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Pre-Funeral Service, Associate in Applied Science

Overview

Narrative

Are you interested in:

  • Helping Others?
  • The Human Biological Sciences?
  • Community Involvement?
  • A business environment?

Have you considered a career in Funeral Service?

The funeral service professional:

  • Provides support to the bereaved during initial stages of grief.
  • Arranges and directs funeral ceremonies.
  • Performs the transfer of the deceased from the place of death.
  • Prepares the body according to the wishes of the survivors and requirements of the law.
  • Sells funeral related services and merchandise.
  • Establishes pre-arranged/pre-financed funeral accounts.
  • Secures information for legal documents.
  • Files death certificates and other legal papers.
  • Assists survivors with details for filing claims for death benefits.
  • Helps individuals adapt to changes in their lives following a death through post-death counseling and support group activities.

Why should you enter funeral service?

  • You are a caregiver who desires to serve others.
  • You believe ceremony is an effective way of expressing feelings.
  • You are open-minded about ways in which people of different faiths and cultures express their feelings and practice their beliefs.
  • You are interested in the technical sciences.
  • You exhibit sensitivity and compassion for those with whom you are in contact.
  • You are interested in learning all aspects of a business.

This two-year degree is designed to prepare students with business and science course backgrounds required for admission to the Funeral Service Education program.

Mission Statement

Our mission as Northampton Community College Funeral Service Education is to educate students in the fundamental skill, knowledge and practice of funeral service. We strive to create a supportive learning environment which fosters communication, critical thinking, self-discipline, compassion and encourages student and faculty research in the field of funeral service. The program embraces the college's mission, vision and values, and is committed to providing an unexcelled educational experience that is inclusive and diverse. 

Accreditation

This degree is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. 

 

Admissions Requirements

The Pre-Funeral Service degree is open to any student considering working in the funeral service profession. No applications are required.

Outcomes

Upon Completion of an accredited program, students will be able to:

  • Provide a foundation for academic success in the Funeral Service program
  • Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved
  • Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice
  • Utilize critical thinking skills while solving problems in each course
  • Apply principles and theories including Anatomy, Chemistry, Microbiology, Accounting, Computer Skills, Business Communication, Business Law, and Funeral Service Sociology and Psychology
 

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits
CISC101Introduction to Information Technology

3 credits
ENGL101English I

3 credits
MATH
Mathematics Elective

3 credits
PSYC103Introduction to Psychology

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:13

Second Semester

BIOS160Human Biology

4 credits
CMTH102Introduction to Communication

3 credits
ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits
BUSA
Business Elective

3 credits
Elective

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:16

Third Semester

ACCT100Accounting for Non-Accountants

3 credits
OR
ACCT101Financial Accounting I

3 credits
 
BIOS202Microbiology for Allied Health

4 credits
BUSA152Business Law I

3 credits
SOCA103Principles of Sociology

3 credits
Elective

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:16

Fourth Semester

BUSA221GBusiness Communications

3 credits
CHEM135Chemistry of Life

4 credits
PHIL111GOn Death and Dying

3 credits
PSYC221Responding to the Bereaved

3 credits
Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time Elective (SIT)

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 61

*BIOS160, ACCT101, BIOS202, BUSA152, PSYC221, CHEM135, BUSA221G: Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for as a requirement to be considered for acceptance into the Funeral Service Education Program.

  • For their Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT) Elective, students must select a course from the list of approved courses in that category.

  • One General Education course must be taken in a Writing Intensive (WI) section. In addition, writing-intensive work is included in various courses in this program; thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the program-related Writing Intensive (WI) requirement.

  • Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program and CISC101. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement.

  • For their Mathematics (QL) Elective, students must select a course from the list of approved courses in that category.