Courses may include
These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.
Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.
COMM 1205 - Communications - Workplace Foundations
Effective communication is fundamental to career success. This course will apply the communication cycle to improve the impact of written messages, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.
FUSV 1001 - Funeral Service Law and Ethics
The funeral professional’s legal and ethical responsibilities will be introduced from “first call” to the final disposition of the deceased. Provincial legislation that applies to licensing and modes of disposition will be reviewed.
FUSV 1002 - Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying
This course is specifically intended to acquaint the student with the social psychology of grief, dying, death and bereavement. Students are expected to absorb the study material in a thoughtful and sensitive manner and to develop useful interpersonal and reflective skills. This course requires a pass mark of 60%, however, students enrolled in the Funeral and Allied Health Services Program require a pass mark of 75%.
FUSV 1150 - Funeral Arranging and Directing Theoretical Applications I
Funeral Arranging and Directing program learners at the NSCC increase their theoretical knowledge base and develop essential skills while apprenticing as funeral directors. This course is designed to capture the theoretical applications in the funeral home setting. Documented participation in funeral procedures including transfers, preparation of documentation required for all forms of disposition, funeral arrangement conferences, pre-arrangements, set-up for funerals, tribute services, visitations and committals, directing funerals, memorial services, and committal services and all tasks as requested by the licensed mentor necessary in the provision of funeral services to client families.
Learning Objectives reflect courses Introduction to Funeral Services; Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying; Communications; Computers; Funeral Rites and Rituals; Funeral Service Law and Ethics. Learners must successful meet 75% of overall course learning objectives.
FUSV 1160 - Funeral Arranging and Directing Theoretical Applications II
This course is designed to allow the learner to continue applying theoretical applications in the funeral home setting. Documented participation in funeral procedures including transfers, preparation of documentation required for all forms of disposition, funeral arrangement conferences, pre-arrangements, set-up for funerals, tribute services, visitations and committals, directing funerals, memorial services, and committal services and all tasks as requested by the licensed mentor necessary in the provision of funeral services to client families.
Learning Objectives reflect courses World Religions: Western Traditions and Funeral Service Business Practices. Learners must successful meet 75% of overall course learning objectives.
FUSV 1170 - Funeral Arranging and Directing Theoretical Applications III
This course is designed to allow the student to continue applying theoretical applications in the funeral home setting. Documented participation in funeral procedures including transfers, preparation of documentation required for all forms of disposition, funeral arrangement conferences, pre-arrangements, set-up for funerals, tribute services, visitations and committals, directing funerals, memorial services, and committal services and all tasks as requested by the licensed mentor necessary in the provision of funeral services to client families.
Learning Objectives reflect courses Issues in Grief and Bereavement for Funeral Service; Legal Aspects of Death: Advanced Planning and Aftercare. Students must successfully meet 75% of overall course learning objectives.
FUSV 2000 - World Religions: Western Traditions
Looking beyond Judeo-Christian religious practices, a selection of the major world religions and spiritual philosophies will be explored during this course. The evolution of funeral practices across these cultures is studied to broaden understanding of the significance of specific religious rites and rituals within the contemporary Western world.
FUSV 2001 - Legal Aspects of Death: Advanced Planning and Aftercare
The course topics include pre-arranged services and a review of pre-need legislation in Atlantic Canada, death benefits, advance planning considerations and client aftercare.
FUSV 2002 - Issues in Grief and Bereavement for Funeral Service
The realities of dying, death and bereavement are fundamental and pervasive aspects of human experience and motivation for human behaviour. This course is designed to help students develop and identify therapeutic strategies that may be used in assisting people in grief.
FUSV 2100 - Funeral Service Business Practices
This course is designed to provide learners with a synopsis of the key business concepts relevant to Funeral and Allied Health Services. Course topics may include but are not limited to the following: types of business organizations, human resources values and the roles and responsibilities of the funeral home manager. Additionally, methods of pricing, funeral service products, services and market knowledge will be introduced. Marketing and communication methods and techniques appropriate to the funeral business will be discussed.
FUSV 2203 - Emerging Trends in Funeral Service
The course facilitator will engage students in a discussion about the societal and cultural shifts influencing trends in funeral service. Major topics will include technological developments in funeral service, and consumer habits: awareness, purchasing decisions, and demand for personalization and environmentally friendly options. The impact on the profession, the changing face of the workforce and the legal implications will be considered.
SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.
SAFE 1001 - Introduction to NS OH&S Act
This course offers students an introduction to the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act of Nova Scotia, which is required by any person employed in a Nova Scotia workplace. This is a generic, introductory course that provides basic knowledge of the Act for students and is considered to be the basis from which more specific training can be given.