Funeral Services Administration
FSAD 111 STUDY OF FUNERALS
Fall, 3 credit hours
This course discusses the role of funeral directors and other death-related professions in contemporary American society. Terminology, duties, and responsibilities of the funeral director through the entire funeral process are extensively covered. Historical methods of preservation and memorialization, both religious and secular, as well as modern funeral customs of select societies around the world are examined. Protocol and procedures for funerals of active duty military are specifically addressed as is mass casualty incident response by funeral directors as established by D-MORT. Exploration of personal attitudes and responses to death is included as a means of developing an appreciation for the emotional features of this profession. Three hours lecture per week.
FSAD 115 THANATOCHEMISTRY
Fall, 2 credit hours
This course provides a survey of the basic principles of chemistry as they relate to Funeral Service. The focus is on the chemical principles and interactions involved in sanitation, disinfection, public health, and embalming practice.
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Funeral Services Administration program, or instructor approval.
FSAD 121 ANALYTICAL EMBALMING
Fall, 3 credit hours
This is the first of three embalming courses required to graduate from the program. It addresses the definitions of death, the public health considerations, ethical performance, necessary instruments, and embalming theory and procedures for typical cases. A "C" or better is required in this course to continue in the Funeral Services Administration Program.
Prerequisite: matriculation in the program
FSAD 129 CLINICAL PRACTICUM
2 credit hours
Students are required to work in an assigned funeral home for a minimum period of five weeks. During this period, the students are expected to relate the theoretical background they have acquired to the practical functions of a funeral director. The faculty will contact the student and the funeral director periodically during the practicum. This will be by personal visits and/or phone conversations. The students are expected to serve this practicum without pay.
Prerequisite: successful completion of one semester of embalming or permission of instructor.
FSAD 211 EMBALMING AND ASEPTIC TECHNIQUES
Spring, 4 credit hours
Subsequent to Analytical Embalming Techniques (FSAD 121), this course focuses on unique and special problems encountered by the embalmer in professional practice. Microbiology of pathogens and techniques of infection control are a major aspect. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week. Final grade of "C" or better is required to continue in the program.
FSAD 214 FUNERAL HOME MANAGEMENT I
Spring, 3 credit hours
Study of management techniques and procedures necessary for successful operation of a small business with the major emphasis on funeral home management. Three hours lecture per week.
FSAD 225 PROFESSIONAL FUNERAL PRACTICE
Spring, 3 credit hours
Casket and vault construction and composition are extensively covered. Merchandising methods of funeral service goods such as caskets, vaults, and memorial tributes are explored and practiced. Professional ethics, with special attention to Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule, are learned and practiced. Funeral industry software is utilized in this course.
Prerequisite: Intro to Information Technology (CITA 110), and Study of Funerals (FSAD 111).
FSAD 307 HUMAN RESPONSE TO DEATH
Spring, 4 credit hours
This writing intensive course is a survey of the psychological, philosophical, and sociological components of human loss and grief. The understanding of bereavement is central to the development of communication and counseling skills. Laboratory exercises include arranging and conducting mock funerals. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: Death, Dying and Bereavement (SSCI 315), and Professional Funeral Practice (FSAD 225), or permission of instructor.
FSAD 308 INTRODUCTION OF INTERNSHIP
Fall/Spring, 1 credit hour
An internship is required to complete degree requirements in Funeral Services Administration. This course is taken in a semester prior to the Internship. Students locate a suitable site, construct a memorandum of understanding with a preceptor at that site, and create a learning contract. A liability insurance binder through the college must be established. Goals and objectives, a grading rubric, and communication methods for the experience are determined cooperatively by student, preceptor, and faculty supervisor.
Prerequisites: Completion of 75 credit hours toward graduation including Clinical Practicum (FSAD 129), or permission of instructor.
FSAD 321 ADVANCED EMBALMING PRACTICE
Spring, 3 credit hours
Designed to improve the skills and knowledge base of practicing licensed personnel, this course focuses on the less common techniques applied in unusual situations. Waterless embalming, regional freezing procedures, mummification, alternative machinery, and special purpose chemicals will be explored. Unique embalming situations are addressed such as long term storage, entombment vs burial, decomposed bodies, stillbirths, religious limitations, anatomical embalming, and fragment treatment in anticipation of delayed final disposition. Perfection of techniques of sterile procedure, eye enucleation, terminal disinfection, and personal protection is expected.
