ONLINE PROGRAM

A student must have a minimum of a high school diploma or hold a state approved high school equivalency diploma. In addition, you must comply with any specific legal or educational requirement(s) prescribed by your intended state of practice. You can apply online or by contacting our Admissions Office Toll-Free 1-866-932-2264 (1-866-WEB-AAMI).
Applicants are advised that they (1) must own or have 24/7 access to a computer and (2) have an appropriate email address to participate in the AAMI online program. Information about browser and computer requirements are on the AAMI website (www.aami.edu). Click on Online Learning and “technical requirements.”
The online courses at AAMI have the same rigorous academic requirements and content as those offered on-campus. You will take all the courses online except the portions of Restorative Art and the Funeral Directing Practicum that are required to be done on campus or in the field. Additional time will be required if students have not met required clinical/embalming requirements. These courses will require you to come to New York City.
The number of credits a student takes per semester will determine the length of the program. For example, the program can be completed in approximately 5 semesters by enrolling for 14 credits per semester or it may be completed in 9 semesters by enrolling for 8 credits a semester.
Many prospective students wonder if they will have an opportunity for communication with other students. Each student should expect interaction in each course as defined in each course syllabus. We encourage online interaction and communication with the faculty and other students. Each course is built with online conferences and discussions as a central component of the course. There will be many team projects and other opportunities to get to know your fellow students.

ONLINE ACCESS TO FUNERAL SERVICE EDUCATION

Funeral service is one of the many professional fields that has been plagued by limited access opportunities. Potential students encounter significant access barriers in their desire to attend a funeral service education degree program. Currently, in the United States, there are over 50 Accredited Funeral Service Programs located in over 30 states.
Even in those states that have one or more funeral service programs, there are large numbers of potential students who live too far from a campus to enroll. This lack of access to funeral service education programs nationally has led to a growing shortage of funeral directors/embalmers. Employment of funeral directors is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations. Those who embalm and are willing to relocate should have the best job prospects.
Every state requires approval of out-of-state institutions delivering online learning in their state. States in which AAMI is approved are subject to change. Students should contact the Admissions Office before relocating in order to verify that AAMI is approved to offer its associate degree in that state. Students relocating to a state in which AAMI is not approved will not be permitted to continue in the program. Contact information for each state office of Higher Education or for submitting a complaint is found on the AAMI website.
AAMI has chosen to offer its entire associate degree in funeral service education online in order to help solve this national access problem. In January 2006, AAMI began offering the first online courses. All but two clinical/lab courses are offered online. As required by the national accrediting association for funeral service education (The American Board of Funeral Service Education) the clinical/lab portion of two courses must be taken on-site in New York City or in the field. To accommodate online learners, any incomplete items will be compressed and intensified into a one-day experience in the student’s final semester. Additional time on Campus will be required if students have not met required clinical/embalming requirements.
The Online Program is identical to our Campus Program in the courses offered, the course content and the requirements that a student must complete for graduation. Both programs require the completion of 69 credits of prescribed courses. Students taking courses online may work on their courses anytime during the day or evening that is convenient for them

ONLINE SCHEDULE

IS ONLINE LEARNING FOR YOU?

There are a number of studies that have analyzed the characteristics of successful online learners. In all cases, the single most critical criteria for success is that the student be able to work independently. Working independently does not mean working alone. There will be plenty of support from the course instructor and from other students. But, it does mean that you must be disciplined enough to sit down at your computer and work through the readings, assignments, email from the instructor and other students, and participate in work groups and other activities.

The greatest difference between the traditional classroom and online learning is that on-campus classes meet at a prescribed time and place, while in the online class students have more flexibility with regard to when and where they participate in class.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

AAMI uses Blackboard Learn (SaaS deployment) as their learning management system. To take online courses at AAMI you must have sufficient technology, Internet access, an email account.

Please refer here for specific information about supported devices, operating systems, and browsers.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS

There is no minimum number of credits you must take each semester, however, you must complete the degree requirements in four years. There are 69 credits required in the Associate Degree Program.

Semester Plan – (Actual start dates will vary year-to-year)
Fall	Spring	Summer
September – December	January – April	April – August

TESTING POLICY

Most of your exams will be taken online. Midterms and final exams will be scheduled for specific dates and you will need a password to access them. Most password protected tests will have a time limit requirement.

