Program Overview

Funeral Service Education, AAS

The AAS Funeral Service Education degree prepares students to achieve entry-level proficiency as embalmers and funeral directors. Funeral service professionals provide counsel, service, and emotional support for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Students also learn how to manage a successful business in the high-tech global economy.

Program Mission

The Funeral Service Education Associate of Applied Science degree program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).

Program Learning Outcomes

The Central Objective of the Funeral Service Education AAS degree at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service.

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

Admission Requirements and Prerequisites

Entry into the Funeral Service Education program requires completion of the admissions application for the college and completion of the admissions packet for the program before enrolling in Funeral Service Education classes toward the Associate of Applied Science degree. All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

• High school completion or GED or satisfactory completion of nine semester-based or 13.5 quarter-based post-secondary credits, exclusive of developmental courses.
• The following courses must also be completed prior to beginning FSE technical coursework and count towards the program’s general education requirements:
  • BIOL& 175 Human Biology with Lab 5 credits or (BIOL& 241 Anatomy and Physiology 1 and BIOL& 242 Anatomy and Physiology 2)
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 credits
  • MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 credits (or any college-level MATH course with intermediate algebra as the prerequisite)

Program Requirements

Required Course Sequence

• Quarter One (Fall)
  • FSE 101 Introduction to Funeral Service 3 credits
  • FSE 130 Funeral Service Sociology and Psychology 4 credits
  • FSE 103 Funeral Service Anatomy 5 credits
  • BUS& 201 Business Law 5 credits
• Quarter Two (Winter)
  • FSE 140 Funeral Directing 4 credits
  • FSE 255 Embalming Chemistry 3 credits
  • FSE 251 Embalming I 3 credits
  • FSE 141 Funeral Service Ethics 3 credits
• Quarter Three (Spring)
  • BUSA 180 Small Business Management 5 credits
  • FSE 262 Funeral Service Microbiology 4 credits
  • FSE 148 Funeral Service Law and Compliance 3 credits
  • FSE 258 Restorative Art and Lab I 3 credits
• Quarter Four (Summer)
  • CMST& 220 Introduction to Public Speaking 5 credits
  • PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology 5 credits
  • ACCT 111 Introduction to Accounting I 5 credits
• Quarter Five (Fall)
  • FSE 250 Funeral Service Management and Merchandising 4 credits
  • FSE 256 Funeral Service Options 3 credits
  • FSE 259 Restorative Art and Lab II 3 credits
  • FSE 261 Embalming II with Lab 3 credits
• Quarter Six (Winter)
  • FSE 274 Funeral Service Pathology 3 credits
  • FSE 271 Embalming III with Lab 3 credits
  • FSE 275 Comprehensive Review 3 credits
  • FSE 296 Funeral Service Internship 3 credits

General Education Requirements

• BIOL& 175 Human Biology with Lab 5 credits
• BUS& 201 Business Law 5 credits
• CMST& 220 Introduction to Public Speaking 5 credits
• ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 credits
• MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 credits (or any college-level MATH course with intermediate algebra as the prerequisite)

Diversity and Social Justice Requirement

Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement.

Total Program Credits: 100

CAUTION: Students enrolling in the Funeral Service Education program should contact their respective state board of funeral service regarding that state board’s approval of this particular program of instruction.