The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Mortuary Science program includes studies in public health; business management; natural sciences; legal, ethical and regulatory concerns; and clinical requirements associated with the mortuary field. The curriculum combines coursework in mortuary science with a general education component. The AAS in Mortuary Science degree is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097, 816-233-3747, www.abfse.org. Completion of the courses in the program prepares the student to sit for the National Board examination and begin state internship requirements.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- 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.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.
Embalmers
$50,520 Show expanded career information for Embalmers
Funeral Home Managers
$63,790 Show expanded career information for Funeral Home Managers
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
$45,630 Show expanded career information for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
Formal application and admission to the program is required. Prior to applying to the program, students must have proof of high school graduation or GED and must complete the following required coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.5 prior to entry into the Mortuary Science (MSP) cohort coursework: [(ACC107 or ACC111), BIO160, (BPC+++++ or CIS+++++) (BPC110 or CIS105 recommended), (COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230), (CRE101 or equivalent), (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), GBS205, MGT253, (PSY101 or PSY156), Mathematics (any approved), and Humanities (REL100 recommended)] or have permission of Program Director.
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include AAA/CPD150, AAA/CPD150AC, CPD104, and AAA115/CPD115. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC107 or ACC111 | Bookkeeping Theory And Practice or Accounting Principles I | 3–4 | |||
| BPC+++++ or CIS+++++ | Any BPC Business-Personal Computers course or Any CIS Computer Information Systems course | BPC110 OR CIS105 recommended | 1–3 | ||
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| GBS205 | Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business | 3 | |||
| MAT112 | Mathematical Concepts and Applications | OR equivalent or satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course. Note that students who desire to transfer should choose from the MAT14+ or MAT15+ options. | 3 | ||
| MGT253 | Owning and Operating a Small Business | 3 | |||
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 or AAA/CPD150AC or CPD104 | Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success or Educational and Career Planning or Career and Personal Development | 0–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | Critical course | SQ | 4 | |
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Course must be completed prior to entering the program | SB or L | 3 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 or ENG111 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing | FYC or L | 3 | ||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | REL100 recommended. | HU | 3 | |
| PSY101 or PSY156 | Introduction to Psychology or Understanding Death and Dying | Students who desire to transfer should choose PSY101. | SB or | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP101 | Orientation to Funeral Service | Gateway course | 1 | ||
| MSP105 | Crematory Operator Training | 0.5 | |||
| MSP201 | History and Sociology of Funeral Service | 3 | |||
| MSP202 | Embalming | Critical course | 3 | ||
| MSP202LL | Embalming Lab | Critical course | 1 | ||
| MSP203 | Microbiology For Funeral Service | 3 | |||
| MSP204 | Chemistry for Funeral Service | 3 | |||
| MSP205 | Mortuary Administration I | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP206 | Mortuary Administration II | 3 | |||
| MSP207 | Mortuary Science Restorative Art | 3 | |||
| MSP207LL | Mortuary Science Restorative Art Lab | 1 | |||
| MSP208 | Legal, Regulatory, and Ethical Issues in Funeral Service | 3 | |||
| MSP209 | Pathology for Funeral Service | 3 | |||
| MSP210 | Counseling for Funeral Service | 2 | |||
| MSP211 | Compendium for Funeral Service | 2 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Associate in Applied Science in Mortuary Science (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=162677).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. Other versions of this pathway map from different catalog years are available below:
| Catalog Year | Effective Dates |
|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 5/24/2021 |