Mortuary Science

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Associate in Applied Science

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

General Mortuary Science

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Course Descriptions

Dean:  Dr. Shirley Wendel
Program Director:   Wiley Wright

Full Time Faculty: Roger Kidwell and Rick Sprick


Mission

Providing career education of a technical or semi-professional nature that offers an associate degree that, upon completion, qualifies students to seek employment in the occupational field for which preparation is offered.

The Aims and Purposes of the Mortuary Science Department are the following:
  1. To enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession.
  2. To educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to help enable them to develop the proficiency and skills necessary of the profession, as defined in the preamble above.
  3. To educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large.
  4. To emphasize high standards of ethical conduct.
  5. To provide a curriculum at the post secondary level of instruction.
  6. To encourage research in the field of funeral service.

The Mortuary Science program at KCKCC is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3432 Ashland Avenue, Suite U, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org. "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 website."

Kansas City Kansas Community College Mortuary Science Performance On The National Board Exam (NBE)

YEAR

TOTAL
STUDENTS

 PASS FAIL % PASS
2007
42
28
14
67%
2006
42
27
15
64%
2005
55
35
20
64%

You must take the exam within 45 days of graduation. This is a graduation requirement.

Mortuary Science
Associate In Applied Science In Funeral Service

The Mortuary Science department offers an (AAS) Associate in Applied Science Degree.

Criteria for Admission
  • Meet the admission requirements of the college
  • High School diploma or equivalent (GED)
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50. This includes all undergraduate college courses taken
  • Human Anatomy and Accounting must have been taken within the last 4 years to transfer to KCKCC
  • All General Education requirements (37) hours must be completed prior to acceptance into the program
Mortuary Science Curriculum The Mortuary Science classes (MTSC) must be completed within 3 consecutive semesters, or 1 calendar year from admission into the program.

Included in the curriculum are academic courses and practicums. Students must take the National Board Exam (NBE) prior to graduation; this is an ABFSE requirement.

General Education Requirements

College Requirement - All first time degree-seeking students who score 75 or above on the ACCUPLACER reading exam are required to take HUDV0100, Freshman Orientation (1 credit hour). All degree-seeking students who score below 75 on the ACCUPLACER reading exam will take HUDV 101, Strategies for Academic Excellence/Lifelong Learning (2 credit hours). (See exemptions)

Course Number Course Title Hours
Basic Skill Requirements
ENGL 101 Composition I 3
ENGL 102 Composition II* 3
SPCH 151
SPCH 153 		Public Speaking or
Interpersonal Communication 		3
Total 9

Mathematics Requirements
BUSN 110

Business Math

3
Total 3

Humanities Requirements
(from Art, History, Literature, Modern Language, Music, Philosophy or Theatre)

Humanities Core Elective

 3
Total 3

Social and Behavioral Science Requirement
PSYC 101 Psychology 3
Total 3

Natural and Physical Science Requirement
(lecture w/lab)
BIOL 141 Human Anatomy and Laboratory 4
Total 4
Total General Education Requirements 23-24
Technical Requirements
BIOL 123 The Living Body 3
BUSN 101 Accounting I 3
BUSN 104 Small Business Management 3
CIST 101 Computer Concepts and Applications 3
MTSC 101 Orientation to Funeral Service 2
MTSC 105 Mortuary Law 3
MTSC 108 Mortuary Chemistry 3
MTSC 110 Restorative Art* 4
MTSC 160 Mortuary Microbiology 3
MTSC 201 Pathology* 3
MTSC 205 Embalming Theory* 4
MTSC 210 Mortuary Management 3
MTSC 212 Funeral Service Merchandising 3
MTSC 225 Funeral Service Counseling* 3
MTSC 240 Mortuary Science Practicum I* 3
MTSC 241 Mortuary Science Practicum II* 3
PSYC  115 The Grieving Process 3
Total 52

Total Hours for an Associate in Applied Science in Mortuary Science Degree

 75-76

*Course requires a prerequisite. Consult an advisor

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science
Suggested Curriculum
2008 - 2009

Freshman First Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 101 Composition I
3
PSYC 101 Psychology
3
BIOL 123 The Living Body
3
CIST 101 Computer Concepts & Applications
3
(see catalog) Humanities core course
3
BUSN 104 Small Business Management
3
18
Freshman Second Semester
Credit Hours
ENGL 102 Composition II #
3
BIOL 141 Human Anatomy & Laboratory
4
SPCH 151 or
SPCH 153		 Public Speaking or
Interpersonal Communications
3
BUSN 101 Accounting I
3
PSYC 115 The Grieving Process
3
BUSN 110 Business Math
3
19
Sophomore Third Semester
Credit Hours
MTSC 101 Orientation to Funeral Service
2
MTSC 105 Mortuary Law
3
MTSC 108 Mortuary Chemistry
3
MTSC 201 Pathology
3
MTSC 212 Funeral Service Merchandising
3
MTSC 240 Mortuary Science Practicum I
(Funeral Rites Practicum I)
3
17
Sophomore Fourth Semester
Credit Hours
MTSC 110 Restorative Art #
4
MTSC 160 Mortuary Microbiology #
3
MTSC 210 Mortuary Management
3
MTSC 205 Embalming Theory #
4
MTSC 225 Funeral Service Counseling #
3
MTSC 241 Mortuary Science Practicum II#
(Embalming Practicum II)
3
20

In addition, all first time degree-seeking students who score 75 or above on the ACCUPLACER reading exam are required to take HUDV0100, Freshman Orientation. All degree-seeking students who score below 75 on the ACCUPLACER reading exam will take HUDV 101, Strategies for Academic Excellence/Lifelong Learning. (See exemptions)

  • Total hours required for AAS degree in Mortuary Science: 75 -76 hours
  • To reduce semester course load, please know that many classes listed above are available during summer session.