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Funeral Service Education
Program Overview
Funeral Service professionals work with the bereaved, providing sensitive, effective intervention during a time of emotional need. They also arrange and direct funeral ceremonies, prepare the deceased according to the wishes of the survivors and the requirements of law, and help people adapt to the changes in their lives following the death through grief counseling and assistance with practical matters.
Official Program Descriptions in the College Catalog
Funeral Service Education, A.A.S.
Program Requirements
Funeral directors use counseling to assist families in coping with grief, adjusting to new situations and making appropriate funeral arrangements. Embalmers prepare the remains for visitation and funeral rites. Graduates of the City Park program may be employed as funeral directors and/or embalmers.
Students must:
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Score on the ACT, SAT, or Delgado College Placement test sufficient to place the student in college-level courses.
- If previous college courses have been taken, the student’s cumulative grade point average must be at least 2.5.
- Science courses over 5 years old may require repetition; contact the Allied Health admissions advisor for additional information.
About the Program
City Park’s Funeral Service Education is the only program in Southeastern Louisiana to meet the needs of Louisiana and surrounding states. The 72 credit-hour program leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree and prepares the student for entry-level employment. Students gain practical experience in the various techniques of embalming through the use of modern facilities at local funeral homes, in addition to classroom work. The duration of this program is 24 months.
Prior to enrolling in the college, each applicant must meet the pre-matriculation requirement of the state board in which the student intends to practice.
Program Learning Outcomes
2.1 The mission 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. In support of this mission, a program must adopt at least the following Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of an accredited program, students will be able to:
2.1.1 Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
2.1.2 Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
2.1.3 Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
2.1.4 Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
2.1.5 Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
2.1.6 Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
2.1.7 Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
2.1.8 Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
2.1.9 Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
2.1.10 Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice
Accreditation
The Funeral Service Education associate degree program at Delgado Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.
Program Success Information
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.
Program Information
| Year | Total # of students enrolled | # of New Students | # of Grads | # of Timely Grads* | Graduation Rate | # of Students who Did Not Finish** | Overall % Employed | % Employed in Funeral Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 43 | 21 | 22 | 20/22 | 81% | 5 | 86% | 73% |
| 2022 | 38 | 20 | 16 | 16/16 | 80% | 4 | 81% | 81% |
| 2021 | 31 | 17 | 9 | 7/9 | 78% | 7 | 100% | 89% |
* Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ times designated program length.
** Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort
completing in the designated year)
*** Left before completing the program; did not finish.
National Board Statistics
| arts | takers | school Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | sciences | takers | school Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21 | 76% | 78% | 2023 | 23 | 74% | 69% | |
| 2022 | 15 | 47% | 69% | 2022 | 11 | 64% | 64% | |
| 2021 | 5 | 80% | 68% | 2021 | 4 | 100% | 57% |
School pass rate is based on 1st time test takers within one year of graduation.
Accreditation
Program Accredited by ABFSE: Associate in Applied Science - Funeral Service Education
Initial Accreditation 2000/Last comprehensive review 2019/Next comprehensive review
2026
Re-accreditation: October 2020 for a period of seven (7) years.
Most recent Accreditation decision: October 2020 reaccreditation from date of last
comprehensive review with commendation for the strength and initiative of the program
director, faculty and advisory board.
Helpful Suggestions
In most states, graduates are required to work as interns under the supervision of a licensed funeral director or embalmer for a specified period of time.
Persons interested in funeral service should possess emotional stability, the desire to serve others, and be in good physical health to withstand the irregular working hours and obvious stresses of the job. Good grooming habits are important too.
For More Information
Constance Barrowe, Program Director
504-671-6245
To find out if courses you have taken will transfer to Delgado, call 504-671-6201 and set up an appointment with an Allied Health Advisor to have your transcripts evaluated. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, the student should request the current complete information and application packet from the Allied Health Admissions Office. Persons accepted into the FSED Program will be required to meet the technical standards of the Funeral Service profession. These are available for review in the Allied Health Admissions Office. NOTE: You are strongly advised to meet with the Allied Health Admissions Advisor to review your transcripts at least one semester prior to applying to the program.