Funeral Service Education

Program Degrees/Certificates

The Funeral Service Education program is designed to provide the best possible learning experiences for students interested in funeral services and for advancement in the funeral service profession. The central aim of the program is recognition of the importance of funeral service personnel as (1) members of a human services profession, (2) members of the community in which they serve, (3) participants in the relationship between bereaved families and those engaged in the funeral service profession, (4) professionals knowledgeable of and compliant with federal, state, and local regulatory guidelines, and (5) professionals sensitive to the responsibility for public health, safety, and welfare in caring for human remains.

Students gain a broad understanding of funeral home operation, funeral directing, public health and embalming along with a foundation in communication skills, social science, and applied science. The accreditation of the Funeral Service Education Program by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Inc. qualifies graduates to take the National Conference Examination, as well as any other state board examinations.

The goals of the Funeral Service Education program are to:

1. Enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession;
2. Educate students in every phase of funeral service and help them develop the proficiency and skills necessary of the profession;
3. Educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large;
4. Emphasize high standards of ethical conduct;
5. Provide a curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction; and
6. Encourage research in the field of funeral service.

Program Requirements
Persons interested in enrolling in the program should complete an application for admission to the College. Each student must complete all required courses listed in Areas I, II, III, and IV before taking required courses listed in Area V. Students who earned required credits three or more years ago are strongly recommended to audit those courses before continuing other coursework.

Admissions Requirements
A grade of C or better is required in each course in the FSE curriculum. No student is allowed to progress to a higher-level course until a grade of C or better is earned in required prerequisite course(s).

Any student, who receives two grades of D, F, or W, in FSE 230, becomes ineligible for continuing enrollment in FSE courses. Any student may appeal their enrollment status to the Funeral Service Education Program Faculty Committee, if you so desire. At committee members’ discretion, one of three decisions will be made. These are: 1) confirm your ineligibility for continuing enrollment; 2) reconfirm your eligibility for continuing enrollment with stipulation(s); or 3) other action(s) as deemed appropriate by the committee. Students must comply with the decision made by the Funeral Service Education Program Faculty Committee.

Students must be registered with and hold a current, valid apprentice funeral director or funeral director license from the Board of Funeral Service in the state in which the student intends to complete course requirements for FSE 228. A copy of state-issued documentation validating the student’s license as apprentice funeral director or funeral director must be submitted to the Director of the Funeral Service Education program prior to enrolling in FSE 228. Any student who is not licensed as an apprentice funeral director or funeral director is ineligible to enroll in FSE 228. Students meet, in part, the requirements for FSE 203 and FSE 228 at sites located in Alabama, Florida, and/or Mississippi. Students are responsible for their transportation to and from sites and meals. Additionally, any student registered for FSE 203 and/or FSE 228 must purchase professional liability insurance through the College’s Business Office.

Students must take FSE 230 in the last semester enrolled in the FSE program. If FSE 230 is taken in the same semester with a course or courses required to complete the FSE program and if any or all of those courses are not completed with a grade of C or better, the grade in FSE 230, even if a C or higher, will not be counted towards graduation and FSE 230 must be repeated. FSE 203 and FSE 230 must be taken at Bishop State Community College. Transfer credit for FSE 203 and FSE 230 is not allowed.

Grading Scale
The grade scale for FSE courses differs from and supersedes the grading scale published in the College Catalog and Student Handbook. The grade scale for FSE courses is:

A – Excellent ------------- (93-100)
B – Good ------------------ (84-92)
C – Average --------------- (75-83)
D – Poor ------------------ (60-74)
F – Failure --------------- (Below 60)

Graduation
To be certified for graduation, a student must make a grade of C or better in each course and fulfill all other obligations to the FSE program and College. Students must take the National Board Examination to meet graduation requirements.

Licensure
Requirements to become a licensed funeral director and/or embalmer vary from state to state. In addition to education requirements, you may be required to complete a residency requirement in a funeral home within that state and pass an examination on state law as it applies to funeral directing and/or embalming. Prospective students intending to enter the FSE program are advised to confirm their eligibility for licensure with the state board of funeral service within the state in which you intend to practice prior to enrolling in the program. 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 web site www.abfse.org.

Accreditation
The Funeral Service Education Program at Bishop State Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.

Estimated Additional Fees
The fees listed below are accurate at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.

Liability Insurance ........................ $15.00
Practice National Board Exam ..... $60.00
National Board Exam ................... $400.00
Graduation ................................... $50.00

Special Note: HIV/HBV
Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis-B Virus (HBV): Students enrolled in the FSE program are at risk of exposure to blood and body fluids. Exposure to blood or body fluids carries with it the potential to be infected with pathogens that cause HBV and/or HIV, which can become Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). To date, no vaccine is available to prevent HIV/ AIDS, and no antiviral drugs are available to cure HIV/AIDS. A Hepatitis B Vaccine that is safe and effective in the prevention of HBV infection is available. This vaccine is recommended for funeral service students and can be obtained from the Public Health Department or private physician for a fee.

Required Courses (Course Descriptions)

Area I: Written Composition (3 credit hours)

ENG 101: English Composition I (3 credit hours)

ART 100: Art Appreciation (3 credit hours) or
MUS 101: Music Appreciation (3 credit hours) and
SPH 106: Fundamentals of Oral Communications (3 credit hours) or
SPH 107: Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 credit hours)

MTH 100 (3 credit hours) or
MTH 116 (3 credit hours)
CIS 146 Microcomputer Applications (3 credit hours)
BIO 111 Human Biology (3 credit hours)