Funeral Services Practicum

Certificate Program in Funeral Services Education

FS 450

Breyer State University

Instructor: Dominick L. Flarey, Ph.D., MBA, RN,CS, CNAA, FACHE

SYLLABUS:

COURSE OVERVIEW: This is the final course in the Funeral Services Education Certificate Program. This is a practicum course in which you will secure a practicum internship with a funeral home in their local geographic area. The purpose of the practicum is to afford students the opportunity to observe and work, under the direction of their funeral service mentor, in the specialty practice of funeral services assisting. You are responsible for securing your own agreement with a licensed funeral director/funeral home, for the practicum course. This course provides for eight (8) semester hours of college credit toward the requirements for the certificate in Funeral Services Education.

You are provided a course contract detailing the purpose and objectives of the practicum. This course contract is agreed upon and signed by the mentor. You are provided with criteria of what you need to observe and learn during the practicum course. You work directly under the guidance and supervision of the funeral director mentor at all times.

You must complete 120 hours of practicum time with the funeral home and mentor. This practicum time will include observation of all aspects of the funeral services profession, with an emphasis on practical experiences at the level of a funeral services assistant. You are responsible for scheduling of time for the 120 hour practicum, with mutual agreement of the funeral director mentor. You have up to 15 weeks time in which to complete the 120 hour practicum. Extensions of this time period will be granted as needed.

Upon completion of the 120 hours of practicum, the mentor will complete an evaluation form as provide by the school. The mentor will verify achievement of the course objectives, complete an evaluation of your overall experiences and learning, and recommend or not recommend that you receive credit for the course. The funeral director/mentor is invited to correspond with me as needed.

After completion of the practicum, you will be required to produce a paper which summarizes your experiences and learning. Here you will also analyze your experiences of the practicum and formulate an appropriate role description of the funeral services assistant. Specific learning outcomes will be validated. Upon completion of this course, and all other required courses in the Funeral Services Education Curriculum, you will graduate with a College Certificate in Funeral Services Education and be eligible for national certification as a Funeral Services Assistant.

TIME FRAME: As noted above, you have 15 weeks of time to complete the requirements for this course/practicum. This time may be extended by me, as needed.

GRADING: A final course letter grade will be applied upon completion of this course. Your grade will be determined by the validation of the funeral director/mentor's written evaluation of the your experiences and performance, as well as for the completion of the practicum project paper. You must achieve an overall grade of "C" to pass this practicum course and receive credits.

COMMUNICATION: Throughout the practicum course you will maintain communications with me both commenting on your experiences and learning. I will provide mentorship, guidance and support to you as you progress through the practicum course. Your mentor is also invited and encouraged to communicate with me whenever needed. You have full access to ongoing communication and mentorship with me via email, phone or scheduled online chat room communication.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION: Dominick L. Flarey, Ph.D, DCH, RN,BC, GC-C is a professor and the President of Breyer State University. He is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, a Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse and a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Spiritual Counselor. He has a long history of lecturing and teaching courses related to grief counseling, death and dying, and bereavement education. He has mentored students in developing various types of after care grief counseling programs and has provided consulting to funeral homes for the development of grief and bereavement programs. He is the Executive Director of the American Academy of Grief Counseling in which he provides direction for the development of standards for the practice of Grief Counseling and provides reviews and approvals of grief counseling education programs. He is an author of seven text books in health care, and has authored over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals.

CLASSROOM: You will utilize the online classroom for this practicum course. All materials for securing a practicum contract and evaluation of the practicum, as well as full criteria and guidelines for the course paper are provided to you within the online classroom.

PREREQUISITES: You must have successfully completed the following courses prior to registering for this course; FS 130, GRF 300, FS 250 and FS 370.

CERTIFICATION: Upon successful completion of this course and graduation from the Funeral Services Education Certificate program, students will be eligible to meet the criteria/standards for Certification as a Funeral Services Assistant, through the American Institute of Health Care Professionals. Students are provided full information regarding this certification, at the time of course enrollment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1). Identify the role/responsibilities of various funeral services professionals and paraprofessionals.
2). Observe and assimilate the major processes and services that are provided by funeral homes and funeral service professionals today.
3). Observe and experience various aspects of these services under the direction of the funeral director/mentor.
4). Observe and experience the work of professional relations with families of the deceased.
5). Observe and identify the planning process for funeral services.
6). Observe the process of embalming, restoration, and preparation of the deceased for burial.
7). Define the role of the funeral services assistant.
8). Define and discuss the process of providing initial grief counseling to families of the deceased.
9). Define and discuss implementation of grief counseling principles and modalities within the funeral services profession.
10). Identify the value of funeral assistants to the overall funeral services profession and process.
11). Develop a working and practical job description of a valued funeral service assistant.
12). Understand and discuss the compliance issues related to preparation and burial of the deceased.
13). Understand and discuss the process of embalming and preservation.
14). Understand the role of the funeral service professionals in their collaboration with clergy, burial services, cemeteries, crematories, etc.
15.) Identify and discuss various religious ceremonies and cultural issues related to death, dying, funeral preparation, services and burials.
16). Critically evaluate their experiences and learning outcomes from this practicum course.
17). Prepare to enter the funeral services industry as an entry level funeral service assistant.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor at adm@breyerstate.com.

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