Mortuary Science
What is the program?
An educational and training opportunity for those seeking a career in the expanding death-care industry.
What will I learn?A funeral director/embalmer works with the bereaved, providing sensitive, effective intervention during a time of emotional need. He/she is a professional caregiver who enables families and communities to express their concern for life and the living. The embalmer will prepare human remains according to the wishes of the survivors and the requirements of the law. What can I do with this course of study?Students achieving the standards for the curriculum are conferred the Associate in Applied Science in Mortuary Science degree by the college and are eligible for examination by the Texas Funeral Service Commission and the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and provisional licensure registration. |
What's special about the program?The Mortuary Science Department is the first college-based funeral service education program to be offered in Texas. Our Department was established in 1961. Membership is maintained in the University Mortuary Science Education Association.
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The Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science at San Antonio College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org
National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.orgin the Directory of Accredited Programs.
Initial Accreditation 1963 / Last comprehensive review 2017 / Next comprehensive review 2024.
- Re-accreditation: October 2017 for a period of 7 years.
- Most recent Accreditation decision: October 2017 re-accreditation with no stipulations.
ABFSE Self-Study 2017 | pdf, 2017
ABFSE Self-Study Onsite Demonstration | pdf, 2017
The Funeral Director, Level II Certificate consists of 33 credit hours: 12 in liberal arts and up to 21 credit hours in the funeral directing curriculum. The certificate program is for those students who want to limit their practice only to funeral directing. This academic program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs. It is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from this program are not eligible to take the National Board Examination or any state board examination for which graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.
Program Information - San Antonio College
| Year | Total Enrolled | # of New Students | # of Grads | Timely Grad* | Graduation Rate** | Did not Finish *** | Overall % Employed | Employed in FS |
| 2022 | 277 | 66 | 16 | 8/16 | 100% | 1 | 94% | 75% |
| 2021 | 167 | 76 | 26 | 23/26 | 88% | 2 | 92% | 62% |
| 2020 | 78 | 63 | 15 | 15/15 | 100% | 1 | 73% | 53% |
| 2019 | 114 | 89 | 24 | 24/24 | 100% | 1 | 100% | 21% |
* Timely graduation = complete program in 1 1/2 times designated program length.
** Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort completing in the designated year)
*** Left before completing the program; did not finish
National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.
National Board Statistics - San Antonio College
| Single Year | Takers | School Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | Single Year | Takers | School Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | |
| 2022 Arts | 18 | 83% | 69% | 2022 Sciences | 14 | 71% | 64% | |
| 2021 Arts | 21 | 71% | 68% | Sciences | 16 | 63% | 57% | |
| 2020 Arts | 11 | 91% | 73% | Sciences | 14 | 64% | 64% | |
| 2019 Arts | 56% | 72% | Sciences | 52% | 63% |
National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.
Accreditation
Program Accredited by ABFSE: Associate in Applied Science - Mortuary Science
Initial Accreditation 1963 / Last comprehensive review 2017 / Next comprehensive review 2024
Re-accreditation: October 2017 for period of 7 years.
Most recent Accreditation decision: October 2017 re-accreditation with no stipulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Learning Outcomes
- 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.
Read more about Mortuary Science in our Course Catalog.
Tuition is based on the amount of credit hours a student is enrolled in per semester and if he/she is a in district/out of district or international student.
For information on tuition rates visit: Cost of Attendance
Tuition is paid by semester based on the amount of credit hours a student is enrolled in. He/she may provide payment either in full, by payment plan, VA benefits, financial or loans. It is recommended to speak to the specific department such as Veteran Affairs or Financial Aid for more details.
- Visit the following link: Click here
- Once you arrive to the site, click on the term you are seeking to look up classes. (EX: Summer 2018, Fall 2019, etc.) Click submit.
- Do not select those listed as CE. These are strictly for continuing education courses only.
- Select MRTS for Mortuary Science courses. (Mortuary Science is only offered at San Antonio College)
- Click Class Search
- Students who are students of the Alamo Colleges District can see the schedule through their ACES account.
We do not offer a fully online curriculum.
Yes, evening courses are offered Monday through Thursday.
Courses are offered in the evening
MRTS 1330 Funeral Service Internship Orientation
MRTS 1301 Contemporary Funeral Service Practices
MRTS 1342 Mortuary Management I
MRTS 2342 Mortuary Management II
MRTS 2335 Mortuary Jurisprudence
MRTS 1225 Thanatochemistry
Our Department offers two career paths a student can choose in our department. Students seeking a career in funeral directing can complete this by choosing the Funeral Director's certificate. Alternatively, students can also seek an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science. This career option will allow the student to complete curriculum both in funeral directing and embalming. To see the degree plan for the Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science, click here. To see the Funeral Director's certificate plan, click here.
We do not offer certificate or degree options solely for embalming. In order to complete the embalming part of the curriculum, a student will need to opt for the Mortuary Science Associate of Applied Science Degree. This degree covers both funeral directing and embalming.
Contact Us
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Mary Mena |
Mortuary Science Main Office |
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