Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Mortuary Science B.S.Medical School - Adm
Medical School
The program of mortuary science at the University of Minnesota, established in 1908, was the first program of its kind to be organized at a state university.
For detailed information, please visit the program's website (www.med.umn.edu/mortuaryscience), or contact the program office via email mortsci@umn.edu or phone 612-624-6464.
ACCREDITATION:
The Mortuary Science degree program at the University of Minnesota is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, New Jersey 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.
National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE- accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.
OUR MISSION:
Funeral directors are health care professionals who serve others during a time of loss, pain, and grief. The Program of Mortuary Science's mission is to skillfully combine the study of behavioral, physical, and applied sciences for the goal of preparing graduates for careers as knowledgeable, skilled, and innovative funeral service professionals. Program graduates will be prepared to serve bereaved members of their communities in a manner that is proficient, dignified, and caring.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The central objective of an ABFSE-accredited program must be to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service.
Upon completion of an accredited program, students will be able 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.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
Students must complete
26 credits
before admission to the program.
Freshman and transfer students are usually admitted to pre-major status
before admission to this major.
Applicants must provide the program with two letters of recommendation and a professional statement as part of the application process. Criteria for the letters of recommendation and professional statement are found on the program's Web site: www.med.umn.edu/mortuaryscience.
Upon admission, students are required to submit proof of certain immunizations, vaccinations, and health insurance per Academic Health Sciences policy, https://healthsciedu.umn.edu/policies.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
Required prerequisites
Prerequisite Courses
The following courses, or equivalent courses as approved by the program, are prerequisites for program courses. Equivalent course substitutions may be approved by the program. Contact the program office for more information mortsci@umn.edu or 612-624-6464.
ACCT 2051 - Introduction to Financial Reporting
(4.0 cr)
PSY 1001 - Introduction to Psychology
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
SOC 1001 - Introduction to Sociology
[SOCS, DSJ]
(4.0 cr)
COMM 3402 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 3401 - Introduction to Communication Theory
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 3411 - Introduction to Small Group Communication
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 3441 - Introduction to Organizational Communication
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 1101 - Introduction to Public Speaking
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Prior to being cleared for graduation, all students are required to: 1) attend a National Board Examination information review session, 2) take the practice National Board Examination (PNBE), and 3) write an analysis paper on their PNBE results. Students’ PNBE scores and paper must be submitted by the last day of the academic term in which they plan to graduate.
Sciences
MORT 2171 - Introductory Anatomy
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3048 - Microbiology and Pathology for Funeral Service
(4.0 cr)
MORT 3051 - Restorative Art
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3061 - Embalming Theory
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3065 - Embalming Chemistry
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3151 - Restorative Art Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
MORT 3161 - Embalming Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
MORT 3171 - Human Anatomy Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
Theory
MORT 3012W - Organization and Management of Funeral Business
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3016 - Funeral Service Marketing and Merchandising
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3021W - Funeral Service Psychology and Arrangements Theory
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
MORT 3022W - Funeral Service Arrangements Laboratory
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
MORT 3371 - Funeral Service Rites, Customs, and Ceremonies
(3.0 cr)
Clinical Rotation
Students are required to complete two clinical rotations totaling a minimum of 6 credits and no more than 12 credits. One rotation must be completed during May session. The other may be completed in the fall, spring, or summer term.
MORT 3379 - Clinical Funeral Service Rotation
(1.0-6.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the Major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
MORT 3012W - Organization and Management of Funeral Business
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
MORT 3021W - Funeral Service Psychology and Arrangements Theory
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
MORT 3022W - Funeral Service Arrangements Laboratory
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Acct 2050/ApEc 1251/Dbln 2051 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PSTL 1281/Psy 1001/Psy 1001H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soc 1001/Soc 1011V/Soc 1012W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 1101/Comm 1101H/PSTL 1461 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phar 1002/Phar 5201 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 18.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |