Funeral Service Education

FSE Course Descriptions

The following course descriptions are available for Funeral Service Education program:

FSE 101 FUNERAL DIRECTING: 3 credits
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of funeral service. Major emphasis will be placed on the history of funeral and the ethical obligations of the funeral director. Students will be able to relate principles discussed in class to situations on the job.

FSE 108 FUNERAL SERVICE LAW & ETHICS: 3 credits
This an introductory course designed to acquaint the student with the fundamentals and principles of business and funeral service law as they relate to funeral service providers and funeral service law. Major topics of will include the nature and source of laws, courts and courtroom procedures, contracts, legal status of the body, types of disposition of the body, right of duty of disposal, meaning of custody of the body, funeral expenses, terms of probate, liability of funeral expenses and interments, and the rights and duties of the funeral service provider. Students will be able to apply legal concepts discussed to actual practice.

FSE 201 EMBALMING I: 3 credits
This is an introductory course that outlines the basic skills, aptitudes, and personal qualifications needed to become a professional embalmer. Each of the primary phases of embalming will be covered in detail. Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of concepts by relating the concepts to the phenomenon of death.

FSE 202 EMBALMING II: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FSE201
This course is a continuation of FSE 201. Specific embalming problems and procedures will be discussed. Students will be able to apply principles learned in class to embalming case analysis.

FSE 203 EMBALMING LABORATORY: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FSE201 and FSE202; Transfer credit for this course is not accepted. This is a laboratory class in the application of embalming techniques and procedures. In this laboratory the student will apply the basic principles of embalming taught in the lecture classes. Students will be able to demonstrate proper practical embalming techniques.

FSE 206 PRINCIPLES OF MORTUARY SCIENCES: 3 credits
This course includes a survey of the basic principles of microbiology. It related these principles directly to sanitation, disinfection, public health, and embalming concerns as those concerns relate to successful funeral home operation. The course further emphasizes pathological disease conditions and how they affect various parts of the body and how those diseases affect the embalming and restorative art procedures.

FSE 207 THANATOCHEMISTRY: 3 credits
This course surveys the basic principles of chemistry as they relate to Funeral Service. Especially stressed are the chemical principles involved in sanitation, disinfection, public health, and embalming practice. The development and use of personal, professional and community sanitation practices is delved into as well as use and precautions related to potentially harmful chemicals that are currently used in the field of funeral service. The principles of biochemistry as they are related to aldehyde reaction to autolytic enzymes and body protein will be emphasized.

FSE 213 RESTORATIVE ART: 3 credits
This course covers general art principles as they are applied to funeral service. Major topics include: anatomical modeling, expression, tools, materials, and the use of color and cosmetics. Students will be able to relate proper techniques to actual practice.

FSE 214 ADVANCED RESTORATIVE ART: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FSE213
This course is a continuation of FSE 213. Color theory is emphasized using special cosmetics and lighting. Students will be able to demonstrate proper restorative art techniques.

FSE 223 FUNERAL SERVICE SOCIAL SCIENCE: 3 credits
This course teaches the basic principles of general psychology and sociology as they relate to human mortality. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship of the funeral director to the bereaved and the general public. Students will be able to apply psychological theory to helping bereaved survivors.

FSE 225 FUNERAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT I: 3 credits
This course is a study of funeral home operations and management. Major topics of discussion will include: site selection, financing, recruitment and training of personnel, establishment of management policies, selection-room planning, and merchandising. Students will be able to relate theories of funeral home management and merchandising to practical funeral home operations.

FSE 226 FUNERAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT II: 3 credits
This course is a study of the principles of funeral management. Major emphasis will be placed on marketing techniques and financial planning. Students will be able to discuss and apply financial principles of funeral home management.

FSE 228 FUNERAL SERVICE INTERNSHIP: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FSE226, FSE202 and Apprentice Funeral Director or Funeral Director License This course is based upon experiences in funeral service under the direction of a licensed funeral director and college supervisor. Normal professional duties performed in the operation of a funeral home are emphasized. Students will be able to demonstrate proper techniques of funeral directing and funeral home operation.

FSE 230 FUNERAL SERVICE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: 3 credits
Prerequisite: Student enrolled in the FSE program must take FSE230 in the last semester. If FSE230 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 FSE230, even if a C or higher, will not be counted towards graduation and FSE230 must be repeated. Transfer credit for FSE230 is not accepted.

This course is a survey of the professional expectations in each major area of Funeral Service Education. Emphasis is placed on specific problem areas and the requirements for licensure by state and national boards. This course is a requirement and must be taken the last semester before graduation. Students will demonstrate competency in theoretical knowledge by completing a battery of tests with a minimum proficiency of 75%.

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