Ron Johnson - (901) 333-6467

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Funeral Service Education at Southwest Tennessee Community College prepares students for any career entry level position as a funeral director and embalmer. 

Caution: Students applying for admission to the Funeral Service Program at Southwest Tennessee Community College should contact their respective state licensing agency regarding that state agency’s approval of this particular program of instruction.

The Funeral Service Education program is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is a Candidate for Accreditation by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Ste 108, Woodbury Heights NJ 08097.  Once the Funeral Service Education program is accredited by ABFSE, graduates will be eligible to take the National Board Examination. Graduates must successfully complete an apprenticeship and the State of Tennessee funeral service law exam to become a licensed funeral director or embalmer.

The Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for this program are:

• 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.