Surgical Technology: AAS
Associate in Applied Science | 63 credit hours minimum
Area of Interest: Health Professions
Program Description:
The Surgical Technology Associate in Applied Science program prepares students for entry level positions as surgical technologists through classroom instruction, laboratory skill practice, and clinical experience.
Students will gain theoretical knowledge of the surgical environment and develop skills necessary to prepare supplies and equipment, to maintain aseptic conditions, and to assist surgeons and the surgical team by passing instrumentation during operations.
Persons interested in this program should possess a stable temperament, manual dexterity, physical stamina, and the ability to integrate and prioritize a variety of activities.
Students are required to complete a health history, immunization record, physical exam and a drug and criminal background check prior to attending hospital clinical education.
Employment opportunities include hospital surgical departments, outpatient surgery centers, organ procurement centers and central supply processing units.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Council on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA).
Graduates of this program are qualified to take the National Board Exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) to become a certified surgical technologist (CST).
Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Forest Park.
Cost of Attendance. For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES.
Program Career and Salary Information. Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest.
The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.
Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.
At the completion of the program, students are expected to:
- understand asepsis and sterile technique.
- explain sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis.
- demonstrate knowledge of specialty surgical procedures.
- understand the use of surgical pharmacology and anesthesia.
- exhibit knowledge of equipment, supplies, and instrumentation.
- discuss patient care concepts.
- maintain a safe environment in the surgical technologist role.
- demonstrate the ability to perform routine tasks in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative areas.
- communicate effectively in the healthcare environment.
- recognize the value of teamwork and function as a member of a team.
- exhibit a strong sense of ethical behavior and surgical conscience.
- respond calmly and effectively under pressure.
- exhibit self-direction and responsibility for actions.
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites: | ||
| The following courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better prior to applying for admission into the program. | ||
| Elementary Applied Mathematics (or higher) | ||
| Introductory Biology I (MOTR BIOL 100L) 1 | ||
| Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. | ||
| General Education | ||
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 |
| BIO 203 | General Microbiology I | 4 |
| BIO 207 | Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP) | 4 |
| BIO 208 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) | 3 |
| or PSY 200 | General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100) | |
| XXX xxx | Humanities or Communications Elective | 3 |
| Health and Wellness Requirement | ||
| XXX xxx | Health and Wellness Elective | 2 |
| Program Requirements | ||
| ST 120 | Principles of Surgical Technology | 3 |
| ST 122 | Medical/Surgical Terminology | 3 |
| ST 124 | Clinical Foundations | 3 |
| ST 126 | Surgical Equipment and Technological Concepts | 2 |
| ST 128 | Perioperative Case Management | 3 |
| ST 220 | Procedures I | 3 |
| ST 230 | Procedures II | 3 |
| ST 224 | Clinical Practice I | 6 |
| ST 234 | Clinical Practice II | 6 |
| ST 238 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| ST 228 | Clinical Seminar | 1 |
| ST 215 | Surgical Pharmacology | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 63 | |
1 Math and Science courses must be completed within five calendar years of entering the program or by permission of program director.
Additional Program Information
Academic Progress Policy
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Surgical technology students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all program required courses. Any grade below a “C” is considered failing in the Surgical Technology program.
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Should a student receive a failing grade or withdraw from a Surgical Technology (ST) course, the following rules apply:
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The student will be ineligible to continue in the program. The student may reenroll in the course the following year the course is offered. The student must apply for re-admission into the program and follow all admission procedures prior to the fall start date (even if enrolling in a spring course).
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Any Surgical Technology course may be repeated only one time, within one year, should a student receive a failing grade or withdraw due to reasons other than behavioral issues.
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Dismissals or failing grades due to behavioral issues will not be re-admitted to the program.
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A minimum grade of “C” must be achieved for all general education college courses in the program curriculum (sciences, sociology, etc). Please note that some general education courses are prerequisites for ST courses. A student will not be awarded the degree in Surgical Technology until all courses are satisfactorily completed and will forfeit option for taking the CST exam if program requirements are not completed on time.
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
PLEASE NOTE: If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements. Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.
Program Prerequisites (to be completed with a grade of "C" or better within the past five years prior to applying to the program)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MTH 108 | Elementary Applied Mathematics (or higher) | 3 |
| BIO 111 | Introductory Biology I (MOTR BIOL 100L) | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 7 | |
Full-Time Academic Plan
| First Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| BIO 203 | General Microbiology I | 4 | BIO 111 or BIO 140 with a minimum grade of "C", or college-level course equivalent, and Reading Proficiency | |
| BIO 207 | Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP) | 4 | BIO 111 or BIO 140 or CHM 101 with a minimum grade of "C", or college-level course equivalent, and Reading Proficiency | |
| ST 120 | Principles of Surgical Technology | 3 | Current enrollment in the Surgical Technology Program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 122 |
| ST 122 | Medical/Surgical Terminology | 3 | Current enrollment in the Surgical Technology Program or permissions of program director, and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 120 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| ST 124 | Clinical Foundations | 3 | ST 120, ST 122 with minimum grades of "C", BIO 207 with a minimum grade of "C" or permission of program director, and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 128 |
| ST 126 | Surgical Equipment and Technological Concepts | 2 | Current enrollment in the Surgical Technology Program, ST 120, ST 122 and BIO 203 all with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency | |
| ST 128 | Perioperative Case Management | 3 | ST 120 and ST 122, both with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 124 and ST 126 |
| SOC 101 or PSY 200 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) or General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100) | 3 | Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079 | May complete prior to or during the program |
| BIO 208 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 | BIO 207 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | May complete prior to or during the program |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |||
| Summer | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| ST 215 | Surgical Pharmacology | 2 | Current enrollment in the Surgical Technology Program, ST 120 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency | |
| XXX xxx | Health and Wellness Elective | 2 | HW 111 is suggested. | |
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 | Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079 | May complete prior to or during the program |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |||
| Second Year | ||||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| ST 220 | Procedures I | 3 | ST 124, ST 126, ST 128, ST 215, BIO 208, all with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 224 |
| ST 224 | Clinical Practice I | 6 | Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 220 and ST 228 |
| ST 228 | Clinical Seminar | 1 | Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 224 |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 | May complete prior to or during the program | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| ST 230 | Procedures II | 3 | ST 220, ST 224 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 234 and ST 238 |
| ST 234 | Clinical Practice II | 6 | ST 228 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | Corequisite: ST 230 |
| ST 238 | Professional Issues | 2 | ST 220 and ST 224 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| XXX xxx | Humanities or Communications Elective | 3 | May complete prior to or during the program | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 63 | |||
*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.
**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.
*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice. Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.