Mortuary Science

The Profession
Funeral directors provide support to the bereaved during initial stages of their grief; they remove the deceased from the place of death, prepare the body according to the wishes of the survivors and requirements of the law, secure information for legal documents, direct funeral ceremonies, and help individuals adapt to changes in their lives following a death through post-death counseling and support group activities.

Undergraduate coursework generally includes: anatomy and physiology, pathology, embalming procedures, restorative arts, psychological aspects of death and dying, grief or bereavement counseling, funeral home management, and legal requirements.

An individualized apprenticeship with a funeral director or licensed embalmer is also required for licensure. Look here for a list of clinical sites used for the University's mortuary science program.

Self-Assessment
In high school, prospective students should take laboratory science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics as well as psychology courses in order to prepare for admission to undergraduate programs in mortuary science. Work or internship experiences in funeral homes are another good way for students to learn more about the practical aspects and necessary characteristics of working in the field.

Funeral directors often work irregular hours and sometimes on an on-call basis with evening and weekend shifts. Working as a funeral director can be stressful and emotionally demanding. In addition to technical and scientific skills, prospective funeral directors should also exhibit tact and compassion for their work as helping professionals.

Read these student stories to learn about why these students chose mortuary science.

Exploring Options
In Minnesota, employment for funeral directors is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations. There will be job openings associated with retirements and meeting the needs of the aging population in the next decade. Funeral directors practice in both small homes and, increasingly, as part of large corporations. Look here for salary information.