PROGRAMS OF STUDY

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE is issued to students who complete a career education curriculum of college level and character. This Degree is designed to lead students to employment as a funeral director and embalmer and is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service (AAS) is designed to teach students the skills and abilities essential for employment as an embalmer and funeral director. Graduates of this program will be able to disinfect, preserve, and/ or restore a dead human body through embalming and restorative art for the purposes of burial or other means of final disposition. They will learn how to conduct funeral service ceremonies of various religious, fraternal, military, traditional, humanistic, and nontraditional customs. Additionally, they will be able to conduct funeral arrangement conferences with families, conduct necessary paperwork in Funeral home management, and be aware of proper workplace safety guidelines for funeral service personnel. Graduates of this program may find entry-level employment as an apprentice/intern/provisional licensee with funeral homes, embalming services, cemeteries, preneed sales, and affiliate funeral service merchandise and embalming chemical companies. Individuals seeking these credentials must also meet the requirements of the appropriate licensing agencies.

To earn the AAS degree, the student must fulfill all requirements for the General Education Core of 24 quarter/16 semester hours as outlined below, plus the Specialized and Related Courses.

 

General Education Courses

All courses carry a specific number of quarter hour credits. A quarter hour shall be considered as the equivalent of one clock hour of lecture, or two hours of laboratory per week for an eleven-week period of institution. A clock hour consists of one fifty -minute period. Students receive grade points according to the following system:

Completed Prior to Enrollment or taken at Commonwealth Institute

Natural Science
BIOL 1408 Biology 1 4 sem. (6 qtr.)

Mathematics
Math 1314 College Algebra 3 sem. (4 qtr.)

Social/Behavioral Science
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3 sem. (5 qtr.)

Humanities/ Fine Arts
ENGL 1301 Composition and Rhetoric 1 3 sem. (5 qtr.)

Elective * (general education course)
HIST 1302 U.S. History II 3 sem. (4 qtr.)

Total Hours (by transfer or in residence) 16 sem. (24 qtr.)

*The 3 semester-hour elective may be selected from any general education courses identified in the college catalog. Elective offered at Commonwealth Institute is U.S. History.

 

Students may complete the general requirements prior to enrollment at Commonwealth Institute or enroll in the general education courses as part of their studies in residency, to receive the AAS degree. If the general education core and the Specialized and Related courses are taken at Commonwealth Institute the AAS degree may be earned in 15 months. If all the general education core courses are transferred to Commonwealth, the degree requirements may be completed in 12 months.

Effective Jan. 1, 2004 , for AAS students to be recognized as a graduate of an ABFSE accredited program, they must take the National Board Exam, a nationally recognized licensure exam given under the auspices of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. Effective Sept. 1, 2003 , the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requires that AAS students, if applicable, must be assessed in reading, writing, and math skills to determine college readiness. Students are exempt from taking a test for the TSI if a qualifying score has been made on the TAKS, SAT, or ACT.

CERTIFICATE IN FUNERAL DIRECTING is designed to teach students the skills and abilities essential for employment as a funeral director in the state of Texas only. This program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs and is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education because it does not contain all of the required coursework in the Public Health and Technical area. Students graduating from this program are not eligible to take the National Board examination nor any state board examination for which graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.

Graduates of this program will be able to prepare, other than by embalming, a dead human body for burial, or other means of final disposition. They will learn how to conduct funeral service ceremonies of various religious, fraternal, military, traditional, humanistic, and nontraditional customs. Additionally, they will be able to conduct funeral arrangement conferences with families, conduct necessary paperwork in home management, and be aware of proper workplace safety guidelines for funeral service personnel. Graduates of this program may find entry-level employment as an apprentice/intern/provisional licensee with funeral homes, cemeteries, pre-need sales, and affiliate funeral service merchandise companies.

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission found elsewhere in this catalog, the Certificate in Funeral Directing also requires the completion of 13 semester /20 quarter hours of general education courses. These general education courses may be completed at any regionally accredited college or university and transferred to Commonwealth Institute; or these courses may be taken in residency at Commonwealth. Refer to Policy Granting Credit.

Students with the general education courses may complete this program in six months (two, eleven- week quarters). Please refer to the college calendar for dates of enrollment.

Students in this program are not eligible to participate in federal student aid programs or participate in Commonwealth Institute’s scholarship program.

