Harper College

Surgical Technology Degree

Surgeons performing surgery on an individual in the operation room

Become a surgical technologist

Career options Health Science icon


  • Surgical Technologist

Prepare for a career in surgical technology with this program. Working closely with surgeons, surgical technologists ensure that the operating room is fully prepared with surgical instruments, properly functioning equipment, and environmental conditions that maximize patient safety.

Take classes in human anatomy, medical terminology, human physiology, surgical pharmacology, surgical procedures, clinical applications and more. Students learn in Harper's new state-of-the-art Surgical Technology Suite.

This is a limited-enrollment program. Please review this program's admission criteria and process.

A.A.S. Degree Program Plan

This 62 credit-hour curriculum prepares the student for a career as a Surgical Technologist. Surgical technologists are integral members of the healthcare team, providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings such as operating rooms and outpatient surgical centers. They possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic techniques to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The surgical technologist works directly under the supervision of the surgeon during invasive surgical procedures to ensure that the operating room environment is fully prepared with surgical instruments, properly functioning equipment and environmental conditions that maximize patient safety. Students will engage in clinical experiences built upon didactic instruction in healthcare sciences, technological sciences, patient care concepts, and surgical procedures. Because of the nature of clinical experiences, individualized instruction, and specialized technology/equipment, this program assesses a higher tuition rate for courses with the SUR prefix. Students pay 1.5 the regular rate of tuition. Surgical Technology is a limited enrollment program. For admission requirements, please contact the Admissions Outreach Office at 847.925.6700 or visit harpercollege.edu. Students who apply for this limited enrollment program are obligated to meet current admission requirements and follow program curriculum as defined at the time of acceptance to the program.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements (Hours required: 62)
NumberCourse TitleCredits
Prerequisites
A grade of C or better in all BIO and HSC courses is required.
BIO 260Human Anatomy14
HSC 112Medical Terminology2
Hours6
First Semester
A grade of C or better is required in all BIO and SUR courses.
BIO 261Human Physiology4
SUR 100Orientation to the Profession1
SUR 101Surgical Pharmacology2
SUR 102Fundamentals of Surgical Technology4
SUR 110Fundamentals of Sterile Processing3
SUR 111Fundamentals/Sterile Processing Laboratory1
Hours15
Second Semester
A grade of C or better is required in all SUR courses.
ENG 101Composition I3
Mathematics 23
SUR 103Fundamentals/Surgical Technology Laboratory2
SUR 104Surgical Procedures I3
SUR 106Intermediate Surgical Procedures3
Hours14
Summer Session
A grade of C or better is required in all SUR courses.
SUR 105Clinical Applications I2
Hours2
Third Semester
A grade of C or better is required in all SUR courses.
SPE 101Fundamentals of Speech Communication3
SUR 202Clinical Applications II5
SUR 211Complex Surgical Procedures3
SUR 213Surgical Procedures IV3
Hours14
Fourth Semester
A grade of C or better is required in all SUR courses.
AAS General Education elective(s) +3
SUR 214Advanced Clinical Application4
SUR 215Surgical Procedures V3
SUR 220Surgical Technology Professional Seminar1
Hours11
Total Hours62
1

Must be completed no earlier than seven years prior to beginning the Surgical Technology program.

2

Students using math competency must take a three credit-hour AAS General Education course. See Math Competency options for information. See full list of AAS General Education electives.

+

Students must choose a 3 credit-hour course that meets the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement. See full list of AAS General Education electives.

For more information about this program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form.

Last Updated: 9/30/26