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
| CMP101 | Composition 1 | 3 |
| HLS102 | Anatomy & Physiology for Allied Health | 4 |
| PSY102 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| FNS102 | Introduction to Funeral Service | 2 |
| SPE106 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| SOC106 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Spring
| CHE115 | Chemistry of the Human Body | 4 |
| BUS100 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| FNS103 | Funeral Directing I | 3 |
| FNS104 | Microbiology for Funeral Service | 3 |
| ACC108 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| PSY140 | Death and Dying | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Second Year
Fall
| FNS203 | Funeral Directing II | 3 |
| FNS201 | Theory of Embalming I | 3 |
| FNS202 | Embalming I Clinical | 1 |
| BUS102 | Business Law | 3 |
| FNS204 | Pathology for Funeral Service | 3 |
| REL102 | Great Religions of the World | 3 |
| FNS206 | Cremation | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Spring
| FNS207 | Theory of Embalming II | 3 |
| FNS208 | Embalming II Clinical | 1 |
| FNS210 | Restorative Art | 4 |
| FNS212 | Funeral Service Law | 3 |
| SPE202 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| FNS214 | Funeral 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.