Funeral Service Education - Program Details

Our program will prepare you for a successful career in the funeral service industry. You will learn how to take care of the deceased with empathy and compassion. You will also learn contemporary practices for body preparation. The program includes with an 150 hour educational experience at a licensed funeral facility. National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs. To request a printed copy of this program’s scores and rates, go to room AC1554.

Learning About the Funeral Service Industry

Through our program, you will learn medical terminology, funeral service sociology, accounting, embalming, and more.

Program Outcomes

After completing this program you'll be able to:

• Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
• Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
• Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
• Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
• Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
• Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, service, and ceremonies.
• Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
• Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
• Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
• Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.

Courses and Curriculum

The program will take you 96 total credits to complete over six terms. For the most part, you can take courses that fulfill general education requirements in any term. You can also transfer many general education courses into the program and start funeral services courses in the second year. You should work with a faculty advisor to create a custom academic plan based on course placement levels, career goals, and full-time/part-time status.

Explore the Course Curriculum

Your Future in Funeral Service

Funeral home management has excellent stability in a changing market. This profession allows you to be a helping presence at a difficult time.

See job placement opportunities

View funeral services student handbook