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Your Curriculum

Funeral Service Education
Restricted Entry, Associate of Applied Science Degree Program (2008-2009)*

*Information regarding the requirements for this Restricted Entry program is available by accessing the Admission Requirements page.

MHCC Faculty Advisor:
Doug Ferrin: 503-491-6940 - Room AC 1555 Doug.Ferrin@mhcc.edu

The Funeral Service Education program at Mt. Hood Community College is a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program. This program is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3423 Ashland Ave., Suite U, St. Joseph, MO, 64506. (816) 233-3747. Transfer credit from an accredited college or university may apply against comparable courses offered in the curriculum.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• educate students for positions and career as embalmer
• educate students for positions and career as funeral director
• increase the background knowledge of students about the funeral services profession
• educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to help enable them to develop the proficiency and skills necessary of the profession
• educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession and the community at large
• emphasize high standards of moral conduct
• provide curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction
• encourage research in the field of funeral service
• encourage advanced education among funeral service professionals.

The degree offered by Mt. Hood Community College can be earned by following a prescribed course of instruction which requires six quarters in residence. Transferring all non-FSE classes from accredited institutions may allow a student to complete his/her professional course work in a three-quarter sequence, beginning each fall quarter.

According to accreditation standards of the American Board of Funeral Service Education, an individual must take the National Board.

Examination as written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, in order to complete the Funeral Service degree from any accredited program. Therefore, in addition to successfully passing required FSE courses, students must take the National Board Exam to graduate from the Funeral Service Education program at MHCC.

The annual passage rate of first-time takers on the National Board Examination for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABSFE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE website: www.abfse.org.

2005 National board; 23 students took the exam
Number passing Science: 17/23%; Pass: 74%
Number passing Arts: 20/23%; Pass: 87%
Number passing both sections: 16/23%: Pass: 69.5%

2006 National board; 27 students took the exam
Number passing Science: 24/27%; Pass: 89%
Number passing Arts: 23/27%; Pass: 85%
Number passing both sections: 21/27%: Pass: 78%

2007 National board; 27 students took the exam
Number passing Science: 23/27%; Pass: 85%
Number passing Arts: 25/27%; Pass 93%
Number passing both sections 23/27%; Pass 85%

Prospective students must satisfactorily meet admission program criteria and the application deadline to be considered for admission. Application packets are available on our web site at www.mhcc.edu/LRadmissions. Once you have read the application materials, if you have questions about the admission process, you can call 503-491-7346. Application deadline is in February.

1 Students may not use demonstrated proficiency on the College Placement Test (CPT) to satisfy this requirement. MTH65 must be taken prior to or concurrently with CH103.
2 For students attempting to substitute a like course for SP100, please note that SP100 is not a public speaking course. Refer to course information in the back of this catalog for a description.
3 Students must achieve a 2.0 or better grade point average for acceptance into fourth quarter.
4 Students may elect to take the internship for 3 credits (FSE240A) in any two terms, fall, winter or spring.

Note: While graduation from high school is not required for admission to the college, national accreditation standards require that a high school diploma or the equivalent be on file before the student.

The criteria for selecting students gives priority to those applicants who have apprentice experience. Somewhat less priority is given to those with related work experience. Another criteria, gives priority to applicants from Oregon, then slightly less priority for Washington, Idaho, and Montana applicants. All other states are treated equally. Students from California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Washington automatically pay in-state tuition.

More information is available, including the FSE student handbook, at www.mhcc.edu/programs