START YOUR CAREER AS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR

The Pre-Mortuary Science program offered at U of M Crookston is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota Crookston and Twin Cities campuses. Students will take classes at U of M Crookston for their first two years, then will apply for admission to the Program of Mortuary Science at the Twin Cities campus to complete their final two years of education. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to pursue a rewarding career as a funeral director. As a funeral director, you will serve bereaved members of the community in a manner that is proficient, dignified, and caring.

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Program Features

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The suggested program plan is a recommended list of courses based on the Crookston Liberal Education requirements, Mortuary Science Prerequisite equivalents, and Mortuary Science Program requirement equivalents.

Crookston Courses
(Years 1 and 2)
  • ACCT 2101: Principles of Accounting (3 credits) or MORT 3009 (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1009: General Biology (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1001: Introductory Chemistry (4 credits)
  • COMM 1101: Public Speaking (3 credits)
    or COMM 2002: Interpersonal Comm (3 credits)
  • COMM 3002: Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
  • COMP 1011: Composition I (3 credits)
    and COMP 1013: Composition II (3 credits)
  • HSM 1010: Medical Terminology (2 credits)
  • MATH 1031: College Algebra (3 credits)
  • PHIL 1001: Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits) {writing intensive}
  • PHIL 2002: Introduction to Ethics (3 credits) {writing intensive}
  • PSY 1001: General Psychology (3 credits)
  • SOC 1001: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
  • SOC 3005: Sociology of the Family (3 credits)
  • UMC 1200: Intro to University Life (2 credits)
    or UMC 1202: Topics in Problem Solving (1 credit)

Writing Intensive Options

  • COMM 3008: Business Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 1016: American Literature: Race, Gender, Class, & the American Dream (3 credits)
  • ENGL 3005: Ancient to 17th Century World Literature (3 credits)
  • HUM 1301: Introduction to Humanities (3 credits)
  • HUM 3310: Culture and Technology (3 credits)
  • WRIT 3303: Writing in Your Profession (3 credits)
Twin Cities Courses
(Years 3 and 4)
  • MORT 3014 - Funeral Service Rules and Regulations (2)
  • MORT 3018 - Funeral Service Practice I (3)
  • MORT 3019 - Funeral Service Practice II (3)
  • MORT 3031 - Funeral Service Law (2)
  • MORT 3048 - Microbiology and Pathology for Funeral Service (4)
  • MORT 3051 - Restorative Art (3)
  • MORT 3061 - Embalming Theory (3)
  • MORT 3065 - Embalming Chemistry (3)
  • MORT 3151 - Restorative Art Laboratory (1)
  • MORT 3161 - Embalming Laboratory (1)
  • MORT 3171 - Human Anatomy Laboratory (2)
  • MORT 3012W - Organization and Management of Funeral Business (3)
  • MORT 3016 - Funeral Service Marketing and Merchandising (3)
  • MORT 3021W - Funeral Service Psychology and Arrangements Theory (3)
  • MORT 3022W - Funeral Service Arrangements Laboratory (4)
  • MORT 3371 - Funeral Rites & Customs (3)
  • MORT 3379 - Clinical Funeral Service Rotation (6)
  • MORT 3384 - Capstone (1)

 

HOW IT WORKS

U of M Crookston works closely with the Mortuary Science program on the U of M Twin Cities campus.  Our students can attend Crookston for either one or two years, and if they perform successfully in their coursework and other requirements of our Pre-Mortuary Science program, will receive preferential admission into the Mortuary Science program on the Minneapolis campus.  By working closely with their advisors, students can still finish the B.S.  Mortuary Science degree in four years.

EDUCATION AND TRANING

Each state has its own funeral director licensing regulations. Most require a combination of post-secondary education (Associates or Bachelor’s Degree program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Association), the passage of the National Board Examination, and a 1-2 year internship within a funeral home, and completion of the national board and/or state licensing examination. Minnesota requires passing the State Licensing Exam and both the Arts and Science sections of the National Board Exam.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

A mortuary science degree prepares you for a rewarding career as a funeral director. As a funeral director, you will prepare descendants for their final resting place (embalming and restoration, cremation). You will also work with families of the recently deceased before and during the funeral and assist with preplanning funeral arrangements. Your job will be to provide guidance and a meaningful experience to people during a devastating time in their lives.

On a national basis, there are generally more jobs available than there are licensed funeral directors to fill them. 

On-Campus Pre-Mortuary Science

at a glance...

Prioritized admission to the UMN Twin Cities’ Program of Mortuary Science.

2+2 Program: Students will start at the Crookston campus and complete general education courses before transitioning to the Twin Cities campus for Mortuary Science courses.

Earn a University of Minnesota degree and only 1 of 4 Bachelor of Science degrees for Mortuary Science in the U.S.

98% job placement for University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program graduates.

Alumni network of 4,400 program graduates.

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