, 2005

Catalog Course Descriptions

The first number is the course number. The second number or numbers reflect the number of semester hours available in that course.

101-3 Orientation to Funeral Service
Students will trace the history of funeral services from ancient times through practices with emphasis on the development of funeral practices in the United States. Students study the customs of various cultures throughout the world including customs in the United States. They will demonstrate a knowledge of funeral service organizations and will discuss topical areas of current discussion. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

108-3 Funeral Service Psychology
Designed to acquaint the student with an overview of psychology in funeral service as applied to death, grief, and mourning. Students will examine interpersonal and public relations as the affect the funeral service practitioner in relationship with the public served. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: 101 or Psychology 102.

225a-4 Embalming Theory and Practice-a
The student will be introduced to techniques of embalming though a study of the body, sanitation, embalming agents, instruments, and methods of embalming. The student studies the theory, practices and techniques of sanitation; and restoration and preservation of deceased human remains. Laboratory experience will consist of embalming deceased remains and of other related activities. Lecture three hours. Laboratory two hours.

225b-4 Embalming Theory and Practice-b
The student will study the anatomy of the circulatory system, the autopsied case, the cavity embalming, the contents of the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and various embalming treatments. Laboratory experience is a continuation of 225a. Lecture three hours. Laboratory two hours. Must be taken in a,b, sequence. Prerequisite: restricted to mortuary science and funeral service majors, 240, and proof of Hepatitis B vaccine or Titre test.

230-4 Mortuary Anatomy
The student will study the structure and function of the human body as a whole including: general organization, structural organization, tissues, skeletal system, nervous system, circulatory system, glands, respiratory system, digestive system, genitourinary system, muscle, integument, and special senses. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: restricted to major and Zoology 115/118.

240-3 Mortuary Regulations
The student will have knowledge of the federal, state and local regulations pertaining to the funeral profession. Studies will include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, Americans with Disabilities Act, Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, the Federal Trade Commission requirements, Rules and Regulations for the Control of Communicable Disease and other such regulations governing funeral service. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: restricted to majors or consent of instructor.

245-4 Restorative Art
Students will build upon knowledge of the anatomical structures of the cranial and facial areas of the human skull gained through anatomy. Utilizing terms and knowledge of cranial and facial structures, the student will describe the facial proportions and markings. Students will develop a knowledge of anatomical modeling, facial expressions, familiarization with instruments, materials and techniques necessary to rebuild the human face that has been destroyed by traumatic and/or pathological conditions. Laboratory assignments will include modeling, hair restoration and others. Lecture three hours. Laboratory two hours. Prerequisite: 230.

255-3 Embalming Chemistry
The student will study the chemistry of the body, sanitation, toxicology, chemical changes in deceased human remains, disinfection, and embalming fluids. Laboratory experiences in 225a will complement lecture material. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: Chemistry 106 and concurrent enrollment in 225a.

256-4 Introductory Microbiology
The student will survey microbiology: morphology, structure, physiology, populations of microbial organisms, microbial destruction, immunology, and pathogenic agents. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: restricted to major, Zoology 115, 118 and Chemistry 106.

257-3 Pathology
Students will be introduced to the study of the cause, course and effects of diseases upon the human body with stress on ways in which tissue changes affect the embalming process. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: 230 and 256 or equivalent.

270-2 Computers in Funeral Service
The student will be given the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the applications of computers to the funeral profession. This course is designed to instill an appreciation for computer as an effective funeral home management tool. Lecture two hours. Prerequisite: restricted to major.

299-1 to 16 Individual Study
Provides students with opportunity to develop a special program of studies to fit a particular need not met by other offerings. Enrollment provides access to the resources of facilities of the entire institution. Each student will work under the supervision of a sponsoring staff member. Prerequisite: approval of the sponsor, program supervisor, and department chair is required.

302-4 Restorative Color and Cosmetics
The student will learn advanced procedure and techniques for restoration and cosmetology. Special attention will be placed upon pigments, visual aspects of color and color schemes, illumination, complexion types and materials, corrective shaping, wax and cosmetics and treatment of discoloration. Lecture three hours. Laboratory two hours. Prerequisite: 245.

