Care For The Deceased And Comfort For The Living: Mortuary Science and Funeral Studies
Do you feel that the deceased should be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve? Would you like to work in an industry that offers comfort and closure to the bereaved? With a degree in mortuary science and funeral studies you can prepare yourself for a career as funeral director or mortician. This degree can help you to gain access to a career field that dates back to ancient times and even in our modern age funeral homes are still a necessity. While popular culture often depicts the funeral service industry as lonely and morbid, there are also plenty of opportunities to interact with people and make a positive impact on their lives.
Mortuary
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Completing this degree may make students eligible for entry level licensed mortician work and the ability to complete the National Board Examination. Course topics that may form part of this degree include human anatomy for mortuary science, microbiology for mortuary science, embalming theory, funeral service principles, mortuary management and mortuary laws and practices. The duration for this type of degree is usually about two years.
Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service
This four year degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practice required to pursue careers in the funeral service. The programme structure typically includes courses such as funeral service psychology, mortuary anatomy, pathology, mortuary law, embalming chemistry and funeral service counseling.
Mortuary Science and Funeral Studies FAQs
Can Mortuary Science and Funeral Studies Degrees Be Earned
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Because the funeral service industry is one that deals with the living as well as the dead, it will be a big advantage if you are compassionate. However, since careers in this field can also take a toll, it is just as important that you are able to handle the mental and emotional strain that comes from dealing with bodies.
What Are My Potential Career Options After Completing This Type of Degree?
Students who complete a degree in mortuary science and funeral studies typically go on to work as a funeral director at a funeral home. In addition to working as a director at a funeral home you can also start your own funeral service business with the right degree along with a state license.
What Are The Licensing Requirements To Work As A Funeral Director?
The licensing requirements to work as a funeral director differs between certain states, but typically involves at least an associate degree in mortuary science, passing the national board and have a certain amount of apprenticeship hours. Students must also be 18 years or older and free of any criminal record acts that could be grounds for denial of
The article was an enjoyment to read. It provides an insider's view of what goes on in the mortuary, where not many people can access. It deals with a subject which people do not usually seek information on but are nonetheless intrigued by. The style lessens the formality of the subject, which makes it less scary to deal with. The descriptive language is effectively used. The expression of the author's feeling and thoughts encourages empathy from the reader with the author.
Each person has their own reason why the work in the funeral industry. Some people find it a “calling”. Others see it as a job only they can do. I do it because I enjoy helping people during a dark time and I don’t feel squeamish or sick when I handle remains. This is an occupation that is needed. People do not like to be reminded of their mortality, and when they experience death, it is shocking. We are here so that we can help them move past that shock and understand and accept their loss. We’re here to care for the deceased with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves in death.
In the past four decades the cost of a funeral service has risen 1,328% (Boring) and that’s not just because Morticians wanted to out of pure greed. One must take into account that modern mortuaries are much more of a business than before. Prior to 1970, the majority of funeral homes were were independent, family run. Today about 14% of funeral homes are run by a publicly traded corporation (Boring) meaning there’s a plethora of capital involved in these businesses now. The homes are built better and by professionals rather than by individuals with some tools, the home’s are extremely more sanitary since there’s more than likely no one living in these funeral homes unlike before, and the quality of the products these services are providing is greater than before.
“In most human society's death is an extremely important cultural and social phenomenon, sometimes more important than birth” (Ohnuki-Tierney, Angrosino, & Daar et al. 1994). In the United States of America, when a body dies it is cherished, mourned over, and given respect by the ones that knew the person. It is sent to the morgue and from there the family decides how the body should be buried or cremated based on...
To better understand if these numbers represent commonalities in the funeral services industry it is essential to compare SCI to its closest market
‘…the characters’ strength was a direct result of their necessary stoicism in the face of so much hostility.’ Discuss the role of women in Burial Rites.
Forensic anthropology is going to be useful in this profession because I will be able to determine things by analyzing the victim’s bones not just by looking at the soft tissue or what appears on the surface. The tools I will learn with this minor are going to set me apart from other applicants. They will bring a whole new set of skills to the table that maybe someone else cannot offer. Such as analyzing the bugs that are found on the body to help determine time of
the size of the funeral home at which you work and the number of cases handled.
In order to become a forensic pathologist, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree, a medical degree, then finally
A funeral is an important event that should be planned with careful consideration, as each person only gets one to celebrate his or her life. People often die expectantly and suddenly leaving any funeral and burial arrangements in the hands of friends or relatives. These friends or family of the deceased may or may not have a good understanding of what the deceased would have preferred in his or her post death arrangements. A person planning his or her own funeral can prevent this guessing game and insure the arrangements are to their specifications.
Imagine yourself as a mortician, certified as an embalmer, retort operator, funeral director, and a funeral cosmetologist. You get a call late at night, there’s been a terrible accident and someone has died. You arrive at the hospital and are directed to a small room where the body of the deceased is being held. There’s blood all over the sheets as the doctor and coronary assistant zip up the body bag and inform you the body was badly mangled in a car accident, which is going to make reconstructing the deceased very difficult. Your assistant puts the body on the stretcher and loads it into the hearse while you talk to the wife of the deceased man. She tells you they plan to have a funeral so you give her your card and a reassuring word before leaving the hospital and driving back to the funeral home. Now your job begins, not only will you have to reconstruct this man’s disfigured body, but you must meet with the family, discuss funeral arrangements, and deal with the family’s emotional trauma that comes with losing a loved one. Although working in the funeral business can be emotionally draining, it’s a satisfying feeling to see mourning families able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Despite the fact that working so closely with the deceased can be chilling, Mortuary science can be a thrilling field to work in.
Most people dismiss anything having to do with death out of fear. The uncertainty some associate with death has caused Funeral Service to be a particularly taboo subject in society. One may assume funeral directors are the sketchy personalities enthralled with death, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Over the years, Funeral Service has progressed and become a larger industry. Funeral Service has changed in its history over time, affecting the education required, and the job they do today.
Death is something that no one wants to go through or have to deal with, especially concerning the loss of loved ones. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go through life without experiencing this loss. Throughout the past several decades, the way that we view death and the funeral industry has changed significantly. Recently, it has seemed much more apparent that funeral industries are using death as a means of getting rich. But why?
The education level chosen depends on what kind of forensic job you are interested in and what salary you are going for. Most entry-level forensic positions require a bachelor’s degree in forensic or natural science (see Anne 1996). Undergraduate programs consist of toxicology, biochemistry, and criminal justice classes. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences also recommends English classes. This is because forensic scientists need very honed written and oral communication capabilities to write detailed reports and testify to physical evidence in court.
In the face of the universal fact of death, attitudes to the corpse are various and changeable. These attitudes are formed through the practices of treatment of the dead and are embodied in various ways (Parker Pearson 1999, p. 45).