Program Overview

The Funeral Service Bachelor of Science Degree curriculum at Mid-America College of Funeral Service is designed to provide the needed education to meet the prerequisites for licensure and employment in funeral service. It fulfills the requirements of accreditation and approval agencies. The curriculum offers both theoretical and practical fundamentals of funeral service. The program is offered in academic quarters, with each quarter consisting of eleven weeks of study. The program is developed with the input of successful professionals, ensuring exceptional career relevance, and designed to impart real-world knowledge and skills.

This program is designed to provide graduates of non-funeral service disciplines who wish to move into funeral service and embalming with the education needed to meet the prerequisites for licensure and employment in funeral service. It fulfills the requirements of accreditation and approval agencies.

Curriculum

The curriculum fulfills the requirements of all accreditation regulations and is a blend of theoretical and practical fundamentals of the funeral profession, as well as the liberal arts.

The courses are listed under the headings of:

1. Public Health
2. Business Management
3. Social Sciences
4. Legal, Ethical, Regulatory
5. Liberal Arts, and
6. General Education/Liberal Arts/Electives

General Education Requirements

All general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be completed here at the College. The degree will fulfill all general education requirements. The general education courses provide a foundation for professional success. Students learn to think critically, make rational decisions, and communicate effectively. These skills support their ability to acquire, evaluate, and use the specific knowledge needed for the program.

Graduation Requirements

To be considered a candidate for graduation from the Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Degree Program (FSBS) at Mid-America College of Funeral Service, the following guidelines must be met:

1. The student has successfully completed the AAS program of instruction with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and passing grades in all courses;
2. The student has successfully completed all requirements of the Clinical Embalming program as specified by the College and the American Board of Funeral Service Education; also, be certified by the Clinical Program Director as minimally technically competent in entry level embalming practices;
3. The student has successfully completed all requirements of the Funeral Director Practicum;
4. The student has transferred in up to 45 hours of level 300 or higher credits from another college to meet the 180 total credit hours for the FSBS requirement. These credits may also be earned by the student by completing courses offered by Mid-America College within the Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Management program.
5. The student is free of all indebtedness to the College, and;
6. The student has successfully completed and passed all end-of-program Capstone Final Exams.

Courses by Quarter including General Education

Transfer Credit Requirements

Students with a previous BS degree or previous upper level credits can transfer up to 45 total hours, 15 hours per discipline listed of 300 – 400 level classes in the following disciplines: Humanities, Natural science, Sociology, or Business (up to but no more than 15 hours in each).

Transfer Credit Information

1. Up to 48 quarter credit hours for General Education courses
   a. General Education is available at Mid-America College of Funeral Service
2. Up to 45 quarter credit hours of level 300 and up Humanities, Natural science, Sociology, or Business Courses 
3. If necessary, level 300 – 400 courses are available for students to enroll in, to supplement the BS elective courses level 300 and up to reach the required 180 quarter credit hours

Student completing the FSBS program would end with 180 credits consisting of the following subtotals:

1. 48 General Education quarter credit hours 
2. 88 Funeral Service Core quarter credit hours 
3. 44 level 300 and higher, transfer credits from an approved list, Mid-America College’s Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Management (BFSM) Courses as Electives, or from an approved list of transfer disciplines

Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Management (BFSM) Courses as FSBS Electives

The Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service Management has course offerings in funeral service-related topics that may be counted toward the level 300 and higher course requirement. The classes in this program are well-rounded topics that directly relate to the profession in which they are or would like to be employed.

The BFSM course work includes the nine (9) funeral service courses and nine (9) open FS related electives such as: Thanatology, Green Burial, and Death Companioning.

All required courses are pending an official transfer credit evaluation. Mid-America College of Funeral Service is accredited by the ABFSE.

These below courses may be used toward the 180 required quarter credit hours, including the 44 required upper-level elective quarter credit hours.

Funeral Core Content Courses

The core course content is designed to provide an enhanced understanding of key topics within the funeral service profession. The courses provide content that will be desirable for and to a Funeral Director. The core courses consist of 44 quarter credit hours, nine (9) upper level courses pertain to the Funeral Service Profession as a Funeral Director. The courses listed below are eligible to be completed as elective credit hours towards the FSBS degree.

Elective Pool Content Courses

All courses from the elective pool listed below are considered upper division management/leadership courses to enhance the skills required of a Funeral Director. The elective pool will be used to meet the 180 credits required credits to earn the FSBS. The total number of elective courses will be dependent of the transcript evaluation. The transfer evaluation is conducted before acceptance into the FSBS program.

Technology Requirements

For suggested information on technology requirements, please review the pdf found, here.

NOTE: Students are not eligible to sit for the National Board Exam (NBE) until the required 180 quarter credit hours are earned.

Mid-America College of Funeral Service is not regionally accredited and that may limit the transfer of credits to another institution. All transfer credits are dependent on the receiving institution.