Prerequisites: FSAD 115, FSAD 121, FSAD 211 and FSAD 129. Must possess a Blue Card obtained from the NYS Depart of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing or comply with specific state regulations governing student embalming experience. The student must have access to a state registered funeral home that engages in embalmings.
FSAD 322 FUNERAL HOME MANAGEMENT II
Fall, 3 credit hours
This course addresses the practical problems facing funeral managers in contemporary society. Marketing strategies, pricing methods, creative personnel management, alternative memorial activities, prearrangement sales, financial assessment techniques, aftercare, transition planning, expansion of facilities, and establishment of consortia of funeral homes. Recruitment and training of non licensed staff, compliance methods, salary incentives, and record keeping which meet legal requirements are included as well. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: Funeral Home Management (FSAD 214), Business Organization and Management (BSAD 100) or permission of instructor.
FSAD 323 RESTORATIVE ART
Spring, 4 credit hours
This course familiarizes the student with instruments, materials, and development of techniques for restoring the dead human body damaged as a result of disease and trauma. The course also explains the technique for the proper application of cosmetics. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 207) and Embalming and Aseptic Technique (FSAD 211)
FSAD 401 FUNERAL SERVICE LAW
Spring, 3 credit hours
This course deals with laws directly related to funeral service. The student will be concerned with the laws that pertain to solicitation of clients, rights of possession, cemeteries, interstate agreements, international shipping, funding vehicles, association rights, lobbying, local ordinances, and employer/employee relationships. General Business Law concepts are also covered. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisite: majors only or permission of instructor.
FSAD 406 BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING
Spring, 3 credit hours
Building upon the rudimentary counseling skills developed in FSAD 307 this course addresses deeper and more varied emotional problems stemming from loss. Utilization of theories of grief from several authorities and application of a range of counseling techniques to individual situations makes this a useful approach to delivery of human services. Anticipatory grief, hospice, disenfranchised loss, child death, suicide, homicide, absent grief, and extended grief are major topics. Application of the skills developed is limited to the funeral home setting. The student will observe and describe the progress of a person who has suffered a recent loss as an original research project. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisite: Human Response to Death (FSAD 307) or permission of instructor.
FSAD 420 CURRENT ISSUES IN FUNERAL SERVICE
Fall, 3 credit hours
As the field of funeral service continues to change in response to societal demands, this class provides the opportunity to keep abreast of these developments. Topic areas will include: public health, government regulation, funeral home management, religious and secular rites and rituals. Major focus will be on the effects that changes might have on the grief process, societal readjustment following death, and creative ways for funeral service practitioners to address the future. Historical perspective will be utilized as a predictive tool in assessing society’s new outlook on loss and recovery. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: minimum junior level status or permission of instructor. This is a writing intensive course.
FSAD 440 INTERNSHIP IN FUNERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Fall/Spring/Summer, 7 credit hours
Students will spend at least 40 hours per week for 7 weeks in this experiential course. They will perform the standard duties of funeral director trainees in the areas of funeral directing and embalming. Additionally they will participate in a project determined during the Introduction to Internship course held in a previous semester. Successful completion of the course is based on assessment of supervising faculty and funeral home preceptor according to the assessment plan detailed in FSAD 308.
Prerequisites: FSAD 308 Intro to Internship and be in the first semester of the student’s Senior year. Must possess a Blue Card through the NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing or comply with specific state regulations governing Internship/Practicum experiences. Intern site must be approved and indemnified by SUNY Canton prior to beginning Internship experience.
FSAD 445 MORTUARY COMPLIANCE
Spring, 2 credit hours
This course is taken during the last semester of the Funeral Services Administration Program, and covers compliance with all Health Department regulations and federal and state laws pertaining to funeral directing in a state where the student intends to practice. Regulations and laws pertaining to funeral directing are clarified through extensive specialized testing including the National Board Examination (NBE). Student must score an 85% or better in this course to pass.
Prerequisites: Senior status in FSAD program.