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    Course

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    • Mortuary Science

    Build Your Future as a Mortuary Science Professional

    The Mortuary Science Department at Cypress College prepares men and women for a career that cares for the dead and comforts the living. As a mortuary science student, you will prepare for employment as a funeral director and embalmer. The Cypress College Mortuary Science Program prepares the students to take the National Board Examination, California Embalmers Examination, and the California Funeral Directors Examination

    The Mortuary Science Program objectives are as follows:

    • To enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession;
    • To educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to help them to develop proficiency and skills necessary for the profession, as defined in the Preamble at the beginning of Chapter 9 of the Manual on Accreditation;
    • To educate students concerning the responsibilities of funeral service profession to the community at large;
    • To emphasize high standards of ethical conduct;
    • To provide a curriculum at the post-secondary level of instruction;
    • To encourage student and faculty research in the field of funeral service;
    • To qualify students for professional licensure examination.

    Cypress College is one of 15 community colleges in California to pilot a baccalaureate degree program. The Funeral Service Bachelor of Science Degree began in fall 2017 for those students who have previously completed an ABFSE-accredited program of study.

    Students who have completed the Associate in Science Degree in mortuary science and are interested in completing the baccalaureate degree, can begin working on the lower division general education courses required for bachelor’s degree offered by CSU and UC by completing CSU lower division general education breadth or IGETC certification.

    The Mortuary Science Program at Cypress College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The Mortuary Science Department offers an Associate in Science degree in mortuary science and a Bachelor of Science degree in funeral service.

    Depending on the program and the number of units taken, completing the associate in science degree program can take about two years after taking prerequisites and being admitted into the program. The program is designed to be completed in three semesters of major coursework once the general education subject matter areas are satisfied.

    The mortuary science associate in science is $46 per unit for California residents, not including books, fees, and supplies. Units vary by course, but the average is three units per course. The unit cost for the associate degree will vary depending upon the number of prerequisites needed. For the bachelor’s degree, please contact the department coordinator. Most students also qualify for some form of financial aid.

    Program graduates can pursue careers as morticians, undertakers and funeral directors. The annual salary is $51,850.

    Students work in funeral homes.

    • Degree & Certificate
    • Additional Requirments
    • Faculty

    Degree & Certificate

    Program Mapper: View course options for these programs.

    • Associate in Science in Mortuary Science = 75 units
      (2 years after prerequisites and being admitted into the program)
    • Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service

    Additional Requirments

    • Eligibility for admission to Cypress College
    • Official High school transcript, GED test with an average score of 450 on the five-test battery, or high school proficiency examination
    • Evidence of good physical and mental health
    • Completion of ENGL 100C College Writing with a letter “C” grade or better
    • Completion of BIOL 210C Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) or completion of BIOL 231C Anatomy (with lab) with a letter “C” grade or better and completed within the most recent 5 year time period.
    • Completion of Math 040 Intermediate Algebra or higher with a letter “C” grade or better
    • A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all college courses attempted

    This is designed as a full-time program. Students are encouraged to enroll in at least 12 units each semester in order to complete the program in a timely fashion.

    Students who qualify to apply for the Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service will have met the following prerequisites:

    • Graduation from an ABFSE-accredited program of Funeral Service Education and ICFSEB NBE Certification
    • CSU GE or IGETC Certification or a bachelor’s degree from a California State University
    • Embalmer and Funeral Director License or Funeral Service Practitioner Certification, CFSP

    Please consider attending an information workshop about Cypress College Health Science Programs. The Health Science Workshop Schedule and Reservations link is here: http://news.cypresscollege.edu/Documents/health-science/Health-Science-Workshop-Series.pdf

    Faculty

    Jolena Grande
    Mortuary Science Office, Room 215
    Technical Education III Building – Health Science Division
    mortsci@CypressCollege.edu
    (714) 484-7278

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    CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT:

    Jolena Grande

    Health Science Division

    Email: mortsci@cypresscollege.edu
    Phone: (714) 484-7278

    CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT:

    Kelly Carter

    Counselor, AS Degree

    Email: kcarter@cypresscollege.edu
    Phone: (714) 484-7274

    CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT:

    Doreen Villasenor

    Counselor, BA Degree

    Email: dvillasenor@cypresscollege.edu
    Phone: (714) 484-7273

    Average Salary in this Field

    $38,130-$68,670 Per Year

    Careers in this Field

    Embalmer
    Funeral Directors

    Like what you're learning?

    Get Started Today!

    The Mortuary Science Department at Cypress College prepares men and women for a career that cares for the dead and comforts the living. As a Mortuary Science student, you will prepare for employment as a funeral director and embalmer.
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    ©2018 Cypress College. 9200 Valley View Street, Cypress, CA 90630. (714) 484-7000.
    Cypress College is part of the North Orange County Community College District and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

    GREAT JOBS

    U.S. Department of Labor lists Marketing Managers and related careers as Bright Outlook occupations, which are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, or will have large numbers of job openings.

    The US Department of Labor projects a 15% growth in employment by 2026 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. Cypress College reports that 93% of its recent program graduates, got jobs according to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges job placement rate.

    CRB & NCRA

     
    This program is accredited by the Court Reporters Board of California (CRB) and the National Court Reporting Association (NCRA).

    Bronze Star Program

     
    California Community College Strong Workforce Program Bronze Star Recipient. Bronze Stars are granted when a program attains outcomes in one metric of these three. Either a substantial increase in earnings, the attainment of a living wage, and / or a job closely matched with the field of study.

    Bronze Star Recipients
    • Automotive Technology: 89% increase in earnings
    • Automotive Collision Repair: 58% increase in earnings
    • Accounting: 60% increase in earnings
    • Business Management: 58% increase in earnings
    • Mortuary Science: 175% increase in earnings
    • Environmental Control Technology: 73% of students attained the regional living wage
    • Health Information Technology: 51% increase in earnings
    • Radiologic Technology: 60% increase in earnings
    • Dental Assistant: 419% increase in earnings
    • Alcohol and Controlled Substances: 62% increase in earnings
    • Computer Graphics and Digital Imagery: 94% increase in earnings
    • Computer Networking: 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
    • Culinary Arts: 101% increase in earnings
    • Hospitality: 106% increase in earnings
    • Flight Attendant: 104% increase in earnings
    • Technical Theater: 84% increase in earnings
    • Human Services: 53% increase in earnings

    Silver Star Program

     
    California Community College Strong Workforce Program Silver Star Recipient. Silver Stars are granted when a program attains outcomes in two metrics of these three. Either a substantial increase in earnings, the attainment of a living wage, and / or a job closely matched with the field of study.

    Silver Star Recipients
    • Diagnostic Medical Sonography: 322% increase in earnings and 89% of students attained the regional living wage
    • Psychiatric Technology: 203% increase in earnings and 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study

    AS-T

     
    Students Completing AS Degrees for Transfer (AS-T) are Guaranteed Admission to the California State University (CSU) System.

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