside surgeons, registered nurses, and other health care workers. They prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors during surgeries. Students are prepared to work in a variety of surgical settings. A surgical technologist’s responsibilities include preparing patients for surgery, washing and disinfecting incision sites, positioning patients on the operating table, covering patients with sterile drapes, and transporting patients to and from the operating room. Surgical technologists prepare sterile solutions and medications used in surgery and check that all surgical equipment is working properly. They help the surgical team put on sterile gowns and gloves. During operations, surgical technologists pass instruments and supplies to surgeons and first assistants. They hold retractors and may hold internal organs in place during procedures. Surgical technologists may handle specimens taken for laboratory analysis. Surgical technologists who take and pass the certifying examination offered by the NBSTSA (National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting) are certified and authorized to use the initials CST to designate their status as Certified Surgical Technologists.
For more information, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Describe the scope and breadth of surgical technology and related skills using evidence-based resources. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning, Critical Thinking)
- Calculate therapeutic interventions for selected patient populations. (Quantitative Fluency)
- Summarize discipline-specific case presentations to professionals and peers. (Communication Fluency)
- Interpret administrative and clinical policies to advocate for patient safety during surgical procedures. (Personal and Social Responsibility)
- Translate discipline-specific concepts into clinical surgical practice. (Information Literacy)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this program:
- 66 semester hours total for the AAS, Surgical Technology.
Essential Learning Requirements
(16 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 113 | College Algebra-GTMA1 | 4 |
| Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
| PSYC 150 | General Psychology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
Other Lower Division Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one KINA Activity course | 1 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
Foundation Courses
(12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 209 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 209L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 210L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 241 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 12 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(36 semester hours, must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in coursework in this area.)
- Surgical Technology (SUTE) courses must be completed in sequence and may only be taken after acceptance into the program.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SUTE 200 | Medical Terminology in Surgical Technology | 2 |
| SUTE 202 | Fundamentals in Surgical Technology | 4 |
| SUTE 202L | Fundamentals in Surgical Technology Laboratory | 3 |
| SUTE 206 | Pharmacology for Surgical Technology | 3 |
| SUTE 210 | Safety and Equipment | 3 |
| SUTE 212 | Surgical Procedures I | 4 |
| SUTE 212L | Surgical Procedures I Laboratory | 3 |
| SUTE 218 | Specialty Surgical Procedures | 4 |
| SUTE 220 | Surgical Clinical I | 3 |
| SUTE 230 | Surgical Clinical II | 3 |
| SUTE 240 | Surgical Clinical III | 4 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 36 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| MATH 113 | College Algebra-GTMA1 | 4 |
| BIOL 209 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 209L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 1 |
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| BIOL 210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 210L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 241 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
| PSYC 150 | General Psychology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| Select one KINA Activity course | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SUTE 200 | Medical Terminology in Surgical Technology | 2 |
| SUTE 202 | Fundamentals in Surgical Technology | 4 |
| SUTE 202L | Fundamentals in Surgical Technology Laboratory | 3 |
| SUTE 206 | Pharmacology for Surgical Technology | 3 |
| SUTE 210 | Safety and Equipment | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SUTE 212 | Surgical Procedures I | 4 |
| SUTE 212L | Surgical Procedures I Laboratory | 3 |
| SUTE 218 | Specialty Surgical Procedures | 4 |
| SUTE 220 | Surgical Clinical I | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SUTE 230 | Surgical Clinical II | 3 |
| SUTE 240 | Surgical Clinical III | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 66 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.