Students of the Applied Science in Funeral Service Program at Eastwick College Hackensack have good reason to be excited. The Associate in Applied Science degree is now fully-accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), an accreditation that is not only highly regarded but is also a requirement for pursuing licensure as a funeral director in many states.
"For many people, funeral service might seem like a cold and dark field to work in, but the skills required for the job are much closer to that of a counselor or makeup artist in many ways", explains Thomas M. Eastwick, president of Eastwick College.
“Many see mortuary science as a gloomy field because it focuses on death. While it’s true that it can bring its share of grief, professionals in this field also do their best to honor and celebrate life, carefully restoring and preserving the body, and providing compassion and consoling to family members and friends as they are gathered to remember the deceased,” continues Eastwick.
This unique degree offered at Eastwick College can be completed in as little as 24 months, significantly quicker than other programs offered in the area, and prepares the student to enter the workforce in the capacity of a licensed practitioner of mortuary science, which includes embalming, funeral directing, funeral arrangement, and various positions in a medical examiner’s office.
Planning and preparing for a funeral service involves a significant amount of work for the family. The details and requirements are often overwhelming. Funeral service professionals lessen this stress by taking on many of the responsibilities. It is a career that requires compassion, business know-how, medical knowledge and organizational skills. In some cases, an aptitude for artistry can also be beneficial for those in this field.
Students enrolled in Eastwick's Funeral Service Program will learn how to restore the body through embalming and other procedures in fully-equipped lab classrooms. They also study the psychology and sociology of death and funerals, which is vital in their preparation to counsel families and help them through a difficult time. Also, because mortuary science graduates work with people from a wide range of cultures and religions, students in this program learn about many of the different end-of-life traditions and requirements.
“There is currently a significant number of job opportunities for funeral directors and embalmers, and the demand will continue to increase in the coming years as the population ages,” says Thomas Eastwick. “Even better, the median annual salary of a funeral director is over $54,000.”
For more information on this unique program, click here or call 201-488-9400. For information on other degrees offered by Eastwick College, visit eastwickcollege.edu.