Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Course Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


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Funeral Services, AAS



The Funeral Services AAS will prepare students to work within the funeral service profession. The Funeral Services program is a field of human and community services that prepares an individual to become a funeral director.

The Funeral Services program at Des Moines Area Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE, 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108 Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097, www.abfse.org).

Please note that all General Education courses must be completed as a pre-requisite for MOR 301  . For more information about the Funeral Services program, please visit our website at funeral.dmacc.edu.

Program Details


Location: Ankeny


This program offers a funeral home-based option. This option allows students to take many courses online with a few courses requiring meetings at the Ankeny campus.

Students start Fall semester


Program Entry Requirements


1. Complete a DMACC Admission Application.

2. Satisfy DMACC’s general assessment requirement.

3. Submit college transcripts of all college credits.

4. Submit high school transcript or GED/HiSet scores.

5. Each student must submit the program’s Career Exploration form signed by a licensed funeral director on a form approved by the Funeral Services program.  The form is located at - https://www.dmacc.edu/programs/mortuaryscience/Documents/careerexploration.pdf

6. After items #1-#5 are completed, applicants will complete a Program Conference: Applicants will complete a conference with the Program Chairperson in person or via phone or video conferencing for the purpose of confirming the state in which licensure is sought and any additional requirements of that state.

7.  Submit all required forms to the Program office prior to registration.

8.  Attend any required information/registration session.

Graduation Requirements


To earn a Funeral Services AAS, a student must:

  1. Complete all coursework as prescribed, maintain a 2.0 grade point average.
  2. Earn a grade of “C” or above in all courses in the program including Anatomy.
  3. Complete all MOR courses through DMACC as no MOR courses will be accepted for transfer.  An exception may be made forMOR 215  Funeral Law I, if approved by DMACC.

Semester 1


Semester 2


May Semester


(This term is between the Spring and Summer semesters.)

Semester 6


Students are required to come to campus for MOR 940  .

Total Credits Required to Complete the Funeral Services, AAS Degree - 64*


*Total credits are calculated using the least number of credits needed to satisfy the option requirements.

Additional Information


Students who have previously completed an equivalent course in Human Anatomy or MOR 215  - Funeral Law I, (as determined by DMACC) will not be required to take it during the first semester, thus reducing the course load for the Fall semester.

DMACC does not offer a completely online anatomy course. Students in the funeral home-based (online) option will need to take Anatomy on campus or at another institution. If you are looking for an online course, we suggest you take BIO 161 or BIO 175 at Indian Hills Community College (www.indianhills.edu).

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this program’s scores and rates, go to the DMACC Mortuary Science website at http://funeral.dmacc.edu or the DMACC Mortuary Science office, Ankeny campus, Building 17, Room 10A, or by e-mail at kepatterson@dmacc.edu, or by telephone 515-965-7171.

State licensure requirements vary from state to state. Applicants must meet all state requirements. For complete licensure requirements, contact the State Board of Professional Licensure in the state where you intend to practice. In Iowa, call 515-281-4287.

Fixed Costs


Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$170.00 per credit

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Varied Costs


Costs Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6
Books (approximate) 800 220 140 450 220  60
Clinical & Classroom Supplies 200 200 150 150 100  
Practicum/Accreditation Travel Expenses 150   150     100
Hepatitis B Vaccine 200   200      
Online Student-Technology Fees 425 475 175 325 325 200

Approximate total for the program: $16,295**

**Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate costs

What Kind of Work Will You Do?


  • Consult with families and/or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details.
  • Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families and friends.
  • Plan, schedule and coordinate funerals, burials and cremations.
  • Obtain information needed to complete legal documents.
  • Manage funeral home operations, including hiring and supervising staff or employees.
  • Maintain financial records, order merchandise and prepare accounts.
  • Provide information on funeral service options, products and merchandise.
  • Remove remains from place of death, prepare body for cremation, or if embalming, complete restorative work, apply cosmetics, dress, and arrange body in casket in preparation for burial.

What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?


  • Time management skills of one’s own time and the time of others.
  • Effective oral and written communication skills.
  • Decision-making and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to direct and coordinate the activities of employees to accomplish work tasks.
  • Interpersonal skills when assisting and caring for others during counseling and consultation sessions.
  • Understanding of the procedures for preparing human remains for funeral, burial, and cremation.
  • Be able to lift 50 pounds.

What Else Should I Consider about this Degree program?


  • The DMACC Mortuary Science program has two instructional delivery options: Funeral home-based program (which requires a funeral home affiliation and utilizes meetings on campus and online courses) and On-campus (which utilizes classroom, online and clinical instruction).
  • Students in the funeral home based program are required to complete two on-campus residency requirements for a period of 2-5 days each in Ankeny, Iowa.
  • Each student must begin the Hepatitis B vaccine series prior to entering the embalming clinical.
  • In most states an internship under the direction of a licensed funeral director is required following completion of the Mortuary Science program.
  • Anticipated starting salary $32,440 (2013-2014 Placement Report).

Program Competencies


The central objective of the DMACC Mortuary Science Program is to educate students in every phase of funeral service to prepare the Graduates for entry-level employment in​ funeral service.

In support of this objective, the Funeral Services AAS Program has adopted the following Competencies.

Upon completion of the Funeral Services AAS program, the graduate will be able to:

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

2019

Nondiscrimination Statement


DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, National & Environmental Services /Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Arts, Design, and Visual communications/Business, Management, and Marketing/Education, Public, and Human Services/Health Science/Hospitality and Culinary/Information Technology/Manufacturing/Transportation & Logistics

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (in employment), disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a person. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6857, sgbittner@dmacc.edu.  Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6216, title9@dmacc.edu.  Question or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone 312/730-1560, tax 312/730-1576..

Legal references: Iowa Code §§ 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S. C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S. C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S. C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).(2018)