Funeral Services, AAS

Program Details

Semester 1

• BIO 733 - Health Science Anatomy Credits: 3
• MOR 215 - Funeral Law I Credits: 3
• Any 3 credits AAS Degree Core Math or Science   Credits: 3
• Any 3 credits AAS Degree Core Communications   Credits: 3

Semester 2

• Any 3 credits AAS Degree Core Social and Behavioral Science/Humanities  Credits: 3
• Any 9 credits AAS Degree Distributed  Credits: 9

Semester 3

• MOR 331 - Funeral Home Management Credits: 2

Semester 4

• MOR 301 - Intro to Funeral Service Credits: 1
• MOR 320 - Thanatology Credits: 3
• MOR 323 - Funeral Directing I Credits: 2
• MOR 324 - Funeral Home Operations I Credits: 1
• MOR 335 - Embalming I Credits: 3
• MOR 336 - Embalming I Clinical Credits: 1
• MOR 365 - Survey of Infectious Diseases Credits: 2

Semester 5

Students are required to come to campus for MOR 334  .

• MOR 315 - Funeral Law II Credits: 3
• MOR 333 - Funeral Directing II Credits: 3
• MOR 334 - Funeral Home Operations II Credits: 1
• MOR 340 - Embalming II Credits: 3
• MOR 341 - Embalming II Clinical Credits: 1
• MOR 345 - Restorative Art Credits: 3
• MOR 366 - Funeral Pathology Credits: 2

May Semester

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

• MOR 302 - Cremation Services Credits: 2

Semester 6

Students are required to come to campus for MOR 940  .

• MOR 390 - Professional Review Credits: 2
• MOR 940 - Funeral Capstone Credits: 1
• MOR 941 - Practicum Credits: 4

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.

Fixed Costs

Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$185.00 per credit

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

Varied Costs

Approximate total for the program (on-campus): $15,025**

Approximate total for the program (online): $16,895**

**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 $35,000 (2014-2015 Placement Report).

Program Competencies

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

In support of this objective, the Mortuary Science Program has adopted the following competencies (learning outcomes):

1. Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities 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 and handling 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

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, or hiring practices, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. 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, dso@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. Questions or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczysnki Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576, TDD 800-877-8339 Email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.

DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
Agriculture, Natural and Environmental Science
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Arts, Design, and Visual Communication
Business, Management, and Marketing
Education, Public, and Human Services
Health Science
Hospitality and Culinary
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics

Entrance requirements for specific programs can be found at https://www.dmacc.edu/pathways/.₍₂₀₂₁₎