Morticians, undertakers, funeral directors, and embalmers receive their training from mortuary science colleges and programs. Since funeral directors must deal with the reality of preserving or disposing of human remains, and at the same time, work with the survivors of the deceased, colleges for funeral services feature a wide range of education, from psychology to microbiology.
Mortuary Science and Funeral Service Programs and Schools
These colleges offer mortuary science programs and funeral science programs at the associate and bachelor's degree levels. These programs lay the foundation for a career as a mortician or other roles in the field of funeral services.
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Data & Information
This mortician school offers an AAS in Funeral and Mortuary Science and a BS in Funeral and Mortuary Science. Courses for the ASS include Social Aspects of Death and Dying, Embalming Microbiology and Pathology and Psychology of Grief. To earn a BS expect to take some of the same courses as in the AAS but also additional classes such as Gross Anatomy, Disaster Management, and Funeral Aftercare.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
This school for future morticians was established around 1908. A sampling of courses that must be completed for a BS in Mortuary Science includes Funeral Service Rules and Regulations, Medical Terminology, Funeral Service Psychology and Arrangements Theory, and Death, Dying and Bereavement Across Cultures and Religions. In addition to classes, students are expected to complete two clinical rotation and in a funeral service related setting.
Dallas Institute of Funeral Services
This mortuary college offers future morticians and others who wish to work in the funeral industry an AAS in Funeral Service Program that can be taken on campus or through distance learning. A sampling of ASS in Funeral Services courses includes Funeral Service Administration, Funeral Service Counseling, and Microbiology.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
This school offers a BS in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service. Sample courses include Funeral Service Psychology, Restorative Art, and Embalming Chemistry.
American River College
This funeral service school offers an AAS in Funeral Service through their ARC Funeral Service Education Program. Courses provided by the Funeral Service program include Funeral Service Fundamentals, Embalming, and Counseling.
University of Central Oklahoma
According to the University of Central Oklahoma, it is one of only a few mortician schools, that offers a BS in Funeral Service. A sample of courses includes Introduction to Human Anatomy and Dissection, Psychology of Grief, and Funeral Service Communication.
Florida State College Jacksonville
Florida State College Jacksonville offers prospective morticians an ASS in Funeral Services. The ASS in Funeral Services teaches embalming methods, restorative art, and how to run a funeral home among its many courses.
American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service
This funeral school has been around for 85 years and it offers an AAS in Mortuary Science. An example of courses includes Death & Human Development, History of Funeral Service, Color and Cosmetics, Mortuary Law.
Arapahoe Community College
Arapahoe Community College's mortician school program offers an AAS in Mortuary Science. Expect to take courses in Interpersonal Communication, the Role of Death & Bereavement in Society, and Thanatochemistry, among many others.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College's mortician school program offers an AAS degree in Funeral Service Education. Examples of courses include Principles of Funeral Service, Funeral Home Operations, the Psychology of Death and Dying as well as courses in embalming and the restorative arts.
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Degrees Offered | Tuition 2020-2021* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Data & Information | Finneytown, Ohio | 4-year Private | Associate and Bachelor | ASS is $23,000 and a BS is $30,045 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 4-year Public | Bachelor | $28,942 in-state, $48,740 out-of-state (This includes estimates on books and fees) |
| Dallas Institute of Funeral Services | Dallas, Texas | 2-year, Private | Associate | AAS on campus is $19,950 and online is $15,450 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale, Illinois | 4-year, Public | Bachelor | $29,767 |
| American River College | Sacramento, CA | 2-year, Public | Associate | $20,490 in-state, $28,098 out-of-state |
| University of Central Oklahoma | Edmund OK | 4-year, Public | Bachelor | $2,839.95 in-state, $6,106.05 out-of-state |
| Florida State College Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | 4-year, Public | Associate | $7,551 |
| American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service | New York City, NY | 2-year, Private | Associate | $15,750 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, Colorado | 2-year, Public | Associate | $2300.25 in-state, $9438.75 out-of-state |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville, NC | 2-year, Public | Associate | $14,863 in-state, $21,007 out-of-state |
Sources: *School websites, National Center for Educational Statistics
Choosing the Best Mortuary Science School
Things that prospective mortuary science and funeral service students should consider:
- Mortuary science and funeral service students should consult the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) to gain information on which mortuary and funeral service school programs will satisfy all state regulations and what other education, training, or licenses they may need outside of the mortuary science degree.
- Schools typically conduct preliminary interviews and background checks for mortuary science programs, as well as require previous education in the sciences, so students should research those prerequisites before applying to colleges to become a mortician to ensure that they are qualified to apply.
- Potential mortuary science and funeral service students will want to make sure their mortuary science or funeral service school is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).
- Potential mortuary science and funeral service students should consider mortician science programs that offer internships.
Mortuary School Program Overviews
Many schools have catalogs for their Mortuary Science and Funeral Service programs that can be downloaded from a computer that outlines the specifics for each program and what they offer. It is a good idea for prospective students to read carefully over these programs and their courses to make sure that the program is right for them.
Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in the Mortuary Science program typically takes 2-4 years to complete. Most associate degree programs require students to have completed general education courses prior to enrolling in the AAS program. Before a student can become a licensed mortician, the student must pass the National Board Exam for Funeral Directors.
Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science
Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science programs last four years, including general college courses. Undergraduate programs not only prepare students for the national board exam and provide mortician education and laboratory experience, but they often require that students take on internships in local funeral homes. Throughout mortuary science and funeral service programs, mortuary students learn to support the bereaved, prepare bodies, secure legal documents, advise survivors, and manage the business side of working as a mortician or funeral director in a funeral home.
Mortuary science degrees and funeral service degrees prepare students to become morticians, undertakers, embalmers, and funeral home directors. Students should look for accredited programs that will prepare them to become licensed morticians.