PROCTORING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE STUDENTS (As of January 1, 2025)

All ONLINE class exams need to be taken online through Blackboard using the proctoring service that AAMI has contracted to use – HONORLOCK.
Most classes have proctored midterms and finals. There are a few exceptions.
Access to high-speed internet is required.
CHROMEBOOKS are acceptable.
All student devices must have a webcam, microphone, and the Google CHROME browser and extension.
An iPad – iOS device is NOT compatible.
Proctored exams can be taken with any device as long as it has one of the following operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 11, MacOSX 10.14 and higher, ChromeOS.
All students have to use HONORLOCK, including Military students.
For Latest update on requirements check here.

STATE AUTHORIZATION

All courses in the curriculum are offered each semester. Online semesters start in September, January and April. Required on-campus work is offered each semester on scheduled dates and times. See the AAMI website for start dates for courses each semester and the dates for Campus required Lab and course work. Additional time on As a provider of an online degree program, AAMI is subject to the regulations and requirements of each state with regard to delivering online courses to students residing in each respective state. State Regulations vary from state to state, requiring educational institutions wishing to offer a degree to comply with these regulations and apply for authorization to offer the degree. AAMI is unable to accept students for admission from certain states. Please inquire with the admissions team for further information. will be required if students have not met required clinical/embalming requirements.

COMPLAINT RESOLUTION

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs. All states except California, including New York, where AAMI is physically located, are part of NC-SARA. Out of state distance education students are called SARA students.

SARA provides a process for consumer protection complaints for SARA students. The first step is for the student to exhaust the institution’s internal grievance process, and if the Complaint is not resolved, a student may file a complaint with the State Portal Entity of the State where the institution is physically located. Please see an overview of the process for SARA complaints at this link: https://www.nc-sara.org/student-complaints

An AAMI student from any of the 50 states should first pursue resolution of a Complaint through AAMI’s internal grievance procedures, found on page 33 in AAMI’s Student Handbook. If the Complaint remains unresolved, a student may file with the New York State Portal Entity, which is the Office of College and University Evaluation at the New York State Education Department. Please see a link to the NY State Education Department’s website that explains the complaint process: (http://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/filing-complaint-about-college-or-university)

AAMI’s ACCREDITATION

American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service, Inc. and the Funeral Service degree program are 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.

The New York State Board of Regents has authorized AAMI to offer an Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree.

ONLINE COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Students should be aware that dropping or withdrawing from a course(s) may affect financial aid by reducing the number of credits below the minimum number of 6 credits for financial aid.

The time-frame in which you are allowed to drop a course(s) is based upon the number of course credits as listed below.

3 credit course may be dropped within the first 2 weeks
2 credit course may be dropped within the first 2 weeks
1 credit course may be dropped within the first week

Courses dropped by the deadline do not appear on the student’s transcript.

Dropping a course may affect Financial Aid. Please speak with your Academic Advisor or Financial Aid Officer.

WITHDRAWAL FROM ONLINE COURSE WITHOUT PENALTY

The time frame for withdrawing from a course without penalty is as follows:

3 credit course may withdraw within the first 5 weeks
2 credit course may withdraw within the first 3 weeks
1 credit course may withdraw within the first 2 weeks

A “W” will be entered for the course on the student’s transcript and does not affect student’s grade point average.

During this period, approvals for withdrawal are not required; however, it is strongly recommended that students consult with their academic advisor prior to deciding to withdraw from a course.

LATE WITHDRAWAL FROM ONLINE COURSE

3 credit course – beginning of 6th week to end of 10th week
2 credit course – beginning of 4th week to end of 6th week
1 credit course – beginning of 3rd week to end of 4th week

If, after the close of the withdrawal period outlined above, a student wishes to withdraw from a course or AAMI, he or she must provide documentation of extenuating circumstances to warrant a grade of W. Each situation will be evaluated individually.

For any withdrawal after the above time-frame, a grade of “F” will be entered on the student’s transcript.

ONLINE SEMESTER AND/OR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Students who withdraw from the degree program and all courses before the semester begins will not be penalized or charged for the semester. Students must notify the Registrar before the start of the semester.

Students who completely withdraw from the program or all courses after classes start must notify the Registrar immediately by phone or email. Consideration will be given depending on the circumstances regarding the request for withdrawal. This policy only applies to a full semester withdrawal for online courses.

Students may apply for withdrawal at any point during the semester for serious medical reasons. Medical documentation must accompany the student request for withdrawal. Each request for a medical withdrawal is considered individually.

The student is responsible for any financial obligations incurred as a result of registration.

In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid, all students who receive financial aid from the federal and/or state government are required to meet specific standards of academic progress (total number of credits passed and the student’s grade point average in a specific semester). Students must check with the Financial Aid office to evaluate the impact the withdrawal will have on the student’s financial aid.