Oct 04, 2024  
Catalog 2023-2024 
    
Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Funeral Service Education, AAS


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100 CREDITS

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 Funeral Service Education Associate of Applied Science degree program 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: 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 communication, critical thinking, cultural humility, information literacy, and teamwork skills
  • meet Humanities , Quantitative Reasoning , Social Science , and Written Communication  general education 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.

Admission Requirements and Prerequisites


Admission Requirements

Entry into the Funeral Service Education program requires completion of the admissions application for the college and completion of the admissions packet for the program before enrolling in Funeral Service Education classes toward the Associate of Applied Science degree.

All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

High school or previous college transcripts must be mailed to Enrollment Services, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98034.

To comply with the American Board of Funeral Service Education Standard 9.2.3.a Transcript of high school or college work, received directly from the institution from which the credits were received.

Applicants for admission should contact their respective state boards of funeral service regarding that state board’s approval of this particular program of instruction.

Prerequisites

High school completion or GED or satisfactory completion of nine semester-based or 13.5 quarter-based post-secondary credits, exclusive of developmental courses.

The following courses must also be completed prior to beginning FSE technical coursework and count towards the program’s general education requirements. Students who begin the program in fall should complete these courses no later than summer quarter.

General Education Requirements


Diversity and Social Justice Requirement


Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement. DSJ courses are designated in the college schedule and are designed to meet other general education or technical requirements simultaneous to meeting the DSJ requirement (e.g., ENGL& 101 with the DSJ attribute meets both the ENGL& 101 requirement and the DSJ requirement).

Note: Not all sections of a course meet the DSJ requirement. Students should review the class information to ensure the class section includes “course attributes: meets diversity requirement.”

Visit the DSJ requirement webpage to view the current list of general education and technical courses that meet the requirement.

Students who have taken a DSJ class in a previous certificate or degree, do not have to take another DSJ class.

Total Program Credits: 100


CAUTION: Students enrolling in the Funeral Service Education program should contact their respective state board of funeral service regarding that state board’s approval of this particular program of instruction.

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