Graduation requirements include passing each of the prescribed courses, accumulating an overall GPA of 2.0, successful completion of comprehensive examinations related to the funeral service arts, taking the National Board Examination, and fulfillment of financial obligations to Commonwealth Institute 30 days prior to graduation.

 

Online Certificate in Funeral Directing:
A student may select to complete the certificate in funeral directing via web-based instruction (on-line or eLearning). Courses taken through this option follow the same academic term and length, and have the same rigorous academic and admission requirements as those taken on-campus. The online program is lesson-based. Students complete eight to ten lessons per module. A student must complete a lesson before proceeding to the next lesson within a module. Modules (as sequenced below) are taken concurrently throughout the quarter. For example, a student enrolled in first quarter general education modules will complete modules 1 – 4 during the quarter.

Maximum time to complete program = 4 quarters.

Progress Requirements for Online Certificate in Funeral Directing Program:
Student’s progress is evaluated throughout the online program as Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service receives each lesson. Progress is documented as students complete lessons and receive graded assignments. Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average as evaluated at the end of each quarter. If at the end of the quarter, the student has not completed the required modules, the student’s enrollment shall be terminated. Additionally, students have one week to complete a lesson. Failure to turn in a lesson will result in a student being placed on academic probation. At the end of an 11 week quarter, a missed lesson must be turned in for grading or termination from the program will occur.

Tuition and Fees:
The tuition and fee cost for the Online Certificate in Funeral Directing program is as follows:

If the general study courses are taken at Commonwealth, tuition and fees will be $8,260 payable as follows: $50 application fee due with application, $50 graduation fee due 30 days prior to graduation, and $8,160 tuition.

If the general study courses are transferred to Commonwealth, tuition and fees will be $5,860 payable as follows: $50 application fee due with application, $50 graduation fee due 30 days prior to graduation and $5,760 tuition.

Tuition for the Certificate in Funeral Directing program is due the first day of each quarter. Student enrolled in the Online Certificate in Funeral Directing program are not eligible to participate in federal aid programs or the Institute’s monthly payment plan.

Cancellation and Refund Policy for Online Certificate in Funeral Directing:

CANCELLATION POLICY

A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) after the enrollment contact is signed.

REFUND POLICY

• Refund computations will be based on the number of lessons in the program
• The effective date of termination for refund purposes will be the earliest of the following:
1. the date of notification to the student if the student is terminated;
2. the date of receipt of written notice from the student; or
3. the end of the third calendar month following the month in which the student’s last lesson assignment was received unless notification has been received from the student that he wishes to remain enrolled
• If tuition and fees are collected before any lessons have been completed, and if, after expiration of the 72-hour cancellation privilege, the student fails to begin the program, not more than $50 shall be retained by Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.
• If the student who enters an asynchronous distance education course terminates or withdraws after the expiration of the 72-hour cancellation privilege, Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service may retain $50 of the tuition and fees and the minimum refund policy must provide that the student will be refunded the pro rata portion of the remaining tuition, fees, and other charges that the number of lessons completed and serviced by the school or college bears to the total number of lessons in the program.
• A full refund of all tuition and fees is due in each of the following cases:
1. an enrollee is not accepted by Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service
2. if the program of instruction is discontinued by the school and this prevents the student from completing the program; or
3. if the student’s enrollment was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in advertising, promotional materials of the school, or misrepresentations by the owner or representatives of the school.
• Refunds will be totally consummated within 60 days after the effective date of termination.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE

Biology 1-BIOL 1408 6 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none A contemporary course in which the student will learn the applications of the scientific method, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, classical and human genetics, and virology. (66/0/0/6)      Module 1: 10 lessons on-line

Composition and Rhetoric 1-ENGL 1301 5 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none This course provides students with the rhetorical foundations that prepares them for the demands of professional writing.  The student will learn how to recognize and deploy the strategies and processes that translate into effective written products in a variety of contexts for a variety of purposes. (55/0/0/5)        Module 2: 10 lessons on-line

General Psychology –PSYC 2301 5 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none The student will learn the elementary principles of human behavior. (55/0/0/5) Module 3: 10 lessons on-line

College Algebra -MATH 1314 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none Topics include quadratics, polynomial and exponential functions, graphing, linear equations & inequalities, factoring techniques and algebraic fractions. (44/0/0/4) Module 4: 10 lessons on-line

