2025-2026 College Catalog

Funeral Service (FNS)

 
 Type: Career, Degree (AAS)
Special admissions requirement
Division: Human Services & Emergency Response Pathways

The Funeral Service degree program is designed to prepare the graduate for entry-level positions in the funeral services field. The program combines classroom, laboratory and clinical training experiences. The curriculum follows the guidelines of the American Board of Funeral Service Education.
 

If you have questions related to program admissions or applications, please contact info@northshore.edu or call 978-762-4188.

First Year

Fall

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMP101Composition 1

3
HLS102Anatomy & Physiology for Allied Health

4
PSY102Introduction to Psychology

3
FNS102Introduction to Funeral Service

2
SPE106Interpersonal Communication

3
SOC106Introduction to Sociology

3
Total Credit Hours:18

Spring

Course NumberTitleCredits
CHE115Chemistry of the Human Body

4
BUS100Introduction to Business

3
FNS103Funeral Directing I

3
FNS104Microbiology for Funeral Service

3
ACC108Financial Accounting

3
PSY140Death and Dying

3
Total Credit Hours:19

Second Year

Fall

Course NumberTitleCredits
FNS203Funeral Directing II

3
FNS201Theory of Embalming I

3
FNS202Embalming I Clinical

1
BUS102Business Law

3
FNS204Pathology for Funeral Service

3
REL102Great Religions of the World

3
FNS206Cremation

2
Total Credit Hours:18

Spring

Course NumberTitleCredits
FNS207Theory of Embalming II

3
FNS208Embalming II Clinical

1
FNS210Restorative Art

4
FNS212Funeral Service Law

3
SPE202Intercultural Communication

3
FNS214Funeral Service National Board Exam

3
Total Credit Hours:17

Total Credit Hours: 72

Program Note

Communication and Mathematics proficiency required to graduate.

 
Program Student Learning Outcomes
  • 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.
  • National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.