The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service (backup 27JUNE)

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service is issued to students who complete the college level curriculum of funeral service arts and sciences. This degree is designed to lead students to licensure and employment as a funeral director and embalmer. The A.A.S. Degree in Funeral Service program and Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Website: www.abfse.org

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service (A.A.S.) is designed to teach students the skills and abilities essential for employment as an embalmer and funeral director. Graduates of this program will be able to disinfect, preserve, and/ or restore human remains through embalming and restorative art for the purposes of viewing, services/rites, and final disposition. They will learn how to conduct various funeral service ceremonies. Additionally, they will be able to conduct funeral arrangement conferences with families, prepare necessary funeral home paperwork, perform funerary management tasks, and be aware of proper workplace safety guidelines for funeral service personnel.

Graduates of this program may find entry-level employment as an apprentice/intern/provisional licensee with funeral homes, embalming services, cemeteries, and affiliated funeral service companies. Individuals seeking these credentials must also meet the requirements of the appropriate state licensing agencies.

As a part of this academic program, students will also become certified crematory operators through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). This training is provided online and is embedded in the Cremation and Modern Funeral Service course.

To earn the A.A.S. degree, the student must fulfill all requirements for the General Education Core of 24 quarter credit hours as outlined in this catalog section, the Specialized and Related Courses, and all clinical labs and externships. The A.A.S. degree is an accelerated program. Students will be able to complete the program in 15 months (five, eleven-week quarters). If a student transfers all of the General Education Courses, then they will be able to complete the program in 12 months (four, eleven-week quarters). The A.A.S. degree program is intended to be taken as a full-time curriculum. Classes are not allowed to be taken on a part-time basis except in certain, special circumstances whereby transfer credit has been granted.

All A.A.S. degree students, campus and online, must complete the curricular labs and externships as a requirement for graduation. These translate the theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom into practical, hands-on experience. Included are the three following areas: funeral directing, embalming, and restorative art.

Campus AAS: In general, campus degree students will complete all lab and externship requirements on the CIFS campus. The only exception is the Funeral Directing Externship activities which cannot be completed in a mock setting and is an assignment during the 1st quarter of specialized courses. Embalming is done during the 3rd quarter of specialized courses; one afternoon per week according to a preset schedule. During the 4th quarter of specialized courses, campus students will complete both the Restorative Art Lab and the Funeral Directing Externship arrangements. These 4th quarter requirements typically take place during normal school hours.

If the general education courses are taken on campus at CIFS, then the total tuition and fees will be $17,463; payable as follows: $50 application fee due with application, $50 graduation fee due 30 days prior to graduation, and $17,363 tuition (97 quarter credit hours multiplied by $179).

If all general education courses are transferred to CIFS, then the total tuition and fees will be $13,167; payable as follows: $50 application fee due with application, $50 graduation fee due 30 days prior to graduation, and $13,067 tuition (73 quarter credit hours multiplied by $179).