Funeral Services Administration
THE ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT SHREVEPORT IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE EDUCATION. The program is also recognized and approved by the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Prior to graduating from the program, students must take the National Board Examination (NBE).
The Funeral Services Administration (FSA) Program is one of ten academic programs offered by the Division of Allied Health, the largest and most diversified instructional unit at this University. This program offers a curriculum comprised of 69 semester hours of didactic and clinical courses in addition to six prerequisite hours. The focus of the program is funeral services administration, which includes directing, funeral home management, and embalming. The training provided in this program will equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for handling of human remains, the directing of funerals, and the servicing of bereaved families. Professional courses cover funeral home management, business law, clinical embalming, mortuary law and ethics, and funeral service practices. After graduating from the program, the graduate must do an apprenticeship for one year under a licensed funeral director and/or embalmer in order to receive funeral service licensure. Upon receiving licensure, the individual may seek professional entry-level employment as a funeral director, embalmer, or a related industry position.
Like all other Allied Health education programs, the Funeral Services Administration program seeks to provide a quality education for its students, preparing them for careers in technical and occupational fields. Guided by these principles and beliefs, the central aim of the Funeral Services Administration program is the recognition of the importance of the funeral service administration personnel as (1) members of a human service profession, (2) members of the community in which they serve, (3) participants in the relationship between bereaved families and those engaged in the funeral service profession, (4) professionals knowledgeable about any complain with federal, state, provincial/territorial, and local regulatory guidelines, as well as (5) professionals sensitive to the responsibility for public health, safety, and welfare in caring for human remains.
An application for admission to this program may be obtained from and returned to:
Southern University at Shreveport
Office of Admissions
3050 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Shreveport, LA 71107
Also, prospective students may apply online via the University’s website at www.susla.edu to expedite the processing of applications. Official transcripts from all previous colleges attended, evidence of a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma, and ACT or SAT scores are required for admission. Students being admitted into this program are expected to be able to meet the physical performance standards for the funeral service profession. Also, applicants are required to complete an interview with the Funeral Services Administration Interview Committee.
Accreditation
The funeral services program at Southern University at Shreveport is accredited by the:
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
3432 Ashland Ave.
Suite U
St. Joseph, MO 64506
ABFSE may be contacted at 816-233-3747 or www.abfse.org.
National Board Scores
The annual passage rate of first-time takers on the National Board Examination for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABFSE-accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE website.
Admission Requirements:
Students wishing to apply for admission to the Funeral Services Administration Program must:
1. Meet the general admission criteria of the University
2. Successfully complete at least sixteen (16) semester hours of coursework at Southern University at Shreveport
3. Complete outlined prerequisite courses as depicted by the FSA Curriculum;
• FROR 110 Freshman Seminar (1 credit hour)
• FSAD 101 Introduction to Funeral Services (2 credit hours)
• CMPS 101 Introduction to Computer Concepts (3 credit hours)
4. Have a 2.5 grade point average
5. Complete an application to the Funeral Services Program and submit $20 application fee.
6. Submit three (3) letters of reference
7. Submit an official transcript(s) from each college or university attended
8. Submit a short narrative of intent
The program has the following objectives:
• To enlarge the students’ background and knowledge of the funeral service profession.
• To educate students in every phase of funeral services, and to help enable them to develop the proficiency and skills necessary for the funeral services profession.
• To educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral services 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 research in the field of funeral services.
Program requirements for graduation:
The Associate Degree of Applied Science in Funeral Services Administration is conferred upon students when the following conditions have been met:
• Successful completion of all required courses
• Achievement of an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in all Funeral Services courses.
• Sitting for the National Board Examination 45 days prior to graduating from the University.
• Clearance of all indebtedness to the University.
For more information, contact:
Rosalind Patterson Nelson
610 Texas Street
Suite #307
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-670-6643 voice
Curriculum | Course Descriptions | Program Pass Rates
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