Nov 03, 2024  
2023-2024 College Catalog 
    
2023-2024 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Surgical Technology (AS)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs

Division of Health Sciences

Day and Evening Options

The Surgical Technology Program prepares graduates to function as members of the surgical team, assisting the surgeon, operating room nurse, or anesthesia personnel in a variety of surgical arenas. Theory and practice of surgical asepsis are the focuses of the program.  Students develop knowledge and skills in maintaining aseptic technique within the surgical areas of healthcare delivery. The curriculum combines didactic, laboratory, and clinical experience with an emphasis on acquiring clinical skills. The study of operating room technology is planned sequentially, making use of all prior learning so that students can synthesize course material and focus on applying it in operating room practice. Students will have clinical experiences in a variety of surgical cases. Students must pass the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Association) Certifying Examination to work as a Surgical Technologist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (ARCST/SA) accredits the Surgical Technology Program. The Associate in Science in Surgical Technology degree is awarded upon completion of the program.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions to the AS in Surgical Technology program is competitive. Applicants seeking admission to the Associate Degree Surgical Technology program will be evaluated by GPA and total number of completed program-related college-level credits.  Applicants must also meet all other required course prerequisites for the program.

Minimum eligibility for admissions to this program includes:

  • High School diploma or equivalent;
  • Applicants to the AS in Surgical Technology are required to attend a program-specific information session (within 1 year from the anticipated start date). Times and dates for these sessions can be located at: Information Session Schedule;
  •  MassBay Placement into EN 101  or completion of EN 98 ;
  • Completion of MA 95  / MA 105X  / MA 106X , or placement into MA 98  / MA 102X  / MA 104X  or higher;
  • Successful completion of Reading Assessment Test with a score of 246 or higher;
  • BI 101  (4 credits), Completion of BI 101 with a grade of C or higher;
  • HL 103  (3 credits), Completion of HL 103 with a grade of C or higher.

Preferential Elegibility

Preferential eligibility for admission to this program includes applicants who:

  • Already completed BI 215 , BI 217  and/or BI 223 .
  • Have completed other general education courses required in the AS Surgical Technology program.
  • Have graduated from a credit-based Central Processing Technology Program.

Once students have been admitted to the Associate Degree Surgical Technology program, the following pre-program requirements must be completed:

Orientation:

Surgical Technology students are required to attend a New Student Orientation and Registration session, which occurs about 6 weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Required Pre-Entry Documentation:

After being admitted into a Health Sciences program, students will receive instructions on how to upload required health documentation to an online platform.  Students must submit all documents by the published deadline in order to be eligible to start Health Sciences classes.

Forms and documentation required:

  • Medical clearance and proof of immunizations as outlined in the admissions paperwork and the Division of Health Sciences handbook. A complete list of the required immunizations can be found on the Division of Health Sciences web pages.
  • Documentation from a healthcare provider stating that you have a positive Hepatitis B titer, or have completed the Hepatitis B vaccine series and are a “non-responder” to the vaccine. You must allow a minimum of 6 months to complete this process and the process must be completed by the first day of the Surgical Technology program.
  • Proof of CPR certification is required for the program. The Healthcare Provider Card (from the American Heart Association) and the Professional Rescuer Card (from American Red Cross or National Safety Council) are the only types of CPR certification that meet this requirement.
  • The student must complete the CORI /SORI (Criminal/Sex Offender Record Information) to authorize a search of conviction and pending criminal case information under Standard Required Level 1 by DCJIS (Department of Criminal Justice Information Services).  The CORI/SORI completion process is part of the New Student Orientation.  If there is a finding of criminal convictions or “open cases,” the student will be ineligible to participate in the Health Sciences Program. A National County Criminal Background check will be conducted as part of the student’s completion of the clinical requirements. More information is available on the Division of Health Sciences pages on the MassBay website.

Credits: 7


Credits: 12


Credits: 16


Credits: 7


Second Year: Semester 4


Credits: 14/15


Credits: 13


Total Credits: 62/63


Program Footnotes


A grade of C (73%) or higher is required for all Surgical Technology (SX), Central Processing (CY), Health Sciences (HL) and science courses.  Sciences courses must be taken within five years of acceptance in the Surgical Technology program.

Quantitative skills are a MassBay graduation competency for associate degree programs. Prior to graduation, students must demonstrate this competency by completing a 100-level math course (not MAC); or placing into a 200-level mathematics course.

Math Electives: MA 102 , MA 104 , MA 105 , MA 106 , and MA 200  

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs