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  May 30, 2023
 
2015-2016 Catalog [Aug. 2015-Aug. 2016] 
    
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2015-2016 Catalog [Aug. 2015-Aug. 2016] [Archived Catalog]

Funeral Services (2161) (A.S.)

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Effective Fall term 2014, ACG 2021 - Financial Accounting will be delivered as a three-credit hour course.  Please click here  to read more.

Associate in Science

This is a Limited Access program.

Mission Statement

The Funeral Services Program is an Associate in Science degree (A.S.) program.  It is offered in an innovative and flexible learning environment to develop students who have an interest in becoming professional end-of-life care givers. The curriculum integrates, entry level knowledge of funeral directing, technical skills, and scenarios in an on campus laboratory, The program has an active practicum learning environment by partnering with area funeral professionals to allow the student to experience firsthand and receive knowledge of actual funeral procedures. The program is committed to encourage lifelong learning in a positive non-discriminatory and supportive environment to enhance community involvement, scholarly research, and a better quality life, and respect for the dead.  

The Career

Funeral directors interview the family members of the deceased to facilitate and assist with the arrangements for the funeral services. Services include coordination with clergy members, or other persons who will officiate, the logistics of funerals, preparing obituary notices and having them placed in newspapers, arranging for pallbearers, and clergy, scheduling with the cemetery the opening and closing of a grave, decorating and preparing the sites of all services, and providing for the transportation of the remains, mourners, and flowers between sites. They also direct preparation and shipment of remains for out-of-state burial. Embalming is a sanitary, cosmetic, and preservative process through which the body is prepared for interment. Funeral directors also handle the paperwork involved with the person’s death.

Upon completion of coursework, Florida State College at Jacksonville does not guarantee employment or salary in a given field of study. Any jobs or salaries mentioned are given as examples of potential employment not a representation of a guaranteed income. Graduates may need to seek employment outside the local area.  

The Program

This A.S. degree program in funeral services requires a minimum of two years of college education, but students who have completed all general education courses upon admission to the professional phase of the program may be able to complete the program in a minimum of sixteen (16) months. Because the funeral services program includes mortuary science and basic science courses, high school preparation should include biology and chemistry. In addition, the program includes courses in liberal arts (such as English, humanities, and ethics), sciences (such as anatomy and pathology) and clinical sciences (such as embalming and restorative arts). The Florida licensure process requires passing the National Board Examination (a written comprehensive examination), serving a one-year internship under the direction of a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and passing a Florida examination on rules and regulations. 

A technical certificate, Florida Funeral Director (6154) (T.C.) , is included as an option within this degree program. Students may pursue the A.S. degree and earn a technical certificate while completing the requirements for the degree, or pursue the certificate to develop or upgrade their skills in a particular field. Contact an advisor or counselor to determine the career education path that is best for you.  The Florida Funeral Director (6154) (T.C.)  is NOT accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, ABFSE.  Students graduating from this program are NOT eligible to take the National Board Examination or any state board examination for which graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.  Students are eligible to take the Florida Laws and Rules Exam to practice as licensed Funeral Directors as approved by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services.

A minimum grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all professional core and funeral services courses. 

Department Vision

This program strives to meet the needs of northern Florida for qualified funeral directors and embalmers by providing a training program that is supported by the local Funeral Services community.

Department Mission

Creating competent, ethical, and confident entry-level funeral services directors and embalmers committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

Program Aims

The Funeral Services program at Florida State College at Jacksonville has as its central aim the recognition of the importance of funeral service education personnel as:

  1. members of a human services profession,
  2. members of the community in which they serve,
  3. participants in the relationship between bereaved families and those engaged in the funeral service profession,
  4. professionals knowledgeable of and compliant with federal, state, provincial/territorial and local regulatory guidelines in the state of Florida, as well as
  5. professionals sensitive to the responsibility for public health, safety and welfare in caring for human remains.

Program Objectives

The goals of the Funeral Services program at Florida State College at Jacksonville are as follows.

  1. To enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession;
  2. To educate students in every phase of funeral service and to help enable them to develop proficiency and skills for the profession;
  3. To educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large;
  4. To emphasize high standards of ethical conduct;
  5. To provide a curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction; and
  6. To encourage student and faculty research in the field of funeral service.

Program Accreditation

The Funeral Services program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org

Passage Rate

The annual pass rate of first time takers on the National Board Examination (NBE) for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABFSE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE website (www.abfse.org).

Admission Procedure

  1. Acceptance to Florida State College at Jacksonville.
  2. A minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in all college work to be used for the degree.
  3. Completion of Funeral Services program application.
  4. Completion of the following prerequisite courses: 
     
    or  
     
     
     
      
  5. Proof of high school completion required.  If applicable, all postsecondary transcripts are required.
  6. Three letters of recommendation from persons who are well acquainted with your professional and personal qualifications.
  7. One page typed essay about personal goals and objectives for pursuing a career in Funeral Services.
  8. Health Occupations Test (HOT) scores.
  9. Funeral Services experience documented on official employer letterhead.

National Board Examination (NBE) Statement

The Funeral Services program requires each Funeral Service student to take the National Board Examination (NBE) as a requirement for graduation.

Certification and Licensing

The Florida licensure process requires 1) passing the NBE (a written comprehensive examination), 2) serving a one-year internship under the direction of a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and 3) passing a Florida examination on rules and regulations.

National Board Exam Statistics 

The Directory of Programs is also available online. 

Year

Area

# Takers

# Passed

% Passed

2012

 Arts 13 9 69%
Science 14 10 71%

2013

 Arts 16 14 88%
Science 18 15 83%

2014

 Arts 17 11 65%
Science 15 13 87%

Need More Information? Contact:

Robert Dean, North Campus, (904) 766-6622 or r.dean@fscj.edu

More Information Online:

Recommended Roadmap for this Program  

State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers

Prerequisite Coursework

The required courses for admission to the technical phase of the Funeral Services program must be completed with a grade of “C” or better at a minimum before a student will be considered for admission to the program.

Curriculum

General Education

Credit Hours: 20

Professional Courses

Credit Hours: 11
A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in all Professional Core courses.

Funeral Services Courses

Credit Hours: 41
A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in all Funeral Services courses.

Total Credit Hours: 72

Record of Conviction of a Crime

Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, health care review boards shall refuse to renew a license, certificate or registration, issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to a felony violation of: chapters 409, 817, or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application, terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent 5 years) or terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent 5 years). The Florida nursing or allied health licensure or certification application requires disclosure of any criminal history and the disposition of all cases prior to board review. Being convicted of, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any of the listed felonies in Florida Statute 456.0635 or termination for cause from the statutorily-described Medicaid programs will preclude an applicant from obtaining a nursing or allied health license or certification in the state of Florida. Entry and acceptance into the nursing or allied health program does not guarantee licensure or certification in the State of Florida.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded the Associate in Science degree, students must have met the following requirements:

  1. Students must fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
  2. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) at Florida State College at Jacksonville in courses eligible toward the Associate in Science degree programs, excluding developmental education courses. (A.S. Florida State College at Jacksonville GPA).
  3. Earned an all-college cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) on a 4.0 scale on all courses attempted. This includes Florida State College at Jacksonville college-credit semester hours and transferred credits (excluding developmental education) in lower division courses. (All college cumulative.)
  4. Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total hours required for the program in residence at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Credit by examination and credit by portfolio development do not count toward this residency requirement.
  5. Complete the required semester hours, as specified by the degree, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours must be General Education requirements.
  6. Earned a grade of a C or better in each course used to satisfy the General Education Requirements and any other area designated with a C or better requirement.
  7. Students must have fulfilled all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before they may graduate.

 Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

  1. A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
  2. Students who enter under the (2015/2016) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2015/2016 academic year.  The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
  3. Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite and/or co-requisite courses which are listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
  4. Students who place into developmental education courses are required to complete designated developmental education courses with a grade of “C” or better regardless of program of study.

University Transfer

This Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degree programs are intended primarily for students who desire to complete an Associate in Science degree or an Associate in Applied Science degree and become employed. Students who decide to pursue university transfer study must meet certain course and test requirements. For details refer to the University Transfer Guide.

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