Mortuary Science

Program Prerequisites and General Education - 24-26 Credits

Program Requirements - 46 Credits

• BIOL 130 - Human Anatomy for Mortuary Science 3 Credits.
• BIOL 245 - Microbiology for Mortuary Science 3 Credits.
• BIOL 252 - Physiological Pathology 3 Credits.
• MORS 106 - Thanatochemistry 2 Credits.
• MORS 101 - Funeral Service Principles I 3 Credits.
• MORS 102 - Funeral Service Principles II 3 Credits.
• MORS 111 - Embalming Theory I 2 Credits.
• MORS 112 - Embalming Laboratory I 1 Credits.
• MORS 113 - Embalming Theory II 2 Credits.
• MORS 114 - Embalming Laboratory II 1 Credits.
• MORS 115 - Advanced Embalming Theory 2 Credits.
• MORS 121 - Restorative Art - Surface Anatomy 2 Credits.
• MORS 122 - Restorative Art - Color and Cosmetics 2 Credits.
• MORS 131 - Mortuary Management I 3 Credits.
• MORS 132 - Mortuary Management II 3 Credits.
• MORS 141 - Mortuary Laws and Practices I 2 Credits.
• MORS 142 - Mortuary Laws and Practices II 3 Credits.
• MORS 151 - Thanatology 3 Credits.
• MORS 200 - Funeral Service Seminar 3 Credits.

Total Credits Required for Degree: 70*

*A new college orientation requirement, completion of the one-credit ACDV 101  course, Transitioning to College, went into effect spring 2010. If you are a credit student who is new to the college (meaning you have not successfully completed college coursework at another institution(s)), you are required to take ACDV 101  during your first semester at CCBC. This must be completed prior to completing the Selective Admission process and entering the Mortuary Science program. Students are required to provide an official transcript(s) to document successful completion of college coursework at another institution(s) in order for this requirement to be waived.

Note:

1. Students must first complete CCBC general education requirements, general education electives, and program prerequisites prior to applying to the Mortuary Science Program.
2. Once students enter the Mortuary Science Program, they have four years to complete the A.A.S. degree and must take the National Board Examination which is mandatory for graduation.
3. Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or higher in all courses required for the Mortuary Science Program. This includes general education requirements, general education electives, program prerequisites and program courses.

The A.A.S. Degree in Mortuary Science Program at the Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506; 816-233-3747; Web site: (www.ABFSE.org).

The annual passage rate of first-time takers on the National Board Examination (NBE) for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABFSE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE website: (www.ABFSE.org).

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate competency skills of an entry level licensed Mortician to work in funeral service;
2. successfully complete the National Board Examination (NBE);
3. demonstrate skills that will enable the student to be culturally knowledgeable as a funeral service practitioner;
4. create relationships with professionals involved directly or indirectly with funeral service, i.e., cemeteries, crematoriums, funeral sundry suppliers, counselors, hospice centers, and other similar associations; and
5. explain the various professional associations at a local, state, and national level.

Program Description:

The Associate’s of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science is required for mortician licensure in the State of Maryland. This curriculum is nationally accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, 816-233-3747, and is designed to train students for positions as morticians and prepare them to meet the State’s licensing requirements. The Maryland State Board of Morticians requires 1,000 hours of apprenticeship with 20 funeral assists and 20 embalming assists. In order to be eligible for an apprenticeship, two-thirds of the educational requirements (46 credits) must be met with a 2.0 grade point average, to be verified with an official copy of the college transcript before the individual petitions the Board for an approval of an apprenticeship program.

Students who elect this curriculum should recognize that certain specialized courses may not transfer to some four-year colleges. As a graduation requirement, students must take the National Board Examination. They must also make application with the Maryland State Board of Morticians to take the Maryland Mortuary Science Law and Practical Examination. It is the responsibility of out-of-state students to familiarize themselves with their own state’s licensing laws as they relate to apprenticeship and educational requirements.

Mortuary Science is a degree program within CCBC’s School of Health Professions (SHP). Admission is a separate process from admission to CCBC. Admission to the college does not imply admission into the Mortuary Science program and is competitive and selective depending upon grades in prerequisite courses and overall CCBC GPA. For details, see the program packet at www.ccbcmd.edu/allied_health/mors_admission_reqmnts.html. It is also strongly recommended that prospective students attend an information session and meet with the case manager for the MORS program, Ms. Gwyn Degner, to plan a course of study. Call 443-840-4382 to schedule an appointment with Ms. Gwyn Degner. The deadline to apply to the MORS program is June 15 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.

School of Health Professions Policies: Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code, exhibit professional behavior, communicate effectively in English, provide proof of health insurance and immunizations, participate in a criminal background check, and may be asked to submit to random urine drug testing.

The Mortuary Science Program at CCBC-Catonsville aims to recognize the importance of funeral service personnel as:

• Members of human services profession;
• Members of the community in which they serve;
• Participants in the relationship between bereaved families and those engaged in the funeral service profession;
• Professionals knowledgeable of and compliant with federal, state, provincial/territorial, and local regulatory guidelines in the geographical area where they practice; and
• Professionals sensitive to the responsibility for the public health, safety, and welfare in caring for human remains.

The Mortuary Science Program at CCBC-Catonsville’s objectives are as follows:

1. To enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession;
2. To educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to help enable them to develop the proficiency and skills necessary for the profession;
3. To educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large;
4. To provide a curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction; and
5. To encourage students and faculty research in the field of funeral service.

Semester Sequence

• Mortuary Science Semester Sequence