Degree and Certificate Programs

Health Care

Funeral Services (2161)

Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science

Mission Statement: Creating competent, ethical, and confident entry-level funeral directors and embalmers committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

The Career: Funeral directors interview the family members of deceased to facilitate and assist with the arrangements for the funeral services. Services include coordination with clergy members, or other persons who will officiate, the logistics of funerals, preparing obituary notices and having them placed in newspapers, arranging for pallbearers, and clergy, scheduling with the cemetery the opening and closing of a grave, decorating and preparing the sites of all services, and providing for the transportation of the remains, mourners, and flowers between sites. They also direct preparation and shipment of remains for out-of-state burial. Embalming is a sanitary, cosmetic, and preservative process through which the body is prepared for interment. Funeral directors also handle the paper work involved with the persons death.

The Program: This limited access associate degree program in funeral services requires a minimum of two years of college education, but students who have completed all general education courses may be able to complete the program in a minimum of sixteen (16) months. Because the Funeral Services program includes mortuary science and basic science courses, high school preparation should include biology and chemistry. In addition, the program includes courses in liberal arts (such as English, humanities, and ethics), sciences (such as anatomy and pathology) and clinical sciences (such as embalming and restorative arts). Students are strongly advised to take BSC 2085C before applying for the program, but for all students this course must be completed before entering the second semester of the program. The Florida licensure process requires passing the National Board Examination (a written comprehensive examination), serving one-year internship under the direction of a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and passing a Florida examination on rules and regulations.

Application Procedure: Funeral services is a selective access program and continuance in the program is limited upon academic performance and criteria.

1. Complete FCCJ membership application (with $15 fee) and provide all transcripts from high schools or colleges attended.
2. Completion of the College Placement Test (CPT) and all preparatory work, if necessary.
3. A minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale in all college work to be used for the degree.
4. Completion of Funeral Services Program Application.

Note: Students have two degree alternatives in this program: The associate in science (A.S.) and the associate in applied science (A.A.S.). If you intend to pursue further education at the university level, you should enroll in the A.S. option. If you intend to go directly to work after completing your associates degree, consider the A.A.S. While the A.A.S. will not provide you with the articulation benefits of the A.S., the A.A.S. will provide you with the skills required to begin working in the field immediately upon graduation. If you are unsure of which option is best for you, please see an advisor for further counseling.

Required Courses:

The following is a list of courses required for this program.

General Education Courses (28 credit hours). These courses may be taken either before starting professional courses, while taking professional courses, or after taking professional courses.

Course Number and Title	Credits
ENC 1101 English Composition I	3
*Mathematics	3
*Humanities	3
**APA 1001 Applied Accounting	3
BSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BUL 2130 Business Law I-The Legal Environment of Business	3
PHI 1603 Applied Ethics	3
OR
PHI 2600 Moral and Political Philosophy
HSC 1531 Medical Terminology	3
*Social and Behavioral Science (Area A)	3
Professional Courses (44 credit hours)-You must be accepted into the Funeral Services program before taking the following courses.
FSE 1000 Introduction to Funeral Services	3
FSE 1105 Thanatochemistry	2
FSE 1204 Funeral Services Computer App	2
FSE 2202 Funeral Home Management	3
FSE 2060 Funeral Directing	3
FSE 2061 Thanatology	3
FSE 2080 Funeral Law	3
FSE 2100 Embalming I	3
FSE 2100L Embalming Clinical I	1
HSC 1524 Introduction to Infectious Disease	2
FSE 2120 Restorative Art	3
FSE 2120L Restorative Art Clinical	1
FSE 2140 Embalming II	3
FSE 2140L Embalming Clinical II	1
FSE 2946 Professional Practicum I	2
FSE 2201 Funeral Home Operations	3
FSE 2160 Funeral Pathology	3
FSE 2930 Funeral Services Professional Rev	1
FSE 2947 Professional Practicum II	2
Total Credit Hours	72

Most General Education courses may be taken before entering the program, during the program, or after completing the professional courses. BSC 2085C must be taken before the start of the second semester.

*Refer to A.S. degree General Education Requirements.
**Students may substitute APA 1001 with any higher level accounting course.

Note: Students earning an A.S. degree must take MAC 1105, MGF 1106 or a higher level mathematics course. Students earning an A.A.S. degree must take MAT 1033 or a higher level mathematics course. BSC 2020C may be substituted for BSC 2085C if students have met prerequisite requirements.