Funeral Service Education, AAS

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Program Admission Dates: Fall

Program Mission: The AAS Funeral Service Education degree prepares students to achieve entry-level proficiency as embalmers and funeral directors.

Funeral service professionals provide counsel, service, and emotional support for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Students also learn how to manage a successful business in the high-tech global economy.

The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education at Lake Washington Institute of Technology 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.

Funeral Service Education AAS degree graduates will:

• be prepared for entry level positions as a funeral director and embalmer
• recognize the historical roots of contemporary funeral service practices
• use appropriate terminology to facilitate communication with members of allied professions, the public, and the funeral service industry
• differentiate among the representative chemicals in embalming fluid (arterial, cavity, and accessory) and describe their respective functions and chemical principles
• discuss and demonstrate safe environmental work practices through proper disposal of contaminated materials, and proper methods of disposal of blood and body fluids during and following the embalming process
• explain and demonstrate the preparation of the infant, autopsy and non-autopsy embalming techniques and procedures while demonstrating and describing the use of embalming instruments, equipment and sundries, and embalming techniques and procedures
• comply with OSHA’s hazard communication standard, formaldehyde standard, and bloodborne pathogens standard
• identify the purpose of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), describe its effect on funeral service and who must comply with the FTC Funeral Industry Practices Rule, explain how to comply and follow the FTC Rule
• identify the pathological conditions and etiological factors which require special procedures in the removal, handling, preparation, and disposition of human remains.
• identify the laws, rules, regulations and management practices affecting funeral service and adhere to a standard of ethical behavior in personal and professional conduct
• be  prepared to succeed on the National Board Exam and the state board exam
• demonstrate critical thinking, teamwork, communication, intercultural appreciation, and information literacy skills
• meet Social Science, Humanities, Written Communication, and Quantitative Reasoning distribution area outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

The Central Objective of the Funeral Service Education AAS degree  at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is 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 objective the following are the Program’s Learning Outcomes:

• 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.

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. To request a printed copy of this program’s rates, go to the Funeral Service Education office, Room A109, Allied Health Building or by email at lisa.meehan@lwtech.edu or by telephone at (425) 739-8306.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.