The Program of Surgical Technology is a full-time, 10 month accredited program which begins each fall. The design of the curriculum is based on guidelines provided by the Association of Surgical Technologists, Inc.

The program is divided into four 10 week terms. Students are required to attend full-time, 4 days a week. Typically, the classroom hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the clinical hours are from 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 p.m. Refer to the academic calendar for scheduled holidays and vacations.

Term I is dedicated to preparing the student for entrance into the operating room. Students study anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of asepsis and surgical technology, patient care and safety, and medical terminology. Ample time is dedicated to skill practice in the classroom laboratory before students begin their clinical experience in the second term.

During Term II, students build upon previous courses by studying more complex components of anatomy and physiology. Specific surgical procedures are introduced in this term with emphasis on surgical interventions for the Surgical Technologist. Surgical pharmacology, another component of this term, helps the student correlate the dynamics of pharmacology and anesthesia to the care of the patient during surgery. The clinical laboratory component gives the student the necessary experience to function as a surgical team member in surgeries that are minimally complex.

Term III provides students with the opportunity to study surgical procedures that are moderately complex. Students devote additional hours in the clinical setting to practice corresponding skills. Classroom time is allotted for the study of personal and professional growth to prepare students for joining the work force.

The final phase of the program, Term IV, allows students to study increasingly complex surgical procedures in the classroom and clinical environment. Students are introduced to the advanced practice roles of circulating and first assisting. They also discuss cultural, ethical, legal and moral issues in the classroom as they relate to clinical practice.

During the program, students acquire experience in various clinical areas and several surgical specialties. Central sterile supply, endoscopy, urology and the delivery room are some of the environments used for clinical experience. General surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology, peripheral vascular surgery and neurosurgery are some examples of surgical specialties which provide students with clinical experience in an operating room and a one-day surgery center.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists offered by the Liaison Council on Certification.