Surgical Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS)
Not all programs are offered for completion at each campus or through Berkeley College Online®. Please review the academic program pages (https://berkeleycollege.edu/academics/index.html) for information on where each program is offered. Additionally, all students may be required to take some courses at another campus or online. The Internship courses are only offered online.
Course Requirements
MAJOR CORE COURSES
HEA2200 Medical Terminology
3 Credits
Provides a solid foundation and understanding of the medical language used by healthcare professionals through the introduction, reinforcement, and combination of medical word parts including prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. Emphasis is placed on word building, analysis of word parts, spelling, special endings, plural forms, correct pronunciation of terminology related to procedures, and diseases of the various body systems. Commonly used abbreviations and symbols will also be introduced.
HEA2203 Ethical and Legal Aspects of Health Services
3 Credits
An introduction to the principles of law as applied to the healthcare field. Students learn ethical standards and issues as related to healthcare.
SUR1100 Fundamentals of Surgical Technology
6 Credits
Students are introduced to the role and responsibilities of the surgical technologist, the healthcare team, and the clinical environment. Topics include environment and workplace safety, patient care and safety, age-extreme patients, and patients with special needs. Students learn the basic techniques for scrubbing, gowning, and gloving. An on-campus operating room laboratory provides students with such hands-on experience as vital signs, patient transporting, and positioning.
SUR2112 Surgical Techniques
6 Credits
Provides an in-depth study of the principles of aseptic techniques. Topics include wound healing, specimen care, safe use of surgical equipment, surgical counts, and prepping and draping the patient. Various types of sutures, needles, stapling devices, sponges, dressings, packings, drains, and catheters are presented. Students are introduced to robotics, physics, and electricity. Focuses on diagnostic procedures as well as general, genitourinary, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecological, ear, nose, and throat surgical procedures. Emphasis is placed on developing an effective operative routine as students set up for mock surgical procedures and role play the members of the perioperative team.
Prerequisite: SUR1100
SUR2120 Surgical Specialty Intervention Procedures
3 Credits
Focuses on the following surgical specialties: ophthalmology, plastic, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, peripheral vascular, cardiovascular, organ and tissue recovery, and pediatric surgery.
Prerequisite: SUR2112
Corequisite: SUR2280
SUR2251 Pharmacology and Anesthesiology
2 Credits
The rationale for use of specific drugs, their therapeutic effects, major side effects on the surgical patient, and how these drugs may alter or influence surgical intervention are defined. Emphasis is on the role and responsibilities of the surgical technologist regarding pharmaceuticals in the operating room.
Prerequisite: SUR2112
SUR2280 Operating Room Clinical Practicum I
5 Credits
Students apply the didactic and laboratory skills learned throughout the program to the clinical setting, gain clinical work experience in surgical procedures and operating room practices, and scrub on surgical cases in various surgical specialties. Students also participate in focused discussions and special projects.
Prerequisites: SUR2112, SCI2100, SCI2110, Basic Cardiac Life Support/Automated External Defibrillation Certification
Corequisite: SUR2120
SUR2290 Operating Room Clinical Practicum II
5 Credits
Continuation of clinical work experience in surgical procedures and operating room practices. Students also participate in focused discussions and special projects.
Prerequisites: SUR2280, SUR2251, Basic Cardiac Life Support/Automated External Defibrillation Certification
Corequisite: SUR2292
SUR2292 Surgical Technology Capstone
4 Credits
Designed to elicit reflection and application to the whole of the Surgical Technology program. The course requires the student to apply the knowledge, skills, and techniques attained throughout the Surgical Technology program. The capstone course provides an opportunity for the assessment of surgical technologist critical thinking skills and teamwork skills through case studies that present experiences often encountered in the surgical technologist’s workplace. The course reinforces the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to sit for the national credentialing exam; and stresses entry-level job requirements and upward career paths, resume writing skills, interviewing techniques, and networking.
Prerequisite: SUR2280
Corequisite: SUR2290
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE CORE COURSES
ENG1105 Writing and Research
3 Credits
An introduction to expository writing through a comprehensive survey of forms of composition. Students are taught to use words with precision and strengthen their understanding and application of grammatical and rhetorical principles. Students are encouraged to appreciate and incorporate the principles of academic and professional writing.
ENG2205 Writing Through Literature
3 Credits
Further develops the writing, reading, and interpretive abilities introduced in ENG1105 through critical engagement with literary texts from a myriad of genres.
Prerequisite: ENG1105
SCI1100 Anatomy and Physiology I
3 Credits
Study of the structure, function, and pathology (disease) of the human body. Students are introduced to various body systems including the musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, and integumentary, as well as the special senses.
SCI1110 Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I
1 Credit
An introduction to the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology as explored through laboratory sessions. Laboratory activities coincide with lectures to enhance understanding of each topic by providing visual and hands-on experiments for the concepts learned in the lecture. Laboratory sessions include microscopy, dissections, and elementary physiological experiments. Among the topics considered are various body systems including the musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, and integumentary, as well as the general and special senses.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI1100
SCI2100 Anatomy and Physiology II
3 Credits
Study of the structure, function, and pathology (disease) of the human body. Students are introduced to various body systems including the cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, endocrine, lymphatic, and reproductive systems.
Prerequisite: SCI1100
SCI2110 Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II
1 Credit
Continues the study of human anatomy and physiology through laboratory exploration. Laboratory activities coincide with lectures to enhance understanding of each topic by providing visual and hands-on experiments for the concepts learned in the lecture. Laboratory sessions include microscopy, dissections, and elementary physiological experiments. Among the topics covered are the cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, endocrine, lymphatic, and reproductive systems.
Prerequisite: SCI1110
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI2100
SCI2228 Microbiology
3 Credits
The morphology and function of microorganisms, especially viruses and bacteria, are studied. The characteristics of microorganisms, the disease process, and the immune response are discussed.
SOC2225 Introduction to Psychology
3 Credits
Explores the basic principles of psychology and their direct application to individuals’ thoughts and behaviors and awareness of their own everyday existence. Topics explored include human development, personality, cognitive process, motivation, emotion, adjustment, perception, and psychological disorder and treatment.
Humanities Elective - 3 Credits
60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION
Additional Program Information
Students applying to the Surgical Technology associate’s degree program must provide authorization for a criminal background check prior to being accepted into the program. This program requires clinical experience. Prior to participating in clinical rotations, students must satisfy all clinical clearance requirements, which include, but are not limited to, a physical assessment by a licensed medical professional; meeting immunization requirements; purchasing their own malpractice insurance; a secondary criminal background check at the request of clinical facilities; and drug screenings.
Students enrolled in the Surgical Technology associate’s degree program must meet the minimum passing grade requirements for certain courses.
For more information about the Surgical Technology program, grade requirements, and clinical requirements, see:
Surgical Technology Student Handbook Supplement: http://berkeleycollege.edu/catalogs/surgical-technology-student-handbook-supplement-2023-2024/index.html.
Program Costs
Requirements required for clinical courses are extensive and may total several hundred dollars. The costs of these health requirements are borne by the student.
Information about program costs (including tuition, fees, books, and supplies) is available at: http://berkeleycollege.edu/catalogs/undergraduate-2023-2024/admissions/undergraduate-degree-program-tuition-fees-2023-2024/index.html
Professional Licensure & Certification
Information about professional licensure and/or certification requirements for this program is available online at: https://berkeleycollege.edu/about/accreditation-regulatory/professional-licensure-and-certification/index.html