Mortuary Science
Did you know decomposing bodies almost always have a lime-green abdomen? Did you know a deceased body can be in varying stages of mortis – rigor mortis, livor mortis, or algor mortis? Rigor affects both smooth and skeletal muscles, including hair follicles resulting in postmortem “goose bumps”. Did you know the American Board of Funeral Service Education refers to the job of a mortician as “depression proof”? This is a career field that is only expected to grow with each passing year.
It takes the typical student two years to complete the pre-requisite courses necessary for admission to professional school. Two additional years will need to be completed in mortician school in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Sample plan of study
Year 1
| BIOL 101/101L | General Biology I & Lab | 4 hrs |
| CHEM 131/131L | College Chemistry I & Lab | 4 hrs |
| CHEM 132/132L | College Chemistry II & Lab | 4 hrs |
| ACTG 241 | Accounting Principles I | 3 hrs |
| ACTG 242 | Accounting Principles II | 3 hrs |
| ENG 135 or 136 | Composition | 3 hrs |
| ENG 137 | Technical Writing | 3 hrs |
| PSYC 131 | Intro to Psychology | 3 hrs |
| SOC 231 | Intro Sociology | 3 hrs |
Year 2
| BA 337 | Business Law 3 hrs | |
| BIOL 132 | Medical Terminology | 2 hrs |
| BIOL 240/240L | Anatomy & Phys I & Lab | 4 hrs |
| BIOL 242/242L | Anatomy & Phys II & Lab | 4 hrs |
| ES 3 | Communications | 3 hrs |
| FCS 320 | Aging & Death | 3 hrs |
| MGMT 230 | Principles Management | 3 hrs |
| PHIL 336 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 hrs |
| PSYC 243 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 hrs |
| PSYC 254 | Developmental Psychology | 3 hrs |
PLEASE NOTE: This is for informational purposes only. For class schedules & for courses required for admission into specific mortuary science programs, please see an advisor and your prospective professional school website.