Funeral Service Education, AAS
A55260
Official Program Description registered with the N.C. Community College System:
The Funeral Services Education curriculum provides students with the opportunity to become proficient in basic funeral service skills.
In addition to the general education courses required in the curriculum, students will complete technical courses such as human anatomy, microbiology, embalming theory and practice, embalming chemistry, restorative arts, funeral law, and funeral home operations.
Graduates of the curriculum, upon passing the state and national exams, completing an internship in a funeral home, and satisfying all state board of funeral service requirements, will be qualified for employment as embalmers and/or funeral directors.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Funeral Service Education program, a graduate should be able to:
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Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
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Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
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Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
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Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
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Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
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Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
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Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
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Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.
Degree Awarded
The Associate in Applied Science Degree-Funeral Service Education is awarded by Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) upon completion of this program.
License of Certification Information for Associates Degree:
Students who complete the AAS degree program are eligible to take the National Board Exam for Funeral Service.
Programmatic Accreditation:
The Funeral Service Education degree program at Fayetteville Technical Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097, Telephone: (816) 233-3747, Web: www.abfse.org
Note
Fayetteville Technical Community College is the degree-granting institution, and all Funeral Service Education courses must be taken there. All other courses can be taken at Wayne Community College.
For More Information
The Funeral Service Education program is in the Business and Computer Technology Division. For more information, contact Erin LeGrand at (919) 739-6880, email to etlegrand@waynecc.edu, or visit us at our website at www.waynecc.edu.
Program Information Contact at Fayetteville Technical Community College: Curriculum Chairperson: James Bullard, Telephone 910-678-8301, Office Location: Cumberland Hall, Room 311-B, email: bullardja@faytechcc.edu, or visit them at their website at www.faytechcc.edu.
First Semester at WCC
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry |
3
| 3 |
| | | | |
| MAT 110 | Mathematical Measurement and Literacy |
4
| 3 |
| | OR | | |
| MAT 143 | Quantitative Literacy |
4
| 3 |
| | | | |
| SOC 210 | Introduction to Sociology |
3
| 3 |
| | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective |
3
| 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | | 12 |
Second Semester at WCC
| ACC 120 | Principles of Financial Accounting |
5
| 4 |
| BUS 115 | Business Law I |
3
| 3 |
| BUS 230 | Small Business Management |
3
| 3 |
| COM 120 | Intro to Interpersonal Communication |
3
| 3 |
| | OR | | |
| COM 231 | Public Speaking |
3
| 3 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology |
3
| 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | | 16 |
Summer Semester at FTCC
| FSE 112 | Princ of Funeral Service |
3
| 3 |
| FSE 118 | Embalming Anatomy |
4
| 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | | 7 |
Third Semester at FTCC
| FSE 120 | Embalming Microbiology |
3
| 3 |
| FSE 210 | Embalming Theory I |
3
| 3 |
| | | | |
| FSE 211 | Embalming Lab I |
2
| 1 |
| | OR | | |
| WBL 111 | Work-Based Learning I |
10
| 1 |
| | | | |
| FSE 216 | Restorative Arts |
4
| 3 |
| PSY 141 | Psych of Death and Dying |
3
| 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | | 13 |
Fourth Semester at FTCC
Fifth Semester at FTCC
| FSE 217 | Funeral Service Projects |
3
| 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 66
Work-Based Learning Option
The Work-Based Learning Option is especially designed to provide qualified Funeral Service Education students with an opportunity to combine the regular Funeral Service Education curriculum with practical work experience. The combination of classroom instruction with practical/related Work-Based Learning provides numerous benefits to participating students.
Qualified students may elect to take up to two (2) credit hours of Work-Based Learning in lieu of FSE-211 and FSE-213 provided they acquire prior approval from the Work-Based Learning Coordinator and the Department Chairperson.
The NC Board of Funeral Services may refuse to issue a license to an individual with a conviction of a felony or a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude.
"The annual passage rate of first-time takers on the National Board Examination (NBE) for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABFSE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE website (www.abfse.org)"
Accreditation
Program Accreditation by ABFSE: Associate of Applied Science - Funeral Service Education
Initial Accreditation 1973/Last comprehensive review 2016/Next comprehensive review 2023
Re-accreditation: April 2017 for period of 7 years with no stipulations
Most recent Accreditation decision: April 2019-program returned to good standing. (Removed from probation status)
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 rates, go to Cumberland Hall, Room 311 or the funeral service program website http://www.faytechcc.edu/academics/public-service/funeral-service-education/, by email at bullardja@faytechcc.edu or by telephone (910) 678-8301.
Notes:
Student may not take an introductory foreign language to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts requirement.
*If a student did not take high school biology (or did not pass high school biology with a final grade of at least "C"), they will need BIO-110 (Principles of Biology) or BIO-111 (General Biology).
**If a student did not take high school chemistry (or did not pass high school chemistry with a final grade of at least "C"), they will need CHM-131/131A - Intro to Chemistry.