The Associate Degree program in Funeral Service, consisting of 3 or 4 semesters of instruction on campus, was developed in 1995. It offers balanced, comprehensive, academic training for future funeral service practitioners, enabling them to meet the needs of an increasingly more demanding and better-educated public. In 2006, AAMI began offering its Associate Degree Program online, providing students with greater flexibility in terms of time and location. The online program is the same as the campus program in terms of content, courses and requirements, differing only in the mode of delivery.
AAMI is authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to award the Associate Degree in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) and is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 992 Mantua Pike, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org. Funeral Service Education is not a static field; the past decade has witnessed the following: an increase in general education requirements; a minimum of an Associate Degree for licensure; and a broadening of the scope and content of the specialized education and training provided by funeral service colleges. Careful planning by the faculty provides a sound basic foundation for each course and integrates the various subjects into a unified program. Additional individuals, recognized as authorities in funeral service and its allied fields, are invited to address the student body, bringing a wealth of experiences from the profession to the classroom.
Prospective students should be prepared for a rigorous academic program in preparation for graduation and examination for professional licensure. Seriousness of purpose, combined with a committed application of each student’s prior educational foundation, is required for successful completion of AAMI’s program.
Campus classes are conducted five days per week between the hours of 8:50 AM and 4:00 PM. The amount of time required to complete the degree requirements at AAMI depends upon the number of transfer credits, if any, completed by the student. Applicants with a minimum of 60 credits, an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution will be granted advanced standing and will have satisfied the 9 credit hour general education core. All transfer students eligible for this waiver must still complete the Professional Ethics and History of Funeral Service core requirements. (See Transfer Credit Policy for full explanation.) Typically, full-time campus students complete the program in 3 semesters (12 months) with transfer credit and 4 semesters (16 months) without transfer credits. An online student can complete the degree in less than 2 years by enrolling full-time (12 credits) or up to 4 years by enrolling part-time.
For complete information on the Associate Degree at AAMI, please refer to the current Catalog, posted to this website.
Program Requirements
REQUIRED COURSE SEQUENCE (Campus and Online)
AAMI requires students to complete all courses in the curriculum. All courses are listed with the prerequisites (i.e., a course or courses that must be taken before another course) and co-requisites (i.e., a course required to be taken in conjunction with another course), if any. The required sequence for enrolling in courses is listed in the first column on the left of the chart. A student wishing to attend part-time, and also to be assured of completing the program in the required 4-years, should follow the course listing in the categories A through K .
Curriculum
In accordance with educational guidelines established by the American Board of Funeral Service Education there are five areas of instruction provided;
- PUBLIC HEALTH AND TECHNICAL (PHT)
Principles of Embalming I, Color and Cosmetics, Microbiology for Embalmers, Principles of Embalming II, Chemistry for Embalmers, Clinical Embalming; Pathology for Embalmers, Principles of Embalming III, Anatomy II, Anatomy III, Restorative Art, Comprehensive Science Review. - SOCIAL SCIENCES (SOC)
History of Funeral Service, Death and Human Development, Funeral Service Psychology and Counseling, Sociology of Funeral Service, Comprehensive Arts Review. - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (BUS)
Funeral Home Directing, Small Business Management, Accounting I, Funeral Home Management and Merchandising, Accounting II, Crematory & Cemetery Operations. - LEGAL, REGULATORY, AND ETHICAL (LAW)
Professional Ethics, Business Law; Mortuary Law; State Rules. - GENERAL EDUCATION
Principles of Mathematics, Communication Skills, Introduction to Science, Anatomy I, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Pathology, Introduction to Chemistry.
Tuition and Fees
A prospective student should thoughtfully assess his/her individual financial readiness to pursue a course of study at AAMI. It is the responsibility of each student to be prepared for his/her financial obligation whether it is from private resources or financial aid. If a student intends to use financial aid as a means of payment of tuition, all applications and awards must be in place by the beginning of each semester.
Students whose accounts are in arrears will not be permitted to register for subsequent semesters, be granted a degree, or be issued a transcript of academic record.
All tuition and fees are payable in advance of the beginning of each semester in accordance with the following schedule.
Fees
Application fee $50.00; non-refundable fee must accompany application
Matriculation fee $160.00; non-refundable fee payable within 2 weeks of notification that applicant is accepted; Matriculation Fee does not apply to Special Students.
