Program & Faculty Advisors: Olga Retana (oretana@ntcc.edu) • 903-434-8313; Rebecca M. Robidas Gardner (rgardner@ntcc.edu) • 903-434-8314
Students should consult a faculty program or an academic advisor prior to starting the Funeral Service program of study. Even though Northeast has an open-door policy, the Funeral Service Education program must limit its enrollment due to the availability of clinical affiliations.
Applicants must meet minimum academic standards to be considered for admission. Application information and forms are located on the Northeast FSE Program website at www.ntcc.edu/funeralservice.
Program Mission
Funeral directors are professionals who serve others during a great time of loss, pain and grief. The mission of the NTCC Funeral Service program is to successfully combine the study of behavioral, physical and applied mortuary sciences for the goal of preparing graduates for careers as knowledgeable, skilled and innovative funeral service professionals. Program graduates will be prepared to serve members of their communities in a manner that is efficient, dignified and caring.
Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science Degree at NTCC, students will be able to:
- 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 Funeral Service Education associate degree program at Northeast Texas Community College 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
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.
CIP: 12.0301
