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Spring Semester 2020 Catalog

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Surgical Technology, Associate of Applied Science Degree

Overview

 

Offered at the Augusta Campus

Entrance Dates: Fall
Length of Program: Five Terms
Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 70

Admission: Surgical Technology is a competitive program. Students who meet the College admission criteria are eligible to enroll at the College to take prerequisite courses for this program. Prerequisite courses (ENGL 1101, MATH 1101 or MATH 1111, PSYC 1101, ALHS 1090, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, BIOL 2117, BIOL 2117L, PSYC 2103 and one from the Humanities/Fine Arts Area IV [refer to options] must be completed with a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be evaluated for program admission.  The grade point average in MATH 1101 OR MATH 1111 (dependent on which course has been taken (if both courses has been taken MATH 1111 will be used)), BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114 and BIOL 2114L determines the academic/ranking order for selection of students for admission to the program. Students who are not selected for admission may consider another program or resubmit an admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application by the next ranking cycle deadline.  High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program. The minimum age requirement is 17, however all clinical facilities requires that a student be 18 before starting the clinical portion of the program. For more information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028. Refer to program related deadlines.

Program Description: The surgical technology program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in the surgical field. The surgical technology program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. In addition, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in surgical technology. Graduates of the program receive a surgical technology degree and are qualified for employment as surgical technologists. As a requirement for graduation, each student must sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). The exam is given at the end of the last semester on campus. 

Employment Opportunities: Surgical technologist are in demand for employment in hospitals, operating rooms, physicians’ offices, emergency rooms, ambulatory day surgery centers, central sterile processing departments, managerial roles, and more.

Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses, 15 credits

ENGL 1101COMPOSITION & RHETORIC

3
MATH 1111COLLEGE ALGEBRA

3
OR
MATH 1101MATHEMATICAL MODELING

3
PSYC 1101INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

3
PSYC 2103HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

3
AREA IV
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective*

3

Requirements List

ARTS 1101ART APPRECIATION

3
OR
ENGL 2110World Literature

3
OR
ENGL 2130AMERICAN LITERATURE

3
OR
ENGL 2310ENG LIT FROM THE BEGIN TO 1700

3
OR
HUMN 1101INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES

3
OR
MUSC 1101MUSIC APPRECIATION

3
OR
THEA 1101THEATER APPRECIATION

3

Occupational Courses, 55 credits

BIOL 2113ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I

3
BIOL 2113LANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I LAB

1
BIOL 2114ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II

3
BIOL 2114LANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II LAB

1
BIOL 2117INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY

3
BIOL 2117LINTRO MICROBIOLOGY LAB

1
ALHS 1090MED TERM/ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE

2
SURG 1010INTRO TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

8
SURG 1020PRINCIPLES OF SURGICAL TECH

7
SURG 1080SURGICAL MICROBIOLOGY

2
SURG 2030SURGICAL PROCEDURES I

4
SURG 1100SURGICAL PHARMACOLOGY

2
SURG 2110SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL I

3
SURG 2120SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL II

3
SURG 2040SURGICAL PROCEDURES II

4
SURG 2130SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL III

3
SURG 2140SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL IV

3
SURG 2240SEMINAR IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

2

Notes:

  • A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses listed in the curriculum outline.
  • Students must have received a grade of a “C” or less in order to retake a course for ranking purposes. The first grade and the retake grade(s) will be averaged to determine the grade used for ranking purposes. This policy also applies to students with a transfer grade of a ‘C”. The transfer grade of a “C” and the retake grade will be averaged to determine the ranking grade.
  • A student who receives a grade of less than a “C” in two or more prerequisite courses, same or different prerequisite course, is not eligible for program progression/admission. This includes courses taken under any program of study at Augusta Technical College and/or courses submitted on formal transcripts received from any previous college attended.
  • Unsuccessful course attempts that led to ineligibility for competitive progression evaluation will expire after five years.
  • A student who receives a grade of less than a “C” in one course with the SURG prefix will be suspended from the program for one semester and will be considered for reentry on a space available basis at the next time that course is offered. The student should submit a “Program Readmission Form” to the Director of Surgical Technology by midterm of the semester prior to student wishing to return. A student who receives a grade of less than a “C” in two courses with the SURG prefix, same or different SURG course, will not permitted to reenter the program.
  • Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to submit completed medical and dental examination forms. All required immunizations, including Hepatitis B and seasonal flu, must be accompanied by documentation. Students who refuse to take the Hepatitis B/seasonal flu vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.
  • Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in field. A background check and drug screen is required by all clinical agencies prior to a student attending clinical. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
  • ALHS courses older than five years will not be considered for program progression evaluation. Students will need to retake these courses to become eligible for program progression evaluation.
  • Applicants must have the appropriate ACCUPLACER, ASSET, SAT or ACT scores to take the equivalent associate degree level courses.
  • Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing his or her clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a surgical technologist.
  • Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to show proof of current health insurance. Students who cannot show proof of Health Insurance need to be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.

