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Mortuary Science AAS - Academic Plan

2024-2025

Total Credits = 66

Mortuary Science is a field of human and community service which offers a variety of work, intellectual challenge and satisfaction of helping the bereaved through life's most trying period. The program prepares individuals to become a mortuary science practitioner, funeral director and embalmer.


Accreditation Status: The Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). The Board can be reached at 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097, 816.233.3747, www.abfse.org.

Program Outcomes

  • 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.

Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Recommendations

Where requirements are listed as course categories (e.g. Electives, Arts/Humanities) rather than as specific courses, please note that depending upon course choice, prerequisites may be required.

*Grade C or better required

Required Course Prerequisite, Corequisite, or Recommendation
BIO 2101 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab: GT-SC1 Prerequisites: BIO 1111 - General College Biology with Lab: GT-SC1 and College Readiness in English and Quantitative Literacy Math
BIO 2102 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab: GT-SC1 Prerequisite: BIO 2101 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab: GT-SC1
ENG 1021 - English Composition I: GT-CO1 Prerequisite: College Readiness in English
PSY 1001 - General Psychology I: GT-SS3 Prerequisite: College Readiness in English
MOR 2010 - Embalming Theory I and Lab Required: Program Admission, and all General Education courses completed

Note: As of Spring 2025, enrollment in all MOR courses and HPR 1058 will require official acceptance into the Mortuary Science program. Please speak to an advisor before attempting to enroll in MOR and HPR 1058 courses as financial aid may be impacted.

Notes

  • *This course requires college level readiness as measured by Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT scores; approved high school course work that is less than five years old; or successful completion of appropriate college-readiness course.
  • AAA 1001 – College 101: Student Experience is required for all new college students seeking degrees or transfer.
  • All MOR courses must be completed within four years of starting the Major Courses.
  • Course availability is subject to change.
  • FULL TIME TRACK: This specially designed curriculum is for full-time students who have finished ALL General Education and Related Courses from the Curriculum Requirements. If you have met these requirements, you can complete the entire program in three semesters. BIO 2101 must be completed before starting either track. (27 credits).
  • As of Spring 2025, enrollment in all MOR courses and HPR 1058 require official acceptance into the Mortuary Science program. Please speak to an advisor before attempting to enroll in MOR and HPR 1058 courses as financial aid may be impacted.
  • In order to meet program requirements, students registered for ENG 1021 or ENG 1031 must also register for ENG 0094 unless they can demonstrate otherwise meeting the ENG 0094 standard through assessment testing, prior college coursework, or recent High School coursework. See an Advisor for details.
  • PART TIME TRACK - This specifically designed curriculum is for part-time students. To enroll in this option you must have completed or be near completion of all General Education and Related Courses. Students may not start this track if more than two General Education and Related Courses need to be completed. BIO 2101 must be completed before starting either track. If two General Education courses are lacking, they must be completed in the first year. (21-27 credits).
  • Refer to 2024/2025 catalog for specific requirements and important information about this degree.