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Accreditation

The Mortuary Science and Funeral Service bachelor degree program at Southern Illinois University 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

Our Mission Statement

The Mortuary Science and Funeral Service program mission is to challenge students to achieve academic and professional excellence; prepare students for entry level positions in the funeral service profession; provide quality instruction in keeping with current trends in the profession; cultivate and maintain excellent relations with local, state, and national organizations; enhance university and community relations; and work toward the continued improvement of the Mortuary Science and Funeral Service program as an ongoing process.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Explains 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.

NBE Pass Rates

“National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates (beginning 2015), and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this program’s rates, go to ASA 116 1365 Douglas Drive Carbondale, IL 62901 or by e-mail at splash@siu.edu, or by telephone (618) 453-5698.”

Program Information - Southern Illinois

Year Total enrolled # of New Students # of Grads Timely Grad* Graduation rate Did not finish** Overall % Employed Employed In FS
2023 100 23 18 18/18 85% 1 94% 83%
2022 94 29 16 16/16 95% 2 100% 81%
2021 81 21 16 16/16 84% 3 100% 81%

*Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ 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 STATISTICS- Southern Illinois University

Arts Takers School Pass Rate National Pass Rate Sciences Takers School Pass Rate National Pass Rate
2023 17 76% 78% 2023 16 44% 69%
2022 12 83% 69% 2022 13 54% 64%
2021 15 73% 68% 2021 9 44% 57%

 School pass rate is based on 1st time test takers within one year of graduation.

School of Health Sciences | College of Health and Human Sciences | 618-453-7211 |