FSE 250 Funeral Service Management and Merchandising

4 credits

This course is a broad overview of the basic principles of Funeral Service Management. General management theory is applied to funeral service practice with a focus on concepts, functions, and areas of management. In addition, trends in funeral service and disaster preparedness are explored. The curriculum guideline for Funeral Merchandising is designed to introduce the funeral service student to the basics of merchandising as they apply to the funeral profession. Funeral providers, as defined by the FTC in 1984, offer both service and merchandise. This outline considers both service and merchandise as the products provided by funeral service practitioners.

Prerequisites: ACCT 111, BUSA 180, BUS& 201, FSE 101, FSE 130, and FSE 140

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Differentiate the goals and objectives of funeral service management
Relate management functions to funeral service practice
Identify and apply concepts of funeral service management related to client-families, community, employees, professional associates and other funeral service related organizations
Correlate various areas of management (human resource, financial, marketing, 20 facilities, and office) to funeral service practice
Apply the Servant Leadership model to the practice of funeral service
Compare and contrast motivational theories as applied to employee behavior
Create and apply operational policies and procedures specific to funeral service
Discuss procedures and responsibilities related to disaster readiness
Explore trends in funeral service and how they impact management functions
Recognize the importance of regulatory compliance for funeral service operations
Identify situations requiring the advice of other professionals/experts in fields such as legal, accounting, financial and insurance
Demonstrate knowledge of funeral and cemetery merchandise to facilitate communications with client families, colleagues, and sales representatives
Identify the component parts of funeral and cemetery merchandise, including: materials, styles, finishes, dimensions, and functions
Demonstrate conceptual and practical knowledge of factors and strategies for determining product mix
Differentiate between methods of price determination and price quotation
Demonstrate knowledge of effective methods of merchandise display
Utilize techniques for the effective presentation of merchandise and services
Discuss the importance of evaluating sales
Explain the concepts of pet disposition

Program Outcomes
This course teaches to the following program outcomes:

Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve
Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains
Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment
Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice

Total Hours: 40 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 40