Surgical Technology A.A.S.

Debbie Fillmore, Program Director

Students in the program are educated to be Surgical Technologists who work as part of the surgical team to ensure the operative procedure is conducted under optimal conditions. The ST is responsible for three phases (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) of patient care with minimal direction. All surgical team members must adhere to the principles of asepsis and the practice of sterile technique. The ST normally functions in a sterile capacity by passing instruments, equipment and supplies to the surgeon during the surgical procedure but may also perform many non-sterile duties throughout the workday.

Students admitted to the University of Montana enter as Associate of Arts (AA) General Studies majors with an emphasis in the program of their choice. Students must select the specific prerequisite courses required for their chosen area of study after meeting with the program advisor. Students must apply to the program by October 1. Students may apply while enrolled in the A.A. prerequisite courses with acceptance to the program to be determined after the Autumn semester grades are finalized. BIOH 201N/202N, Anatomy and Physiology I, and lab, must be passed with a grade of B (3.0) and be a face-to-face course. The program-specific courses begin spring semester.

Once accepted to the program, a student must complete each Surgical Technology-specific course (those courses with an AHST with a minimum grade of ‘C' (80%) in order to continue in the ST program. Course grading scales may vary. If a student does not pass the required courses, he/she will not be able to continue in the program and will need to apply for readmission. If a student is re-admitted, he/she will be required to complete skills labs, AHST 115 and AHST 215, to ensure sterile technique skills are acceptable for patient care. A student may take any required course a maximum of two (2) times.  A student may apply to the program a maximum of two (2) times.

A student will become a member of the Association of Surgical Technologists (www.ast.org) during the first year in the program. A student anticipating program completion will write the National Certification Exam prior to graduation. A student who successfully completes the ST program is awarded an A.A.S. degree in Surgical Technology. The credential of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) will be awarded to a student upon passing the National Certification Exam and graduation from the ST program. The credential of Certified is awarded by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Students are required to rotate sites during the clinical portion of their education. During the last semester of the program, internships may be outside the Missoula area. Transportation and housing are the student's responsibility. Prior to entering a healthcare facility for clinical experiences, a student will be required to submit a background check.  Many healthcare facilities have increasingly stringent requirements.  A student could be refused entry into a clinical facility based on information disclosed in a background check. If this is a concern for you, please consult the Program Director. If a student is denied agency access based on the Background Check, there will be no placement at an alternate site, and the subsequent inability of the student to complete the clinical education will result in inability to continue in the Surgical Technology program.

The University of Montana Missoula College Surgical Technology Program also has Outreach campuses in Butte and Billings. The Butte site is the Montana Tech of The University of Montana Highlands College campus in collaboration with St James Healthcare. The Billings site is the Montana State University-Billings City College campus in collaboration with St Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic. Students at those sites take the equivalent prerequisite courses on their respective campuses. The Surgical Technology-specific courses begin spring semester. Students must apply to the ST program by October 1. Students may apply while enrolled in the prerequisite courses with acceptance to the program to be determined after fall grades are finalized. The classroom portion of the ST program curriculum is delivered in web-based format using the Moodle course delivery system from the Missoula campus. Lab and clinical courses are conducted on each Outreach campus. Outreach students are required to travel to Missoula to write the National Certification Exam and to participate in Commencement exercises. Prospective students may contact the Health Professions' Office at 406-243-7868 for more information regarding the ST Program on the Butte and Billings campuses.  Please refer to the specific course catalogs on the Butte and Billings campuses for prerequisite requirements.

The ST program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756; phone 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org.

Associate of Applied Science - Surgical Technology

Missoula College

Catalog Year: 2015-2016

Degree Specific Credits: 68

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.75

Note: It is preferred that students have the prerequisite core completed by the end of the semester in which they intend to apply to the program (i.e. applying to the program in the fall semester and completing the core by the end of that fall semester.) CAPP 120 may be challenged by testing out. WRIT 101 or WRIT 121 only one is required. BIOM 250 and AHMS 270E may be taken prior to applying.

