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Mortuary Science - Associate in Applied Science

Program Code - CIP Code: MTSC.AAS/12.0301
Credits Required: 62
Academic Division: Health Professions
Contact:mortuaryscience@kckcc.edu

Mission

Provide excellence in funeral service education that prepares graduates to pass the National Board Examination and to deliver quality funeral, cremation and memorial services with professionalism, integrity and compassion.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
  2. Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
  3. Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
  4. Apply principals of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
  5. Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
  6. Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangements, conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
  7. Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
  8. Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
  9. Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
  10. Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.

Accreditation

The Mortuary Science Degree program at Kansas City Kansas Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, New Jersey 08097 |  816-233-3747 |  Web: www.abfse.org.

Program Information Data

Year

Total Enroll

# of New Students

# of Grads

Timely Grad

Graduation Rate

Did not finish

Overall % Employed

Employed in FS

2021

34

24

16

16/16

94%

3

94%

88%

2020

36

16

23

23/23

89%

3

73%

70%

2019

38

26

18

18/18

100%

0

89%

89%

 

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE - accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this program’s rates go to the Mortuary Science office, RM 3630 Flint Building, email mortuaryscience@kckcc.edu or call 913-288-7607.

3 year Average

% Pass Arts

% Pass Sciences

2018-2020

74%

75%

Most Recent

% Passed

National average

2020 Arts

59%

73%

2020 Sciences

59%

64%

Requirements

Requirements for admission to the program:

  • High School diploma or equivalent (GED).
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 for all undergraduate coursework.
  • Complete all College and General Education requirements with a grade of “C” or better prior to acceptance into the program.
  • Submit either a letter of recommendation from a licensed Funeral Director or an Investigation Questionnaire.

College Requirement

Course Credit Hours
BLUE 0101 Freshman Seminar 1

General Education Requirements

Course Credit Hours
ENGL 0101   Composition I* 3
SPCH 0151 or
SPCH 0201  
Public Speaking OR
Interpersonal Communication
3
BUSN 0101 Accounting I*** 3
BUSN 0104 or
BUSN 0210
Small Business Management or
Introduction to Business
3
MATH 0103 Business Math** or higher   3
PSYC 0101 Psychology* 3
BIOL 0141 or
BIOL 0143
Human Anatomy and Laboratory*** OR
Human Anatomy and Physiology**
4-5
Total Hours for General Education Requirements 22-23
* See course syllabus for prerequisite. ** Math sequence is contingent upon previous high school mathematics background and transfer institution. Students should confer with an advisor to determine correct placement. ***Anatomy and Accounting courses completed more than four (4) years prior to admission must be repeated.

Mortuary Science Requirements*

Course Credit Hours
MTSC 0102 Orientation to Funeral Service & Cremation 3
MTSC 0105 Mortuary Law 3
MTSC 0108 OR
CHEM 0109 OR
CHEM 0111
Mortuary Chemistry OR
General Chemistry OR
College Chemistry 1 and Lab
3-5
MTSC 0110 Restorative Art for Mortuary Science 4
MTSC 0160 OR
BIOL 0261
Mortuary Microbiology or 
Microbiology
3
MTSC 0201 Pathology 3
MTSC 0205 Embalming Theory 4
MTSC 0210 Mortuary Management 3
MTSC 0212 Funeral Service Merchandising 3
MTSC 0225 Funeral Service Counseling 3
MTSC 0239 Mortuary Science Practicum I 4
MTSC 0241 Mortuary Science Practicum II 3
  Total Hours for Mortuary Science Requirements 39-41
* See course syllabi for Mortuary Science course prerequisites.

Total Hours

Total Hours for an Associate in Applied Science in Mortuary Science Degree 62

 

Course Sequence

Course Credit Hours

First Semester

BLUE 0101 Freshman Seminar 1
ENGL 0101 Composition I 3
SPCH 0151 OR
SPCH 0201
Public Speaking OR
Interpersonal Communication
3
PSYC 0101 Psychology 3
BUSN 0104 Small Business Management 3

Second Semester

BIOL 0141 OR
BIOL 0143 
Human Anatomy and Laboratory OR
Human Anatomy & Physiology 
4-5
BUSN 0101 Accounting I 3
PSYC 0115 The Grieving Process 3
BUSN 0110 Business Math or higher 3

Third Semester

MTSC 0101 Orientation to Funeral Service & Cremation 3
MTSC 0105 Mortuary Law 3
MTSC 0108 OR
CHEM 0109 OR
CHEM 0111
Mortuary Chemistry OR
General Chemistry OR
College Chemistry I and Lab 
3-5
MTSC 0201 Pathology 3
MTSC 0210 Mortuary Management 3
MTSC 0212 Funeral Service Merchandising 3
MTSC 0239  Mortuary Science Practicum I 3

Fourth Semester

MTSC 0110 Restorative Art for Mortuary Science 4
MTSC 0160 OR
BIOL 0261
Mortuary Microbiology or 
Microbiology
3
MTSC 0205 Embalming Theory 4
MTSC 0212 Funeral Service Merchandising 3
MTSC 0225 Funeral Service Counseling 3
MTSC 0241 Mortuary Science Practicum II 3

+ MTSC 0102 may be completed in the second or third semester.

The Mortuary Science classes (MTSC) must be completed within 3 consecutive semesters or 1 calendar year from admission into the program.

To reduce semester course load, many classes listed above are available during summer session.

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