Mortuary Science and Mortuary Science Degrees

What Should You Know about Mortuary Science

 

A mortician is usually called as a funeral director or an undertaker. People who are in this profession typically work at any of the funeral agencies which provide funeral-related services. But before they finally become one, they have to attend first at any mortician school and get a mortuary science degree. Within the two to four years of staying in the mortuary science schools, they have to learn different things about mortuary science.

 

A mortuary science is known as the study of the dead bodies by mortuary work. This term is usually applied to the college curriculum in United States which prepares the student to be a funeral director or mortician. Most of them also learn about embalming for them to supplement their studies in mortuary science. Some of the states are requiring the funeral directors to become embalmers also.

 

There is also mortuary science programs made to prepare the students for challenges they may encounter as funeral service professionals. This curriculum addresses changing expectations and needs associated with the funeral services as well as the accreditation standards. It is a selective program. Once you applied to college, you are going to be accepted to undeclared program while still completing the prerequisite requirements.

 

This program only accepts limited number of students every year and there is an application process which is separated. The main process depends on the mortician school being consulted. In this study, the degree requirements are another concern that must be carefully answered. They usually differ by state and by school. Those who wish to be morticians needs some requirements which include 2 years of a college course work (it includes mortuary science studies), 1 year experience as apprentice, and qualifying examination.

 

The college degrees in the mortuary science can be earned in 2 to 4 years. Some of the junior and community colleges are offering 2-year programs while the universities offer both 2-year and 4-year programs. After that, they can now earn the mortuary science degree they longed for. The curriculum usually includes courses in physiology, embalming techniques, business management, anatomy, restorative art and pathology. The extracurricular activities or coursework also include those which enhance the skills in interpersonal communication and public speaking. And as funeral directors, they have to personable as well as skilled communicators in their field with the grief-stricken clients.

 

Today, there are more than 30 states that have established schools for mortuary science and most of them are offering special training programs as well. But being a mortician means that there are some risks to face. The students of mortuary science can be subjects to disease. as funeral directors, they commonly work with the infectious cadavers though the considered remote if the recommended precautions are being followed. In addition to, they can also be the subject to exposure in formaldehyde during the embalming procedures. However, they can still be avoided if strict health regulations have been implemented. Learning how to become a mortician is not an easy job.  People have to be careful all the time most especially that they are having close contact with the dead bodies.