 

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Computers in Funeral Service- MSCI 1011 1 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none The student will learn basic concepts related to computer hardware and software and their application to funeral service. (11/4/0/1)          Module 16: 8 lessons on-line

Funeral Directing- MSCI 1212 3 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none A course in directing the various types of funeral services.  The student will learn funeral service professional ethics and the role of the funeral director in conducting various religious, fraternal, military, traditional, non traditional, and humanistic funeral ceremonies including cultural, ethnic, and geographic customs.(33/0/0/3) Module 6: 8 lessons on-line

Funeral Merchandising- MSCI 1313 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none A course in funeral home management and practice that reviews the aims and objectives of the funeral home practitioner.  The student will learn the component parts and the construction of caskets and outer burial containers and how to professionally arrange the selection room and the methodology for pricing funeral service merchandise.  Various experts from the funeral service profession provide special presentations and/or field trips that will incorporate the theoretical with practical aspects of funeral service merchandising. (44/0/0/4)        Module 9: 8 lessons on-line

Mortuary Administration- MCSI 1314 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: Operating a Business BUSI 1302 A course in funeral home management and practice.  The student will learn contemporary code of ethics for funeral service, various facets of funeral service practice including: the steps from first call to final disposition, funeral records and forms, Social Security and Veteran benefits, professional relationships, establishing and maintaining funeral home facilities and equipment, and supervision and training personnel.  The student will also learn the techniques in conducting the funeral arrangement through role-play exercises. (44/0/0/4)   Module 12: 8 lessons on-line

Occupational Safety- MSCI 1115 2 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none The student will learn workplace safety guidelines as related to funeral service personnel.  This will include: Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for Hazard Communication Standard, Formaldehyde Monitoring, Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Infection Control and Preparation Room Requirements. (22/0/0/2) Module 8: 8 lessons on-line

Office Accounting- OFAD 1307 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none This course is designed to develop an understanding of an accounting system.  The student will learn how to analyze business transactions and how they relate to the accounting cycle, primarily a small service and merchandising business.  The student will learn journalizing, posting, preparing a trial balance, completing financial reports and computing payroll and payroll taxes. (44/0/0/4)   Module 15: 8 lessons on-line

Operating a Business- BUSI 1302 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none The student will learn the practical considerations involved in starting and operating a business.  Topics include analyzing potential market, acquiring financial backing, establishing record-keeping systems, making marketing and pricing decisions, managing financial and human resources, purchasing, controlling inventory, sales forecasting, meeting legal requirements, and using professional resources. (44/0/0/4) Module 5: 8 lessons on-line

 

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Counseling/Dynamics of Grief- MSCI 1316 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none The student will learn how grief affects the deceased family and the role of the funeral in grief resolution.  Grief reactions, grief cycles, and the various stages of grief will be explored.  The student will learn an understanding of the basic methods and procedures of grief counseling and the many elements that a funeral director brings into the counseling session.  The student learns to recognize and understands his/her own personal resources for coping with loss situations. (44/0/0/4) Module 14: 8 lessons on-line

History of Funeral Service- MSCI 1317 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none This course traces the development of funeral service from the ancient Egyptians to modern times.  The students will learn the historical roots of modern practices. (44/0/0/4) Module 7: 8 lessons on-line

Sociology of Funeral Service- MSCI 1118 2 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none A general survey of sociology, the orientation, definition, application and purpose of culture, mores, folkways, and the study of the family unit.  The students will learn how each of these impact death rituals. (22/0/0/2)       Module 13: 8 lessons on-line

 

LEGAL REGULATORY AND ETHICAL

Business Law – BUSI 2301 4 quarter hours. Prerequisite: Mortuary Law MSCI 1219 A course in the principles of law which form the legal framework for business activities.  The student will learn the legal framework for business activities that includes applicable statutes, torts, contracts, personal and real property, wills and trusts, and consumer law. (44/0/0/4)      Module 11: 8 lessons on-line

Mortuary Law- MSCI 1219 3 quarter hours. Prerequisite: none This course will provide the legal fundamentals that apply to funeral service.  The students will learn the corporative state laws, rules, and regulations that pertain to funeral service; laws regarding the rights and duties and responsibilities of funeral service professional; and licensure requirements for funeral directors, embalmers and funeral establishments. (33/0/0/3)           Module 10: 8 lessons on-line