Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services

The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services is a distance learning program designed to teach students the skills necessary for employment as a funeral director and embalmer. Students in the program will learn how to recognize the importance of the care of the bereaved and the deceased, how to conduct funeral service ceremonies and funeral arrangement conferences with families, preserve and restore a dead human body through embalming, be aware of proper workplace safety guidelines for funeral service practitioners, and cremation procedures.Recognizing the importance of the care of the bereaved, the College has designed a curriculum not only to educate the student in the care of the deceased, but also in the care of the living.

Degree Checklist

The Funeral Service associate degree program at University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.

The UA Hope-Texarkana Funeral Service program follows ethical practice in all student matters to include advertisement, recruitment, admissions, student and program requirements in the on-campus and distance learning programs.

Program Information and National Board Statistics

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.

Note: Contact the Funeral Service Program Director directly for information regarding success of distance learning graduates.

To request a printed copy of this programs rates, go to the Dean of Health Professions office at ST 120 (Science Technology Building), on the college website at uaht.edu, or by e-mail at or by telephone 870-722-8523.

Additional information about this program may be found in the Student Handbook.

Program 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.

The A.A.S. degree is a 60-credit hour, two-year program consisting of general education and core funeral education courses. Tuition can be found HERE.

Obtaining a Funeral Director and Embalmer License is dependent upon the state you intend to practice. The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards provides state-specific licensing requirements.

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

The Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Services is a distance learning program delivered to a web browser that can be accessed anytime, anyplace. The courses are directed learning processes comprising educational information (articles, videos, images and web links), communication (messaging, discussion forums) and different methods of assessment. Students submit assignments through Blackboard by posting on discussion forums and submitting tasks through applicable links. Courses are not delivered at a specific time or a specific date but are accessed on the student’s schedule. However, there are deadlines when certain tasks must be completed. Exams are proctored and student identity is verified by Respondus LockDown and Webcam Browser.

Students gain practical experience in funeral directing and embalming at pre-approved, licensed funeral establishments close to home.

Students must visit the UAHT campus one day during the program's 3rd semester and at least one week at the end of the final semester to complete Restorative Art and Embalming competencies. Students may be required to travel one day for faculty observation of clinical embalming. Travel and lodging are the student's responsibility.

Distance learning offers flexibility but also presents challenges. It requires discipline, time management, reliance on technology, and a commitment to engaging with the course material. To help navigate these challenges and ensure student success, UAHT offers a range of resources and support services.

Enrollment is limited to Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas residents (resident 30 days prior to the start of classes).

COURSE TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

All course participants are expected to have email capability.

Online course participants are expected to have the following:

  • Reliable access to a computer with Windows or Mac OS
  • Reliable access to the internet
  • Access to standard software such as word processing and spreadsheets, if required to complete coursework
  • A webcam
  • A microphone
  • Speakers or headphones
  • Minimum 8GB RAM

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Upon receipt of ALL of the above requirements, the student shall receive a letter of admission from UAHT Office of Enrollment Services. A student will not be allowed to progress to any FSED funeral service core courses until the first and second semester courses of the program are satisfactorily completed.

Admission to the College does not guarantee enrollment into the Funeral Service program core courses. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the requirements, as stated above, are satisfied and documentation is received in both the registrar and Funeral Service program office.

Students interested in taking pre-requisite courses at National Park College in Hot Springs MUST contact the UAHT Funeral Service Program Director and the Funeral Service Program advisor at National Park College.

ARKANSAS COURSE TRANSFER SYSTEM (ACTS)
The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admissions and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as No Comparable Course. Additionally, courses with a D frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE website and selecting Course Transfer (http://adhe.edu). Courses not having an ACTS number may also transfer. Please consult the receiving institution for complete transfer information.

Other Information and Transfer Requirements

  • Any course(s) with a prefix of FSED (or its equivalent) must have been taken within the past one (1) year to be accepted for transfer.
  • A grade of C or higher is required for transfer courses.
  • The course for transfer must be comparable to the course required for the funeral service program. (The name of the course can be different, but the course description must be similar to that of the course for transfer)
  • Courses that do not meet the above requirements must be retaken.
  • Transferees from another funeral service program must not be on academic probation or suspension at that institution.

Program Requirements and Progression
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is expected at the end of each semester to remain in funeral service education courses. A grade of C or higher is required in any course with an FSED prefix or the course must be repeated. A student who receives a final grade of less than C in any Funeral Service core course during the program or who withdraws from a course cannot progress and will be suspended from the program. Core Funeral Service Program Courses (FSED) may only be retaken once. Students who have not successfully completed a FSED course with a grade of C or higher upon two attempts may not return to the program.

At the completion of the two semesters of clinical rotation, the student is required to prove technical competence in embalming via direct observation by the program director or qualified UAHT faculty. There are specific requirements related to this clinical and are discussed in detail in Clinical I and Clinical II.

Students who seek readmission to the Funeral Service program and are in good standing with the program may be granted admission into the next program if readmission is sought the following program year. Students may be granted credit for previous classes completed successfully. Students waiting more than one year to return will not be granted credit for classes taken and must compete with other students for readmission into that years program.

Note: Students not meeting the ACT or ACCUPLACER requirements in math and English must enroll in the appropriate sequential academic skills math, reading, and/or English course(s) during their first semester in college and each subsequent semester until the requirements are successfully completed. Any degree-seeking student enrolled under the Student Success Plan must also take EDGE 1003 College Life Skills the first semester of enrollment.