Program of Mortuary Science

We strongly urge prospective students to meet with a funeral director in their community to discuss their interests and career goals. The Admissions Committee looks favorably towards applicants who have previous work experience in funeral service, and who can provide references from persons working in the field.

Funeral service is an incredibly rewarding career, but is also very demanding in terms of time commitments and work responsibilities.  We believe – and experience has shown – that anyone considering entering this profession would be well served by working in the field for several  months before applying for admission.

Helpful information can be found of the websites of both the National Funeral Directors Association and the American Board of Funeral Service Education:

• https://nfda.org/careers/schools-education 
• https://abfse.org/html/profession.html

The market for funeral directors at the present time is good; see US Bureau of Labor - Funeral Service Workers. Due to anticipated retirements over the next decade, the outlook appears positive for employment in funeral service.

People considering this career should remember, however, that with the exception of larger towns and metropolitan areas, most communities have only a small number of funeral establishments where employment opportunities might; It is not uncommon for people to relocate – sometimes at considerable distance  in order to find a job in funeral service that meets their professional career goals and lifestyle needs. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023 the median pay for funeral service workers was $60,580 per year / $29.13 per hour.

For national salary information, please see: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/funeral-service-occupations.htm

This depends on where you wish to live and practice as a funeral director. In Minnesota, prospective licensees must complete a one-year internship after school, prior to licensure.

Graduates of our program earn two months of internship credit towards Minnesota licensure, as the Board of Health recognizes the Clinical Rotation course to have the equivalent time value of two months. Other states require periods of internship of up to two years.

No. Please refer to https://nfda.org/careers/licensing-requirements to determine the regulatory board in the state where you wish to earn licensure.  

Additional information for Minnesota can be found here https://www.mnfuneral.org/page/educationrequirement

Provided you have already completed the required prerequisite coursework, it is possible to complete our program in just over three semesters, or approximately 18 months. At the completion of your studies, you will earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota.

No. Of the 120 semester credits that are needed to complete the typical baccalaureate degree, we require approximately 60 credits within major-theme coursework at the 3000 level. The remaining 60 credits are typically distributed over a variety of liberal arts theme areas, such as social sciences, humanities, cultural diversity, etc. Because the university does not accept credits from trade or technical schools, coursework earned from these institutions cannot be used to fulfill requirements of the major.

People who have earned an associate’s degree in mortuary science, and wish to continue their education at a higher level are advised to pursue a baccalaureate degree in an area of relevant interest, such as psychology, sociology, biology, theology, business administration.

If carefully planned, one can usually transfer from an associate degree program to a baccalaureate degree program, and finish the latter degree in two years. When considering a program of mortuary science with the goal of continued academic study at the baccalaureate level or higher, prospective students are strongly advised to make sure the institution they choose to attend maintains regional accreditation from the appropriate accrediting agency.

For example, some colleges and universities will not offer transfer credit(s) for coursework taken at certain technical, vocation, or community colleges. Always make sure the courses you take will be accepted for credit at the institution of intended transfer before registering for any class. Always be sure to get confirmation of transferability of credits in writing from the receiving institution before you take a course at a different institution!

Many universities, four-year colleges, and community colleges offer courses that may be transferred into the program. We strongly urge you to contact our program and  speak with Ms. Kelley Romanowski, Student Advisor, for counsel regarding prerequisite course planning issues.

There are a number of helpful resources at the University to assist you in determining what credits will transfer to our degree program.

Information about transfer credit can be found here:  https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/transfer/transfer-credit

Information about transfer credit evaluation can be found here:  https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissions/transfer-admission/transfer-credit-evaluation

No. However, we will require you to submit a course waiver petition form, along with the course syllabus, for any class for which you may seek exemption. Petitions are reviewed monthly by program faculty, and a decision is given before the start of the academic term.

Nearly all the mortuary science courses required for our major are offered in-person, on the Twin Cities campus.  A student can complete all of their general courses, as well as all liberal education courses, online through our Crookston Campus.  

For more information please see: 

https://crk.umn.edu/academics/math-science-and-technology-department/pre-mortuary-science

We offer admission to the Program both Spring and Fall semesters.