Program Details
Associate of Applied Science - Funeral Service with a Major in Funeral Directing
Associate of Applied ScienceTidewater Community College
The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services with a Funeral Directing major, prepares students for careers in the field of funeral directing and client care. The Funeral Directing curriculum addresses the changing needs and demands of contemporary funeral directing, business management and entrepreneurship. Entrance requirements for this program include graduation from high school or completion of the GED and submission of a high school transcript or GED certificate, and placement or readiness for ENG 111. Transcripts from other colleges attended must be sent to Tidewater Community College, Office of the College Registrar, P.O. Box 9000, Norfolk, Virginia, 23509. These transcripts must be evaluated before any transfer credit is granted prior to the application deadline. Credit will not be granted for courses taken five years or more prior to the date of enrollment. Credit will only be granted for Funeral Service (FNS) courses taken at institutions accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education www.abfse.org.
Following acceptance into the program, students must maintain a C or better in all FNS courses and in SOC 200 and PSY 116. Students will be required to have completed twenty-four credit hours in order to enroll in FNS 126, FNS 231, FNS 232, FNS 295 FNS 236, and FNS 298. In order to take the second part of sequenced courses, a grade of C or better must be earned in the initial course.
In order to receive a Funeral Directors license in the Commonwealth of Virginia, an individual must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent;
2. Have completed a funeral service internship prescribed by the board in regulation;
3. Have graduated from a school of mortuary science or funeral service accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Incorporated, or have completed an Associate's Degree or its equivalent, which consists of at least 60 credit hours of coursework from a funeral directing program approved by the board;
4. Have successfully completed coursework in the area of pathology as approved by the board;
5. Have passed the National Board Examination in Arts or Virginia State Board Examination in Arts of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards; and
6. Have passed the Virginia State Board Examination on the laws, rules, and regulations for funeral practice.
The Tidewater Community College A.A.S. in Funeral Directing is designed to prepare students for entry level positions as funeral directors. This includes preparation for the State Board Examination in Arts of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (https://theconferenceonline.org/).
This academic program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs. It is NOT accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from this program are not eligible to take the National Board Examination or any state board examination for which graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Yes, if you:
|
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
|
| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Complete this program in as few as 4 semesters / 61 credits TCC?s funeral directing program provides training on the management of funeral establishments, with an emphasis on business management and public speaking. Students will have the chance to participate in an externship to learn up close what it means to be a funeral director. There have been no graduates from TCC in the AAS program in Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service with a Major in Funeral Directing in the past 5 years. |
Program Credit Requirements
The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | The student development requirement at TCC is waived for students who have completed an associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. All other coursework is evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | TCC does not distinguish between students earning an associate degree while in high school or after high school graduation. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | TCC recognizes you have a wealth of skills and knowledge gained through life, work and community-based experiences. Credit for Prior Learning at TCC is academic credit awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college or university-level learning achieved through informal or experiential learning outside of the classroom. You can have your learning evaluated for academic credit, saving you time and money towards earning your degree.
For more information: https://help.tcc.edu/s/topic/0TO1R000000gnrkWAA/credit-for-prior-learning |
| Did You Know That... |
|
College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | At TCC, we believe everyone should have access to a high quality, affordable education. With diverse programs designed for immediate job placement, smaller class sizes, top-rated faculty and modern campuses, TCC is an ideal environment for a life changing education, right here in your own backyard. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined when an academic plan is selected by the student. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Completing the first two years of your degree at TCC can get you in the door - while saving you thousands on the cost of your education. We recommend that you start your transfer planning during your first semester at TCC. In addition to your regular academic advising, you should review the TCC guaranteed admissions agreements and the transfer guides for the college or university to which you would like to transfer.
https://help.tcc.edu/s/article/Guaranteed-Transfer-Programs. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Services | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Services Director | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39-4011.00 | Embalmers | Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements. | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
| 11-9171.00 | Funeral Home Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes. Includes activities such as determining prices for services or merchandise and managing the facilities of funeral homes. | Management Occupations |
| 39-4031.00 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners. | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
Cost To Complete