Funeral Science | Arkansas State University

About This Program

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Funeral Science degree at Arkansas State University - Mountain Home prepares students to pursue a career as a professional funeral director and embalmer. For students only interested in Funeral Directing, the technical certificate is needed.

The aims of the program are to enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession, educate students in every phase of funeral service, help students develop the proficiency and skills necessary of the profession, educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large, emphasize higher standards of ethical conduct, provide a curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction, and encourage research in the field of funeral service. Students are prepared for entry into the profession after graduation.

A career in funeral service may be a good fit for you if:

You are fulfilled by helping people
Anatomy and related sciences interest you
Community involvement appeals to you
You want to work in a business environment, yet experience diversity in your work
Make-up and other restorative work interests you
Your lifestyle can handle flexible hours
Easing the worst days of families’ lives sounds like an honorable calling

Through the use of compressed video, this program can be attended on the campuses of:

ASU - Mountain Home
ASU - Jonesboro
ASU - Beebe

Classes in the core of the funeral science program are held only on Tuesdays and Thursdays in order to help students maintain lives and jobs while attending school. Commuting is also reduced by making it possible for students to attend these classes at any of the three sites shown above. Instructors are usually teaching from the Mountain Home campus and the classes are connected to the other sites via compressed video. In other words, by using microphones, cameras and video displays, students at any campus can interact with the instructor and other students at any time during class. Instructors also travel to the other sites and teach from there several times each semester. By using this technology and timing, most students in the northern 2/3 of Arkansas and Southern 1/3 of Missouri find it entirely feasible to get their funeral science education from ASUMH. This is especially evident in the employment figures below.

A maximum of 20 new students are selected each Spring for admission into the Funeral Science program. Students will follow a strict course rotation.
Distance Education - YES (selected Arkansas locations only)Part-time option available - No

Requirements

Candidates for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Funeral Science degree must meet the following requirements:

1. Admission to ASUMH

2. Pre-requisite courses (Listed Below) in progress during the application period with a grade of "C" or higher and a cumulative grade point average

(CGPA) of 3.0 on application deadline; conditional admission may be granted pending successful course completion with a final grade of "C" or

higher and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0.

BIOL 1013 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology for Non- Healthcare Majors OR BIOL 2004 Human Anatomy and Physiology I & Lab AND BIOL 2014 Human Anatomy and Physiology II & Lab
CIS 1053 Computer Essentials
COMM 1203 Oral Communication
ENG 1003 Composition I
MATH 1113 Applied Math or higher level math
ORT O1001 First Year Experience for Funeral Science

3. Minimum of 20 hours of volunteer/job shadowing in the funeral service industry.

4. A minimum CGPA of 2.0 in all college courses attempted.

5. Submit the online Funeral Science program application located at www.funeralscience.com and all required supplemental materials by posted due dates

Upon earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Funeral Science from ASUMH, students will 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, services, 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.

Accreditation Information

The Funeral Science associate degree program at Arkansas State University at Mountain Home is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Website: www.abfse.org

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National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at https://www.abfse.org/html/dir-ar.html in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

PDF Program Application

*Applications Due October 31*

Contact Info

Dr. Jeffrey Hicks
Funeral Science Director870-508-6164
jhicks@asumh.edu

Matt Buel
Funeral Science Instructor
870-508-6157
mbuel@asumh.edu

Important Links

Funeral Science Program Frequently Asked Questions
Course Rotation
Funeral Science Handbook
Program Book List
Affiliation Agreement

Skills Learned

Care of the Bereaved

Funeral Directing

Embalming

Basic Business Operations

Job Opportunities In

Funeral Director

Embalmer

$109

Tuition Per Credit Hour

4 Semesters

Program Duration

67

Credit Hours

Classes You'll Take

Funeral Directing

Management and Merchandising

Embalming

Restorative Art

Psychology and Counseling

DEGREE CHECKLIST

Related Degree Options

Funeral Directing (TC)

Transferable Degrees & Stackable Credentials

Transferrable degrees are programs of study that allow students to complete general education courses. Many students who intend to transfer to another college/university complete these degree programs.

Stackable Credentials are Technical Certificates that might be “stacked” to meet requirements for a higher-level certificate or degree program like an associate's degree.

Transferable Degrees

>Any student who earns the Associate of Applied Science at ASUMH may be admitted to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Supervision at ASUJ in either the on-campus or A-State Online program with full junior classification, subject to completing the admission requirements for ASUJ.

Stackable Credentials

Funeral Directing (TC)

Ready to Get Started?

APPLY NOW SCHEDULE A TOUR REQUEST INFO

BIOL 1013 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology for Non-Healthcare Majors OR BOTH		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
	BIOL 2004 Human Anatomy and Physiology I & Lab	Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
	BIOL 2014 Human Anatomy and Physiology II & Lab	Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
CIS 1053 Computer Essentials		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
COMM 1203 Oral Communication		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
ENG 1003 Composition I		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
MATH 1113 Applied Math or higher-level math (provide course name/number in space below)		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade
ORT 1001 First Year Experience for Funeral Science		Final Grade OR Mid-Term Grade

I understand the program has a specific course rotation that I am required to follow each semester.	* Initials * Date
I understand that all Funeral Science Education curriculum course work must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.	* Initials * Date
I understand that I must maintain a 2.5 GPA and will only be allowed to retake courses from which I withdrew or failed in the first semester upon admission to the program.	* Initials * Date
I understand that I am responsible for any costs associated with the program, including field trips and any required visits to the Mountain Home campus.	* Initials * Date
I understand that it is my responsibility to know the licensing requirements for any state in which I intend to practice.	* Initials * Date
I understand that students who have previously been convicted of a crime may be restricted from certain clinical facilities and may be ineligible for some state licenses.	* Initials * Date
I understand that students who have a physical disability should contact the state in which he/she plans to seek licensure to determine if the disability will affect licensure.	* Initials * Date
I understand that a current driver’s license is required prior to enrolling in a clinical or practicum course.	* Initials * Date
I have read and understand the program dismissal policies contained within the Funeral Science Student Handbook.	* Initials * Date

School of Business & Technology

Funeral Science

About This Program

Requirements