Pre-Health Professions: Funeral Director/Embalmer

Funeral Director / Embalmer

Mortuary Science programs train funeral directors and/or embalmers. Funeral directors counsel families and next of kin about the conduct and composition of a funeral service and the burial, disposition, or cremation of a deceased human body. They also supervise burials, dispositions, and cremations and maintain a funeral home. Embalmers prepare deceased human bodies for such funeral services. This includes disinfecting and using preservative chemical substances on bodies to clean and purify them.

CAREER DESCRIPTION*

National median salary: $51,570-$75,660
National projected career growth: 2-4%
Visit abfse.org to learn about licensing requirements
The degree you need varies based on career aspirations within the field

TYPICAL EDUCATION**

Years of School: 4*
Minimum Entering GPA: 2.0

COMPETITIVE STUDENTS ALWAYS...

Maintain a competitive academic record
Shadow professionals in the field, both licensed and unlicensed, in rural and urban areas
Obtain direct experience such as funeral assisting
Research program requirements, as program requirements vary by institution and state

NEARBY SCHOOLS

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES

†Biological Sciences (minimum credits: 12)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
BIOL 1450 Biology I & Lab	5	F, S, M	High School Biology and Chemistry

_{†Currently, UNO's BIOL 2470, 2480, and 2440 will not transfer to the program at U of M. Those classes should be taken with the U of M.}

Chemistry

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
CHEM 1140 & 1144 Fund of College Chemistry & Lab	5	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320

Recommended General Education

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
MATH 1300 College Algebra with Support	4	F, S, M	N/A
OR MATH 1320 College Algebra	3	F, S, M	ACT 22 or ALEKS 4
ENGL 1140 English Composition I with Support	4	F, S	ACT Composite score <13, SAT Composite score <760, High School GPA <2.3, or Last Known College GPA <2.0
OR ENGL 1150 English Composition I	3	F, S, M	AP Score 3, ACT 14-26, HS GPA 2.3+
PSYC 1010 Introduction to Psychology	3	F, S, M	N/A
SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology	3	F, S, M	N/A
HIST 1000, 1010, 110, or 1120 (World or US)	3	F, S, M	N/A
CMST 1110 Public Speaking	3	F, S, M	N/A
CMST 4530 Intercultural Communication	3	F, S	Junior Standing; GPA of at least 2.25
A United States Diversity Course	3	N/A	N/A
A Global Diversity Course	3	N/A	N/A
ACCT 2000 Accounting for Non-Business Majors	3	F, S	ENGL 1150 and MATH 1300 or 1320
A Humanities Course	3	N/A	N/A

Additional Information

CLEP, AP, and DUAL Enrollment credit are accepted.

_{*Data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics}
_{**Data and information from UNMC}
_{Last update: 9.2025}

WHAT PRACTICING PROFESSIONAL SAY

“Funeral directors are health care professionals who serve others during a time of loss, pain and grief. The Program of Mortuary Science's mission is to skillfully combine the study of behavioral, physical and applied sciences for the goal of preparing graduates for careers as knowledgeable, skilled and innovative funeral service professionals. Program graduates will be prepared to serve bereaved members of their communities in a manner that is proficient, dignified and caring.”
-Michael Lubrant, University of Minnesota Program Director

“I decided to pursue Mortuary Science because I liked that there was a medical aspect and also a counseling-type aspect to the field. The U of M’s Mortuary Science Program has allowed me to gain real-world experience by having a hands-on approach to my learning. I feel prepared for entering the field and am excited to utilize what I’ve learned.”
-Cristina W., University of Minnesota graduate

Contact Us

Health Careers Resource Center
307 Allwine Hall | 6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE | 68182-0070
Phone: 402.554.5980
Email: UNOHealthCareers@unomaha.edu