The Mortuary Science Department at Amarillo College has as its central aim recognition of the importance of funeral service personnel as (1) members of a human services 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 of and compliant with federal, state, and local regulatory guidelines, as well as (5) professionals sensitive to the responsibility for public health, safety and welfare in caring for human remains.

1. Enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession.
2. Educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to help enable them to develop the proficiency and skills required of the profession.
3. Educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large.
4. Emphasize high standards of ethical conduct.
5. Provide a curriculum at the post secondary level of instruction.
6. Encourage student and faculty research in the field of funeral service.

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The Certificate of Completion for Funeral Directing is offered to meet specific state or professional needs. The Texas Funeral Director Certificate program does not include instruction in embalming, restorative art, microbiology, pathology, chemistry or anatomy; therefore, it is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from the MRTS.CERT 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. Students completing this program are eligible to sit for the Texas State Board  of Funeral Directing Exam only and the Texas State Law Exam. The certificate is recognized by the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Prior conviction of a felony may render the student ineligible to practice in the State of Texas. 

Mortuary Science AAS Recommended Course Timeline

First Semester Prior to Admission
ENGL 1301 - Composition I	3 hrs
PSYC 2301 – General Psychology	3 hrs
MATH 1314- College Algebra	3 hrs
HITT 1305: Medical Terminology 1	3 hrs
SPCH 1318- Interpersonal Communication	3 hrs
Language, Philosophy & Culture or Creative Arts	3 hrs
First Fall semester
HPRS 2301 – Pathophysiology	3 hrs
MRTS 1211 – History of Mortuary Science.	2 hrs
MRTS 1301 – Contemporary Funeral Service Practices	3 hrs
MRTS 1310 – Orientation to Funeral Service Clinical.	3 hrs
MRTS 1342 – Mortuary Management 1.	3 hrs
First Spring Semester
MRTS 2335 – Mortuary Jurisprudence	3 hrs
MRTS 2342 – Mortuary Management 2	3 hrs
MRTS 1260 – Funeral Service Clinical 1	2 hrs
SCIT 1313 – Workplace Microbiology	3 hrs
Summer Semester
SOCI 1371 – Sociology of Death and Dying	3 hrs
Second Fall Semester
MRTS 2432 - Human Anatomy.	4 hrs
MRTS 2244 - Technical Procedures 1	2 hrs
MRTS 2260 – Funeral Service Clinical 2	2 hrs
Second Spring semester
MRTS 2246 – Technical Procedures	2 hrs
MRTS 1291 – Special Topics in Funeral Service	2 hrs

Mortuary Science Certificate Recommended Course Timeline

First Semester Prior to Admission
ENGL 1301 - Composition I	3 hrs
PSYC 2301 – General Psychology	3 hrs
SOCI 1371 – Sociology of Death and Dying	3 hrs
SPCH 1318- Interpersonal Communication	3 hrs
First Fall semester
MRTS 1211 – History of Mortuary Science.	2 hrs
MRTS 1301 – Contemporary Funeral Service Practices	3 hrs
MRTS 1310 – Orientation to Funeral Service Clinical.	3 hrs
MRTS 1342 – Mortuary Management 1.	3 hrs
First Spring Semester
MRTS 2335 – Mortuary Jurisprudence	3 hrs
MRTS 2342 – Mortuary Management 2	3 hrs
MRTS 1260 – Funeral Service Clinical 1	2 hrs
MRTS 1191 – Special Topics in Funeral Service	1 hrs