Pre-Mortuary Science

The BGSU pre-mortuary science track describes students who either plan to enter a mortuary science school after graduating from college or after completing the required credit hours for entrance.

Working in the funeral industry is often driven by the desire to help others in what has been described as a human service profession. The career is a blend of arts and sciences, with a need for sensitive communication and a high degree of emotional intelligence.

Mortuary science is offered as a bachelor’s degree at only 57 institutions in the country. Most programs admit transfer students for four semesters after students have completed their general education courses and the prerequisites.

When a student is pre-mortuary science, they are not only taking the classes required for admission to study mortuary science. Students may also complete a major in a specific subject matter area before taking the 12-month, 4-semester mortuary science program.

The human service profession

The American Board of Funeral Services Education sets the standards for the mortuary science qualification and accredits the schools.

Each state has different regulations governing the licensed profession of funeral director. Ohio, for example, requires a bachelor’s degree and a 12-month mortuary science qualification. A criminal background check and a two-year apprenticeship follow the time learning the specific skills of a funeral director. The final requirement is to sit for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board’s National Board Examination (NBE), which comprises arts and sciences exam sections.

Once qualified, new mortuary science grads find only a tiny part of the average working day is occupied with preparing bodies for burial or cremation. The majority of a funeral director’s time is spent dealing with families and loved ones who have suffered a loss.