Surgical Technology Prerequisite Courses

Rule: All courses required

Note: WRIT 101 College Writing can be taken instead of WRIT 121 Intro to Technical Writing; BIOH 201N/202N must be passed with a minimum of a B

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description AHMS 144 - Medical Terminology
Offered every term. Introduction to a medical word building system using Greek and Latin word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOH 201N - Human Anat Phys I (equiv 301)
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., introductory science course or college-prep high school biology course recommended.  Comprehensive knowledge of human form and function necessary for students preparing for health-related professions. Emphasis on structure, function  and homeostatic regulation of body systems with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers tissues through nervous system. Required, integrated laboratory includes some dissection.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOH 202N - Human Anat and Phys I Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Coreq., BIOH 201. Basic knowledge necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on normal anatomy and physiology with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers tissues through nervous system. A cadaver lab is included.
 4 Credits
Show Description CAPP 120 - Introduction to Computers
Offered autumn and spring. Introduction to computer terminology, hardware, and software, including wire/wireless communications and multimedia devices. Students utilize word processing, spread sheet, database, and presentation applications to create projects common to business and industry in a networked computing environment. Internet research, email usage, and keyboarding proficiency are integrated.
 3 Credits
Show Description M 105 - Contemporary Mathematics
Offered every term. Prereq. M 090 with a grade of B- or better, or M 095, or ALEKS placement >= 3, or ACT score of 22, or SAT score of 520. An introduction to mathematical ideas and their impact on society. Intended for students wishing to satisfy the general education mathematics requirement.
 3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 100S - Intro to Psychology
Offered every term. Introduction to the scientific study of behavior in humans and other animals. Credit not allowed for both PSY 100S and PSYC 100S.
 4 Credits
Show Description WRIT 121 - Intro to Technical Writing
Offered every term. Introduction to technical writing situations that integrate text, design, and graphics. Emphasis is on evidence-based, informative writing that uses design and graphics to visually represent logic and organization. Course focuses on writing as a process and includes student self-assessment. Major assignments include a pure technical document, exploration of credibility, and public science writing. Students are expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage and to have basic computer literacy.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 20 Total Credits Required

Surgical Technology Courses

Rule: All courses required

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description AHMS 270E - Medical Ethics
Offered every term. Ethical decision-making tools for addressing common ethical issues in the health professions.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHST 101 - Introduction to Surgical Techn
Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program. Provides an orientation to the scrub and circulatory roles of the surgical technologist in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. Entry level skills and theories are emphasized.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHST 115 - Surgical Lab I
Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program. Demonstration of sterile technique in the campus lab, various skills and their application in the operating room.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHST 154 - Surgical Pharmacology
Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program, M 090. Basic overview of the medications that are commonly used before, during and after a surgical procedure.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHST 200 - Operating Room Techniques
Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses. Focus on the scrub and circulator roles of the surgical technologist in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. More complex skills and theories; impact of new technologies in the 21 century st operating room.
 5 Credits
Show Description AHST 201 - Surgical Procedures I
Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses. A study of surgical procedures following the patient through the preoperative, intraoperative, and post-operative stages of specific surgical specialties.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHST 215 - Surgical Lab II
Offered spring.  Demonstration of more complex skills in the campus lab, including assistant circulating, and their application in the operating room. 
 2 Credits
Show Description AHST 250 - Surgical Clinical I
Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses and successful completion of AHST 215. Perioperative experience in the minor surgical procedure role through a supervised clinical hospital rotation.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHST 251 - Surgical Clinical II
Offered spring. Prereq., completion of all third semester courses. Perioperative experience in the major surgical procedure role through a supervised clinical hospital rotation.
 5 Credits
Show Description AHST 298 - Surgical Internship
Offered spring. Prereq., successful completion of  AHST 202, 251T. Capstone experience in the perioperative role in preparation for initial employment, increasing occupational awareness and professionalism. Students take call for emergency surgeries alongside experienced hospital staff.
 5 Credits
Show Description BIOH 211N - Human Anat Phys II (equiv 311)
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., and continuation of BIOH 201N. Comprehensive knowledge of human form and function necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on structure function and homeostatic regulation of body systems with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers endocrine through reproductive systems. Required integrated laboratory includes frequent dissection.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOH 212N - Human Anat Phys II Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOH 201N. Coreq., BIOH 211. Continuation of 201N. Basic knowledge necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on normal anatomy and physiology with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers endocrine through reproductive systems. A cadaver lab is included.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOM 250N - Microbiology for Hlth Sciences
Offered spring.   Infectious diseases, including concepts of virulence, resistance, prevention and control of microbial diseases in the individual and in the community. If laboratory experience is desired, the student may enroll concurrently in BIOM 251. Credit not allowed toward a major in microbiology.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 48 Total Credits Required