Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology Program Information

Mission

The mission of the College of Health and Wellness is to offer transformational educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners who are prepared as health care professionals to contribute to the quality and safety of healthcare for all. Our learner-centered curriculum is aligned with the scholar-practitioner model, evidence-based and practice focused. Consistent with the heritage and values of the Sisters of Mercy, graduates are expected to excel as compassionate, responsible leaders in the creation of a just and merciful world.

Vision

The College of Health and Wellness will be renowned for educating health care professionals at all levels who are career-ready, innovative, forward-thinking, ethical, leaders and scholars committed to the creation of a just and merciful world.

Program Outcomes

1. Provide care in a responsible, accountable manner within ethical-legal dimensions.
2. Utilize appropriate medical terminology.
3. Identify and assume appropriate responsibility for patient care.
4. Relate principles of asepsis in the surgical setting.
5. Utilize principles of surgical technology to meet the needs of the surgical patient in the operating room and ambulatory surgical unit.
6. Organize the sterile surgical field to provide safe and efficient surgical care to the patient.
7. Preforms with knowledge, skills, and affective behaviors of a competent entry-level Surgical Technologist.
8. Demonstrates a basic understanding of the concepts of Pharmacology and Biological Sciences
9. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication methods necessary for the profession.

Surgical Technology Program Goals

Vocational Objectives are based on the Association of Surgical Technology (AST)

The goal of this program is to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a competent entry level Surgical Technologist. This will be accomplished by preparing graduates in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. By the end of this program, students will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge:

• Correlate the elements, actions, and use of medications and anesthetic agents used during the perioperative experience.
• Demonstrate knowledge of emerging technologies in minimally invasive surgeries.
• Demonstrate an entry-level knowledge base by successfully completing the Certification exam.

2. Skills:

• Apply knowledge and skills from the biological sciences to safely perform during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of patient care.
• Assemble and operate instruments, equipment and supplies for the delivery of patient care as an entry-level practitioner during basic surgical procedures.
• Implement safe practice techniques in regard to perioperative routines, patient transportation, positioning, and emergency procedures.
• Prioritize and organize the surgical field while considering the physiology and urgency of patient care needs.

3. Behaviors:

• Communicate professionally with patients, physicians, and co-workers.
• Demonstrate a strong surgical conscience, accountability, and legal implications of an individual’s actions as a member of the surgical team.
• Employ appropriate ethical, professional, and respectful values while providing care to diverse populations within the healthcare system.

Program Curriculum and Delivery Information

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM INFORMATION

Carlow University’s Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology Program is a 68 credit, 78 week, fully residential program that provides students instruction from Carlow faculty along with instruction from educators at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) School of Surgical Technology. Carlow University and UPMC have a written agreement for a cooperative relationship in which UPMC School of Surgical Technology educators (UPMC employees) deliver select Carlow University surgical technology courses, and for which UPMC receives compensation from Carlow University. Carlow faculty provides a minimum of 41 credits of pre-requisite, general education, and surgical technology major courses, and UPMC educators provide instruction in up to 27 credits of surgical technology major courses. All pre-requisite courses and general education courses that include (CTC 101, SKW 101, SKC 101, SKQ 101, BIO 207, BIO 208, BIO 217, HIM 102, PH 149 and EN 262) are offered at Carlow’s main campus. The surgical technology courses (SUR 101, SUR 102, SUR 120, SUR 121) are offered at the Energy Innovation Center located at 1435 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15219. The surgical technology externship courses (SUR 270 A, SUR 271 A) are offered primarily at UPMC hospitals and the Surgical Technology externship course labs, (SUR 270 B and SUR 271 B) are offered at Carlow University.

The agreement between Carlow University and UPMC does not result in additional costs to students outside of usual and customary tuition, university fees, and laboratory fees. Additionally, the agreement does not impact program graduate certification or employment. Graduates are not required to work for UPMC upon graduation. There are no restrictions on their employment opportunities.

Additional State Requirements

Students seeking employment in states other than Pennsylvania are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for surgical technologists in those states. The Association of Surgical Technologists’ map of state laws and requirements provides a comprehensive overview and can be accessed here: AST Map of State Requirements. https://www.ast.org/Public_Policy/Map_of_State_Laws/

Contact Information

Prospective and current students are encouraged to review this information carefully. For further clarification or to address concerns, please contact the program director.

Program Pass Rates

May 2025 GRADUATE CERTIFICATION PASS RATES
100%

AUGUST 2025 CERTIFICATION PASS RATES
100%

Accreditation

Carlow University is accredited by:

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
1007 North Orange Street
4^th Floor MB# 166
Wilmington, DE 19801

Programmatic Accreditation:
As of August 2025, the Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology Program at Carlow University has been granted full accreditation status by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). 
6116 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852 
Ph: 301-291-7550 
Web: www.abhes.org  

Graduates of the Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology at Carlow University are eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).