Associate Degree in
Surgical Technology
Degree Type
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Study Options
- On Campus
Earning your Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree allows you to make a career out of maximizing patient safety, ensuring that operating room equipment functions properly, and supporting surgeons that save the lives of others.
To get the clinical experience you need, our School of Allied Health Professions provides a series of courses that prepare you to take on two surgical technology practice at approved healthcare facilities in New York. With affordable classes taught by faculty that have experience working in the field of surgical technology, you can broaden your horizons in the healthcare field.
CAAHEP Accreditation
Our Surgical Technology program is programmatically accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N. #7709 • Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: (727) 210-2350 | www.caahep.org
Why a Major in Surgical Technology?
Surgical technologists make a difference in the lives of others every day. Their primary responsibility is to prepare and maintain a sterile, organized environment within the operating room. Their days are typically split between preoperative (before the surgery), intraoperative (during the surgery), and postoperative (after the surgery).
Along with preparing operating rooms for surgery, these health care professionals gather, count, arrange, and pass instruments to the surgeon and surgeon’s assistant during the procedure. Constantly on their feet, surgical technologists must be vigilant in their work as there is no room for error within the operating room.
In the postoperative phase, the surgical technologist must recount their tools, suture the incision, apply dressings to affected area(s), and dispose of any materials used during the surgery. Throughout each stage, surgical technologists must administer exemplary care to each unique patient in a fast-paced work environment.
Curriculum
The associate degree in surgical Technology is led by certified surgical technologists that want to see you succeed. Within the surgical tech major, students gain the opportunity to combine the knowledge of human anatomy and physiology with expertise in the theory and application of aseptic techniques, surgical instrumentation, and surgical procedures. Through an engaging curriculum that affords the opportunity for hands-on practice within a state-of-the-art surgical suite, you work alongside faculty and students to maximize patient care.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Surgical Tech Associate Degree?
It takes four (4) semesters to earn an associate degree in surgical technology. On Monroe’s three-semester academic calendar, you could complete your degree in less than a year and a half.
AAS Surgical Technology Requirements:
67 total credits
- 37 credits of major-related courses
- 30 credits of general education and related courses
Learn more about Monroe’s Surgical Tech program.
Featured Course
Orientation to Perioperative Services
This course provides an introduction to the perioperative skills required to function as a beginning surgical technologist in various healthcare environments. “Orientation to Perioperative Services'' will focus on establishing, maintaining, and coordinating the methods required for quality patient care in the operating room in accordance with established professional standards. Students will apply aseptic techniques, surgical principles, and surgical conscience in the performance of the required skills.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the surgical technology associate degree program must fulfill the following admissions requirements:
- Submission of high school diploma/GED
- Submission of college transcripts for candidates who have previously earned college credits
- Minimum GPA and overall cumulative academic performance of C+ (75) or higher
- Transfer credit for non-science courses must carry a grade of C or higher, and be applicable to the degree program.
- Transfer credit for all science courses must carry a grade of C+ or higher and have been completed within the past 3 years.
- Placement into college-level math with a score of 250 or higher on both Part I and Part
II of the ACCUPLACER math Exam - Placement into college-level English or transfer credits for English with grade of C or higher
- Interview with the Surgical Technology Program Director
- Submission of personal statement
Our clinical admission committee will holistically review each applicant’s admission materials and select the most highly qualified candidates for a limited number of seats.
Tuition and Financial Aid
At Monroe University, we believe that everyone deserves an affordable, quality education. Our financial aid counselors will help you find every scholarship, grant, and loan for which you qualify.
Learn more about our affordable tuition and fees, as well as our manageable payment plans.
Your Future Surgical Technology Career
An associate degree in surgical technology allows you to step into a vital healthcare role. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2031, there will be 7,700 new positions for surgical technologists in settings that include the following:
- Inpatient hospital operating rooms
- Emergency rooms
- Ambulatory (outpatient) surgery centers
- Cosmetic surgery centers
- Labor and delivery suites
- Cardiac catheterization laboratories
- Private physician offices
In the New York metro area, some of the potential employment opportunities are as follows:
- Operating room technicians
- Obstetrical scrub technicians
- Organ recovery specialists
- Outpatient surgical techs
As a surgical technologist, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you’re an essential part of a surgical team — and the security of knowing your skills will always be in demand.
Professional Opportunities
Through the support of dedicated faculty and a vibrant campus life, you gain lasting, meaningful connections throughout your education into your career. Monroe also offers you networking opportunities that extend beyond the surgical technology classroom:
- Alpha Eta — The national honor society for the allied health professions
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) — A professional organization that promotes the advancement and accessibility of health information
Allied Health Club of Monroe University — Conduct health fairs, attend presentations, and participate in community service
Discover What You Can Achieve
Majoring in Monroe’s surgical technology program means you can begin your dream career as a surgical technologist, maximizing patient safety.
Our associate degree in surgical technology prepares you to join the ranks of an essential allied health profession as a competent, compassionate surgical technologist in the heart of New York.
Ready to make a difference?
Factsheet
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