Associate in Applied Science - Surgical Technology

at MSM Group - Spokane Community College USA

Electrical maintenance and automation technicians are responsible for the maintenance, testing, repair, and/or replacement of the electrical systems and controls found in modern industrial plants and large commercial buildings.

As the electrical systems become more sophisticated, so must the skills of the electrical maintenance and automation technician. By mixing the theoretical with practical hands-on lab experiences using modern up-to-date industrial equipment and techniques, the student will be prepared for a challenging career in electrical maintenance.

Students are offered several options within the Electrical Maintenance and Automation program. They may choose to complete an AAS degree with specialized training in one of the following areas: Electrical Maintenance and Automation or Power Systems Maintenance. Electrical Trainee or Electrical Sales option certificates also are offered.
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in each course of the major discipline before advancing to the subsequent quarter. Students not meeting this minimum are required to repeat the deficient course before progressing.

Learning Outcomes

• Electrical Maintenance and Automation
• Understand the inherent dangers of and be able to work safely around electricity.
• Be familiar with electrical theory, electrical terms, and electrical circuits (AC & DC).
• Be able to identify common electrical materials, parts, and components.
• Understand the theory, operation and maintenance of AC & DC generators and motors.
• Know basic electronic theory and components and be able to wire, program, and maintain solid state motor controls (Variable Frequency Drives).
• Be able to design, sire and troubleshoot conventional motor control circuits.
• Understand the components and be able to design, program, wire, troubleshoot, and maintain Programmable Logic Controllers.
• Demonstrate proper transformer connections and understand the operation of industrial lighting.
• Able to perform electrical conduit bending using trigonometric calculations.
• Understand and apply the fundamentals of the National Electric Code.

The Business Software Specialist degree is a two-year program with classes offered online or on-campus. This program combines training in information processing systems and office administration to give students the diversified training and background needed to hold positions of responsibility in business offices. Upon completion students will be prepared for administrative positions that require advanced spreadsheet, database, presentation, and project management software. This program provides students with one or more of the following additional areas: basic computer hardware troubleshooting, online collaboration, MOS certification, or basic network administration.

Learning Outcomes

• Acquire comprehensive knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project, and Outlook software.
• Handle multiple deadlines and priorities in an office setting.
• Think critically and act logically to evaluate situations, solve problems, and make decisions.
• Handle a variety of internal and external business forms and understand their purpose.
• Compile and analyze data, prepare concise reports and presentations, use information processing technology and software.
• Demonstrate organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Exhibit management initiative, dependability, and flexibility; follow directions; and take pride in quality work.
• Appreciate the scope of business operations and economics systems.
• Organize and plan office work and exercise leadership skills that make the employee a successful member of a dynamic team.
• Operate a variety of business machines, including computers, copy machines and scanners, transcribing equipment, facsimiles, printers, telephones, and calculating machines.
• Acquire a technical overview of office information systems, basic computer hardware, and network administration.

Echocardiography is an Allied Health profession specifically concerning the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. The technologist performs examinations at the request or direction of a physician. Through subjective sampling and/or recording, the technologist proceeds with the examination to create an easily definable foundation of data from which a correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis may be established for each patient.

The primary role of the cardiovascular sonographer is to obtain recordings of ultrasound images of the heart and related structures for the physician to interpret. The various types of ultrasound equipment require a highly skilled operator to obtain the imaging information or other data required. The cardiovascular sonographer must obtain appropriate clinical history, cardiac-related physical findings, and pertinent laboratory data in order to adapt the imaging techniques to obtain comprehensive and diagnostic echocardiographic information.

Learning Outcomes

• Perform high quality noninvasive cardiovascular tests on patients, while tailoring the examinations to bring out abnormalities present. Develop skill in performing m-mode, two-dimensional and doppler echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance testing, ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and pacemaker reprogramming and monitoring.
• Quantitate, subjectively evaluate and interpret data collected to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis.
• Develop clinical understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the major adult and pediatric cardiac diseases and deformities.
• Communicate effectively in a professional manner with physicians, patients and members of health teams.

The Landscape Management program provides a study of ornamental plant materials and turf and how they relate to landscape design, construction, installation, maintenance, bidding & estimating, irrigation and arboriculture. The curriculum is built around landscape certified competencies. This program is accredited by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).  At the successful completion of the second year, passing all required coursework, the student will receive the associate in applied sciences degree.

The following is a typical student schedule. Individual student schedules may differ slightly depending on course availability. Courses may only be offered in the quarter indicated.  Outlined curriculum assumes students begin the program fall quarter and continue winter and spring quarters, with summer quarter off. It is recommended that students work closely with the program advisor when planning classes.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply planting and maintenance practices to lawns, trees and shrubs during the course of a year.
• Apply concepts of landscape design, construction, and installation of residential and small commercial projects.
• Understand and apply the concepts of residential irrigation.
• Diagnose causes of plant problems (i.e. insect, disease, and abiotic problems) and suggest appropriate remedies.
• Understand and apply the principles of weed science to landscape weed management.
• Understand and apply the principles of business management and human relations to agribusiness management.

