Mortuary Science

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 Mortuary Science associate 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.

This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).

Details

Field of Interest
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Mortuary Science (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3765
Total credits required
70-83
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Admission criteria

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 2.75 prior to entry into the Mortuary Science (MSP) cohort coursework: [(ACC107 or ACC111), BIO160 or (BIO201 and BIO202), (BPC+++++ or CIS+++++) (BPC110 or CIS105 recommended), (COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230), (CRE101 or equivalent), (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), (GBS205 or GBS206 or GBS207 or PHI214), (GBS151 or MGT175 or MGT251 or MGT253), (PSY101 or PHY132 or PSY156), Mathematics (any approved), and Humanities (REL100 recommended)] or have permission of Program Director.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • 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.
Career Statistics

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 wages* for this degree. 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. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Embalmers
$39,150
Funeral Home Managers
$60,100
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
$53,240

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

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 Degree Progress Report 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 FYE101 and FYE103. 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
Mathematics Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area Note that students who desire to transfer should choose from the MAT14+ or MAT15+ options. 3–6
Humanities Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area. REL100 recommended. 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO160 or
BIO201		 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I SQ or SG 4
BPC+++++ or
CIS+++++		 Any BPC Business-Personal Computers course or Any CIS Computer Information Systems course BPC110 or CIS105 recommended. 1–3
GBS151 or
MGT175 or
MGT251 or
MGT253		 Introduction to Business or Business Organization and Management or Human Relations in Business or Owning and Operating a Small Business 3
ENG102 or
ENG108 or
ENG111		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing FYC or FYC or L 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ACC107 or
ACC111 or
ACC211 or
ACC212		 Bookkeeping Theory And Practice or Accounting Principles I or Financial Accounting or Managerial Accounting 3–4
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II BIO202 should be taken if BIO201 was selected in term 2 SG 0–4
GBS205 or
GBS206 or
GBS207 or
PHI214		 Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business or Business Law (UCC) or Business Law (General Corporate) or Business Ethics None or HU, L 3
PSY101 or
PSY132 or
PSY156		 Introduction to Psychology or Psychology and Culture or Understanding Death and Dying Note that students who desire to transfer should choose PSY101. SB or C, G, SB or None 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MSP101 Mortuary Science: Orientation and History 3
MSP105 Cremation for Mortuary Science 1
MSP201 Mortuary Science, Sociology, and Religion 3
MSP202 Embalming Laboratory 1
MSP202LL Embalming Lab 1
MSP203 Microbiology for Mortuary Science 3
MSP204 Chemistry for Mortuary Science 3
MSP205 Funeral Directing I 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MSP206 Funeral Directing II 3
MSP207 Restorative Art Laboratory 1
MSP207LL Mortuary Science Restorative Art Lab 1
MSP208 Funeral Service Law: Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Considerations 3
MSP209 Pathology for Mortuary Science 3
MSP210 Psychology and Counseling for Mortuary Science 2
MSP211 Compendium for Mortuary Science 3
Course Area Key
  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=187865).

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.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Mortuary Science