Guided Pathway

Augusta Day Program

PROGRAM NAME: Surgical Technology

AWARD: Associates of Applied Science Degree

CAMPUS: Augusta Day Program

Year 1 Fall Semester

ENGL 1101COMPOSITION & RHETORIC

3
MATH 1111COLLEGE ALGEBRA

3
OR
MATH 1101MATHEMATICAL MODELING

3
PSYC 1101INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

3
ALHS 1090MED TERM/ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE

2
BIOL 2113ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I

3
BIOL 2113LANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I LAB

1

Year 1 Spring Semester

BIOL 2114ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II

3
BIOL 2114LANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II LAB

1
BIOL 2117INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY

3
BIOL 2117LINTRO MICROBIOLOGY LAB

1
PSYC 2103HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

3

PSYC 2103: Guided Elective

Choose ONE of the following for Humanity/Fine Arts Requirements
ARTS 1101ART APPRECIATION

3
ENGL 2110World Literature

3
ENGL 2130AMERICAN LITERATURE

3
ENGL 2310ENG LIT FROM THE BEGIN TO 1700

3
HUMN 1101INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES

3
MUSC 1101MUSIC APPRECIATION

3
THEA 1101THEATER APPRECIATION

3

Year 2 Fall Semester

SURG 1010INTRO TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

8
SURG 1020PRINCIPLES OF SURGICAL TECH

7
SURG 1080SURGICAL MICROBIOLOGY

2

Year 2 Spring Semester

SURG 2030SURGICAL PROCEDURES I

4
SURG 1100SURGICAL PHARMACOLOGY

2
SURG 2110SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL I

3
SURG 2120SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL II

3

Year 2 Summer Semester

SURG 2040SURGICAL PROCEDURES II

4
SURG 2130SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL III

3
SURG 2140SURGICAL TECH CLINICAL IV

3
SURG 2240SEMINAR IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

2

Note(s):

Surgical Technology is a competitive progression program. The program progression process determines the academic/ranking order for selection of students for progression to the course with the SURG prefixes. Student who are not selected for progression should consider a program change or resubmit an application by the designated deadline for the next progression term.

A background check and drug screen is required by all clinical agencies prior to a student attending clinical. For more information, contact the appropriate advisor.

Proof of health insurance is required for a student to attend clinical. For more information, contact the appropriate advisor.

Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while student are completing his or her clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired stall personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a surgical technologist.

*Refer to the College catalog for course prerequisite requirements.

Students who choose to not follow the Course Sequence listed above may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown above.

The Augusta Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender or disability. For information on Title IX, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Shannon Patterson at (706) 771-4013 or in Building 100. For information on ADA/504, contact the ADA/504 Coordinator, Karissa D. Wright, at (706) 7714067 or go to the Counseling Center in Building 1300.

Accreditation

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) and upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, the program has been placed on Probationary Accreditation effective as of November 15, 2019.

 

The contact information for the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is below.

 

25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158

Clearwater, FL 33763

Phone 727-210-2350

www.caahep.org

 

The contact information for the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) is below.

 

6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite #110

Littleton, CO 80120

Phone 303-694-9262

www.arcsta.org

Program Outcomes

Annual Reporting Year Academic Year Standard Reporting Percentage of that Standard
2019 (Award of Diploma)  8/1/2017 - 7/31/2018 Retention Rate 88%
CST Exam Pass Rate  86% 
CST Graduate Placement Rate 71% 
2018 (Award of Diploma)
 8/1/2016 - 7/31/2017
 Retention Rate 63%
CST Exam Pass Rate 20%
CST Graduate Placement Rate 70% 
2017 (Award of Diploma)
 8/1/2015 - 7/31/2016
 Retention Rate 63%
CST Exam Pass Rate 20%
CST Graduate Placement Rate 62%
Note: The first Surgical Technology degree level students were accepted fall semester 2017 to complete prerequisite courses prior to progression into the program’s
occupational courses in fall semester 2018.