Diesel/Heavy Duty mechanics repair and maintain trucks, busses, logging, mining, agricultural and construction equipment.  In addition, they maintain and repair diesel and gasoline engines, compressors and pumps.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand construction, function and fundamentals of heavy duty vehicle components.
• Diagnose mechanical and performance problems.
• Make decisions as to disposition of worn parts (usable, recondition or replace).
• Operate precision repair and diagnostic equipment (including electrical and diesel fuel systems).
• Weld (arc, acetylene, and wire feed).
• Read and interpret repair manuals.
• Appreciate the importance of good public relations with customers, employer and fellow employees.
• Understand basic shop operation.
• Utilize the theory of overhead and labor cost in relationship to profit.
• Comprehend the concept of apprenticeship and how it functions.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is an allied Health Profession where non-physician professionals perform a diagnostic procedure using high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body.  Sonography is used to examine many parts of the body:  abdomen, breasts, OB/GYN, thyroid, scrotum, and blood vessels.  It is also used to guide needles for tissue biopsy or drain an abnormal fluid collection from a body cavity.  Sonography is a radiation-free imaging modality and procedures are performed at the request of a physician.

A diagnostic medical sonographer is a highly-skilled professional who uses specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis.  Prior to starting a procedure, the sonographer must obtain an appropriate history, assess physical findings and review pertinent laboratory data.  This information is used to tailor the procedure to ensure comprehensive and diagnostic images are acquired.

Learning Outcomes

• Communicate effectively and in a professional manner with physicians, patients and other members of the healthcare team.
• Competently perform sonographic examinations of the abdomen, superficial structures and obstetrics & gynecology disciplines on patients, while tailoring the examinations to enhance the presence of abnormalities.
• Comprehend a clinical understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the major adult and fetal diseases and deformities.
• Establish the ability to quantify, subjectively evaluate and interpret the data collected to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis.
• Strive to meet the health care needs of the community.

The Network Design and Administration program prepares students as local- and wide-area network administrators. Successful completion of the program provides students with the essential skills of network administration including network design, implementation, maintenance, optimization, and troubleshooting, utilizing a variety of network operating systems, and hardware platforms and protocols. These include but are not limited to Microsoft, Cisco and Linux/UNIX. Upon completion, students have covered objectives leading toward professional certification. Effective oral and written communications are emphasized throughout the program.

Learning Outcomes

• Install and configure servers, workstations, routers, switches, network cabling and wireless devices.
• Show knowledge of network topologies, protocols and technologies.
• Analyze and troubleshoot a network and its peripherals.
• Perform administrative tasks on a network.
• Establish communications between similar and dissimilar networking systems.
• Monitor network performance.
• Show a strong working knowledge of network security policies and procedures.
• Develop research skills and techniques.

From smart phones to autonomous cars, electronic technology is an integral and constantly changing part of our world. An Electronics Engineering Technician degree provides the foundation necessary to pursue a career in this exciting field.

This lab intensive program provides practical, hands-on experience with a variety of equipment used in the industry. Classes are designed to develop the skills necessary to help engineers develop new electronic products and to evaluate, test, troubleshoot, and repair existing products. Graduates find employment with a wide variety of companies including electronic equipment manufacturers, medical equipment manufacturers, service companies, and hospitals.

To qualify for an associate in applied science degree, students must successfully complete seven quarters of study. The first five quarters are common to all the electronics programs. Students then choose to specialize in Avionics, Applications, or Mechatronics.

Learning Outcomes

• State the characteristics of electronic components and circuits.
• Calculate circuit parameters.
• Demonstrate proper safety procedures.
• Construct electronic parameters.
• Use electronic test equipment to evaluate and troubleshoot electronic circuits.
• Explain career related regulatory requirements.

The software development program trains students in current web and desktop application development using diverse industry technologies. Software development is an evolving field of study requiring continuing education and the ability to adapt to constant change. Graduates from this program acquire problem solving skills, are encouraged to work independently and as a team, and be ethical in all interactions.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn programming concepts and techniques that enable students to be a lifetime learner as technology evolves.
• Understand and implement cost effective and efficient web sites.
• Understand how to properly create, store, and retrieve data from a normalized database.
• Solve problems while developing software or web sites.
• Communicate with clients while developing software or web sites.
• Demonstrate responsibility for meeting deadlines and addressing client needs.
• Understand how technology relates and impacts society.
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain software and web development projects specified by a client.
• Demonstrate professionalism and flexibility.
• Develop research skills and techniques.

The Customer Service degree is a two-year professional program.  The Customer Service Representative program provides the  business background and human relations skills needed to work successfully with clients and customers.  Students may participate in online or on-ground classes.  This degree prepares students for jobs as customer service representatives.  An associate degree in customer service introduces students to techniques used to deliver quality customer service care.  Students develop their communication, marketing, personnel supervision, and customer relations skills.  Subjects taught during a customer service training program are a combination of business and customer service specific courses.  These individuals are the face of the company and are the ones who deal with customers in a friendly and courteous manner.  Customer service professionals are required to interact with customers before, during, and after the sale has been made as well.  Customer service training program graduates will also have a better chance of reaching the supervisory or management levels in this field.

College credit toward degree completion may be earned by articulating from a high school business program, by prior learning assessment, or by completing comprehensive tests administered by the Business Technology Department.

Learning Outcomes

• Use positive human relations skills to successfully deal directly with customers personally or by telephone.
• Appreciate the importance of customer service and its direct relationship to the success of a company.
• Perform a variety of routine clerical duties which may include making photocopies and sorting mail.
• Use current office equipment and office-related software.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Word (expert level) and at the specialist level of Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Apply knowledge of grammar and punctuation skills.