Pre-Mortuary

Advisor:
Mark Binkley
E-mail:  Mark_Binkley@sdstate.edu
College of General Studies
(605)688-4153  

Requirements for a Mortician
Program for the Freshman and Sophomore Years
Useful links for the Pre-Mortuary Student

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Requirements for a Mortician:

To meet the requirements as a mortician, funeral directors need specialized training. All states require those who embalm to be licensed. This field may require up to four years of study of which two years may be taken at this university. Also necessary is specialized training at an accredited school of mortuary science (there are over 50 in the US) and an apprenticeship in an approved funeral home. The curriculum listed below may be altered to meet the licensing requirements of the mortuary science school you plan to attend and the state where you intend to work.

The diversity of funeral service makes it possible to successfully use nearly any academic major as a background. Leaders of the funeral service field are rapidly recognizing the need for educating the total person. Because the funeral director's work is diverse, you must draw upon knowledge of the social and economic fields as well as the scientific and artistic areas which the technical needs of the position require.

The curriculum listed below is a GUIDE ONLY and should be altered to meet the licensing requirements for the state where the student wishes to work.  Students interested in completing a bachelor's degree should work closely with the pre-mortuary advisor since additional courses will be necessary to meet university core requirements.

Program for the Freshman and Sophomore years:

Listed below is a suggested program for the freshman and sophomore years:

FRESHMAN YEAR	Credits
Biol 151, General Biology I	4 credits
Math 102, College Algebra	3 credits
Engl 101, Composition I	3 credits
Psyc 101, General Psychology	3 credits
Religion/Humanities Elective	3 credits
Chem 106, Survey of Chemistry	4 credits
SpCm 101, Fundamentals of Speech	3 credits
Soc 100, Introduction to Sociology	3 credits
Rel 360, Moral & Ethical Perspectives on Death and Dying	3 credits
Humanities Elective	3 credits
SOPHOMORE YEAR	Credits
Acct 210, Principles of Accounting	3 credits
Micr 231, General Microbiology	4 credits
BAdm 350, Legal Environment of Business	3 credits
Social Science Elective	3 credits
Electives - as needed to meet mortuary school or state requirements
SpCm 201, Interpersonal Communication	3 credits
BAdm 360, Organization and Management	3 credits
Hlth 443, Public Health	3 credits
Biol 221, Human Anatomy	4 credits
Electives - as needed to meet mortuary school or state requirements

Useful links for the Pre-Mortuary Student:

National Funeral Director's Association
Mortuary Science Colleges/Programs
University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science
State Funeral Service Licensing Agencies

SDSU Home

College of General Studies
1047 Medary Avenue, Box 511 • South Dakota State University • Brookings, SD 57007
605-688-4153 • Fax: 605-688-5631