340-3 Mortuary Law
Deals with the statutory laws and practices pertaining to funeral service. The student will trace the laws that govern the funeral director and the embalmer and their legal responsibilities to the consumer. Knowledge will be gained concerning the legal status of a dead human body, necessities of disposition, methods of disposition, rights and parties undertaking responsibility of disposition, custodial rights of the dead human remains, contract laws, right of disposition, control of the funeral, general rules of priority pertaining to next of kin, mental anguish, photographs, confidentiality, negligent acts by the funeral director and/or embalmer, mutilation laws, injury to invitees, injury to pallbearers, clergy and staff, physical impact, collection against an estate, primary obligor, estate liability, cremation, authorization, commingling of remains, personal effects, storage and shipping of remains. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: restricted to major.

350-1 to 32 Mortuary Science and Funeral Service Subjects
In depth competency and skill development and exploration of innovative techniques and procedures used in business, industry, professions, and health service occupations offered through various workshops, special short courses, and seminars. Hours and credit to be individually arranged. Mandatory Pass/Fail. Prerequisite: recommendation by program representative and approval by department chair.

351-4 Mortuary Management
The student will examine the principles and practices of funeral home operations and management. Materials will include items that are required to operate a successful funeral home: supervision, obtaining the finances to start or purchase a business, daily fiscal operations of that business, inventory and insurance. Lecture four hours. Prerequisite: 240 and Information Management Systems 120.

352-3 Mortuary Merchandising and Marketing
Included are the funeral directors responsibilities from the first call to the completion of the last service rendered the family. Topics include after-care, pre-need, record keeping, critical issues in funeral service, and both personal and professional ethics. Lecture three hours. Prerequisite: 351.

360-4 Advanced Embalming Procedures
The student will study the proper procedures of embalming and other necessary preparations of special cases. Studies will include techniques and procedures used for embalming unique cases such as floaters, burn victims, car accident victims and other traumatic faces of death. Students will be required to submit several written research papers and present oral presentations of specific topics throughout the semester. Lecture four hours. Prerequisite: 225b.

401-3 Funeral Service Counseling
the student will be taught specific counseling procedures used when counseling the bereaved family. Specific attention will be paid to the counseling and communication techniques and skills that will assist individual family members with handling grief and the mourning process. In addition, students will explore the promotion of pre-need and after-care services. lecture three hours. Prerequisite: 108 or Psychology 102.

410-5 Funeral Service Internship-Management
Students will spend a semester long internship in a university approved funeral home learning in actual situations the operational procedures and policies of the establishment. The student will perform duties and services, as assigned by the preceptor and faculty of mortuary science and funeral service program. The student will observe and participate in the execution of the total services rendered to the family by the funeral director. Management reports and assignments are required to be completed by the student. Prerequisite: all other requirements of the mortuary science and funeral service major must be met including a grade point average of at least 2.0 in the major. Must be taken concurrently with 411.

411-5 Funeral Service Internship-Embalming
Students will spend a semester long internship in a university approved funeral home leaning in actual situations the operational procedures and policies of the establishment. The student will perform duties and services, as assigned by the preceptor and the faculty of mortuary science and funeral service program. The student will observe and participate in the execution of the total services rendered to the family by the funeral director/embalmer. The student will be given the opportunity to learn embalming techniques by active participation in the preparation room. Embalming reports and assignments are required to be completed by the student. Prerequisite: all other requirements of the mortuary science and funeral service major must be met including a grade point average of at least 2.0 in the major, must be taken concurrently with 410.

412-2 Funeral Service Seminar
Formal discussions are held to evaluate the experiences and progress of the participants in the internship program. The second part of the seminar is a review for the National Board Examination. Mandatory Pass/Fail. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in 410 and 411.

415-3 On Dying and Death.
Students will study the processes of death, grief, and bereavement. Emphasis on the practical aspects of coping with the many problems concerning death. Not for graduate credit.

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