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Funeral Services Administration

FSAD 111 STUDY OF FUNERALS

Fall, 3 credit hours

This course explores the history of funeral service from the Egyptian era up to contemporary practices. This course also examines the major factors influencing the profession today. Funeral Service terminology, responsibilities and ceremonial responses will be examined. Three hours lecture per week.

FSAD 121 ANALYTICAL EMBALMING

Spring, 4 credit hours

This is the first of three embalming courses. Topics included are Public Health considerations, ethical performance, instrumentation, and decompositioned were also reexamined. A final grade of “C” or better is required to continue in the program. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week.

FSAD 129 CLINICAL PRACTICUM

2 credit hours

Students are required to work in an assigned funeral home for a minimum period of five weeks. During this period, the students are expected to relate the theoretical background they have acquired to the practical functions of a funeral director. The faculty will contact the student and the funeral director periodically during the practicum. This will be by personal visits and/or phone conversations. The students are expected to serve this practicum without pay.

Prerequisite: successful completion of one semester of embalming.

FSAD 211 EMBALMING AND ASEPTIC TECHNIQUES

Spring, 4 credit hours

Subsequent to Analytical Embalming Techniques (FSAD 121), this course focuses on unique and special problems encountered by the embalmer in professional practice. Microbiology of pathogens and techniques of infection control are a major aspect. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week. Final grade of "C" or better is required to continue in the program.

FSAD 214 FUNERAL HOME MANAGEMENT I

Spring, 3 credit hours

Study of management techniques and procedures necessary for successful operation of a small business with the major emphasis on funeral home management. Three hours lecture per week.

FSAD 225 PROFESSIONAL FUNERAL PRACTICE

Fall, 3 credit hours

Study of business laws and professional ethics with special attention given to the Federal Trade Commission’s Rule. Funeral home merchandising and its proper application also will be extensively covered. Casket and vault construction will also be discussed. Three hours lecture per week.

FSAD 307 HUMAN RESPONSE TO DEATH

Spring, 4 credit hours

This writing intensive course is a survey of the psychological, philosophical, and sociological components of human loss and grief. The understanding of bereavement is central to the development of communication and counseling skills. Laboratory exercises include arranging and conducting mock funerals. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory per week.

FSAD 308 INTRODUCTION OF INTERNSHIP

Fall/Spring, 1 credit hour

An internship is required to complete degree requirements in Funeral Services Administration. This course is taken in a semester prior to the Internship. Students locate a suitable site, construct a memorandum of understanding with a preceptor at that site, and create a learning contract. A liability insurance binder through the college must be established. Goals and objectives, a grading rubric, and communication methods for the experience are determined cooperatively by student, preceptor, and faculty supervisor.

Prerequisites: Completion of 75 credit hours toward graduation including FSAD 129 Clinical Practicum

FSAD 321 ADVANCED EMBALMING PRACTICE

Spring, 4 credit hours

Designed to improve the skills and knowledge base of students and practicing licensed personnel, this course focuses on the less common techniques applied in unusual situations. Waterless embalming, regional freezing procedures, mummification, alternative machinery, and special purpose chemicals will be explored. Unique embalming situations are addressed such as long-term storage, entombment vs. burial, decomposed bodies, stillbirths, religious limitations, anatomical embalming, and fragment treatment in anticipation of delayed final disposition. Perfection of techniques of sterile procedure, eye enucleation, terminal disinfection, and personal protection is expected. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week.

Prerequisites: Analytical Embalming Techniques (FSAD 121), Embalming and Aseptic Techniques (FSAD 211), or permission of instructor.

FSAD 322 FUNERAL HOME MANAGEMENT II

Fall, 3 credit hours

This course addresses the practical problems facing funeral managers in contemporary society. Marketing strategies, pricing methods, creative personnel management, alternative memorial activities, prearrangement sales, financial assessment techniques, aftercare, transition planning, expansion of facilities, and establishment of consortia of funeral homes. Recruitment and training of non licensed staff, compliance methods, salary incentives, and record keeping which meet legal requirements are included as well. Three hours lecture per week.

Prerequisites: Funeral Home Management (FSAD 214), Business Organization and Management (BSAD 100) or permission of instructor.

FSAD 323 RESTORATIVE ART

Fall, 4 credit hours

This course familiarizes the student with instruments, materials, and development of techniques for restoring the dead human body damaged as a result of disease and trauma. The course also explains the technique for the proper application of cosmetics. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory per week.

Prerequisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 207) and Embalming and Aseptic Technique (FSAD 211)

FSAD 325 MORTUARY COMPLIANCE

Fall/Spring, 2 credit hours

This course is taken during the last semester of the program. This ensures compliance with all Health Department regulations, and federal and state laws pertaining to funeral directing in a state where the student intends to practice. These topics are exhaustively clarified and validated through extensive and focused specialized testing including the National Board Examination. Students must take the NBE to pass this course. Two hours lecture per week.

Prerequisites: Human Response to Death (FSAD 307), Funeral Service Law (FSAD 401), or permission of instructor

FSAD 401 FUNERAL SERVICE LAW

Spring, 3 credit hours

This course deals with laws directly related to funeral service. The student will be concerned with the laws that pertain to solicitation of clients, rights of possession, cemeteries, interstate agreements, international shipping, funding vehicles, association rights, lobbying, local ordinances, and employer/employee relationships. General Business Law concepts are also covered. Three hours lecture per week.

Prerequisite: majors only or permission of instructor.

FSAD 406 BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING

Spring, 3 credit hours

Building upon the rudimentary counseling skills Course Descriptions: environmental science,french, funeral services 133 developed in FSAD 307 this course addresses deeper and more varied emotional problems stemming from loss. Utilization of theories of grief from several authorities and application of a range of counseling techniques to individual situations makes this a useful approach to delivery of human services. Anticipatory grief, hospice, disenfranchised loss, child death, suicide, homicide, absent grief, and extended grief are major topics. Application of the skills developed is limited to the funeral home setting. The student will observe and describe the progress of a person who has suffered a recent loss as an original research project. Three hours lecture per week.

Prerequisite: Human Response to Death (FSAD 307) or permission of instructor.

FSAD 420 CURRENT ISSUES IN FUNERAL SERVICE

Fall, 3 credit hours

As the field of funeral service continues to change in response to societal demands, this class provides the opportunity to keep abreast of these developments. Topic areas will include: public health, government regulation, funeral home management, religious and secular rites and rituals. Major focus will be on the effects that changes might have on the grief process, societal readjustment following death, and creative ways for funeral service practitioners to address the future. Historical perspective will be utilized as a predictive tool in assessing society’s new outlook on loss and recovery. Three hours lecture per week.

Prerequisites: junior level status. Writing Intensive.

FSAD 440 INTERNSHIP IN FUNERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Fall/Spring, 8 credit hours

Students will spend at least 40 hours per week for eight weeks in this experiential course. They will perform the standard duties of Funeral Director trainees in the areas of Funeral Directing and embalming. Successful completion of the course is based on assessment of supervising faculty and funeral home preceptor.

Prerequisites: Funeral Home Management II (FSAD 322), Funeral Service Law (FSAD 401) or permission of instructor.