Registration Fee (per semester) $10.00
Late tuition payment fee $75.00
Returned check fee $30.00
Graduation fee $175.00
Transcript fee $5.00
Late enrollment fee $75.00
Clinical Laboratory Fee $150.00
Fees Required by Other Agencies
NY State Department of Health Registration fee $50.00
International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards Fee (National Board Examination) $570.00
Textbooks required for the courses may be purchased through AAMI. Estimated cost for student budget purposes is $1,000.
Proctoring fees $14 – 27.50 per test depending on the site chosen
Tuition for Eligible Military Personnel (Active Duty, Reserve and Veterans)
All active duty, active reserve and veterans should contact the Admissions Office for specific information about various programs and payment options available to current and former military. AAMI offers a range of programs designed to meet the needs of active and retired military personnel. Tuition levels vary according to the program chosen. Please contact the Admissions Office to determine which of the academic programs and tuition levels are appropriate for you.
Costs:
*Tuition Assistance is $250 per credit hour.
Using TA, there are no out-of-pocket costs, with the exception of books, travel and accommodation expenses in New York City for Clinical and the Comprehensive Review (Capstone), taken in your final semester of the program.
*GI Bill is $425.75 per credit hour.
Using the GI Bill, there are no out-of-pocket costs, with the exception of books, travel and accommodation expenses in New York City for the Clinical and the Comprehensive Review (Capstone), taken in your final semester of the program.
AAMI has an MOU with the DOD that enables service members to use Tuition Assistance Benefits. AAMI is also VA approved to accept post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits.
Return of Tuition Assistance
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.
To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, AAMI will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis for students who withdraw on or before completing 60% of the semester. Withdrawing after the 60% date will not result in adjustment to the student’s Tuition Assistance for that term.
When a student officially withdraws from a course, the date of withdrawal will be used as the last date of attendance. For unofficial withdrawals, AAMI will determine the last date of attendance based on the last date a student participated in the class as determined by their instructors.
Once the last date of attendance has been determined, AAMI will recalculate your TA eligibility based on the following formula:
Number of days completed ÷ Total days of the course (start to end date) = Percentage earned
The start and end date for each class will be used to determine eligibility. Using the formula above, AAMI will be required to return some or all of the TA awarded to service members that did not complete more than 60% of each course, which may result in owing a tuition balance to AAMI.
Email: military@funeraleducation.org or phone 1-(866) 932-2264 (toll free).
Net Price Calculator
Estimating the cost of completing a degree before beginning school is an important first step. Try our Net Price Calculator to estimate your cost of attendance at AAMI. The estimate is intended solely for planning purposes and it is considered unofficial. A more specific cost estimate will be prepared once you have been accepted and completed the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
AAMI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE OF TUITION AND FEES WHEN IT IS DEEMED ADVISABLE.
To view our Refund Policy click here.
Academic Calendar
Holidays: | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
New Year’s Day | Wed. 1 Jan | Fri. 1 Jan | Fri. 31 Dec | Mon. 2 Jan | Mon. 1 Jan | Wed. 1 Jan |
Martin Luther King’s Birthday | Mon. 20 Jan | Mon. 18 Jan | Mon. 17 Jan | Mon. 16 Jan | Mon. 15 Jan | Mon. 20 Jan |
Presidents’ Day | Mon. 17 Feb | Mon. 15 Feb | Mon. 21 Feb | Mon. 20 Feb | Mon. 19 Feb | Mon. 17 Feb |
Good Friday | Fri. 10 Apr | Fri. 2 Apr | Fri. 15 Apr | Fri. 7 Apr | Fri. 29 Mar | Fri. 18 Apr |
Memorial Day | Mon. 25 May | Mon. 31 May | Mon. 30 May | Mon. 29 May | Mon. 27 May | Mon. 26 May |
Independence Day | Fri. 3 Jul | Mon. 5 Jul | Mon. 4 Jul | Tues. 4 Jul | Thurs. 4 Jul | Fri. 4 Jul |
Labor Day | Mon. Sept 7 | Mon. Sept 6 | Mon. Sept 5 | Mon. Sept 4 | Mon. Sept 2 | Mon. Sept 1 |
Columbus Day | Mon. Oct 12 | Mon. Oct 11 | Mon. Oct 10 | Mon. Oct 9 | Mon. Oct 14 | Mon. Oct 13 |
Veterans’ Day | Wed. 11 Nov | Thurs. 11 Nov | Fri. 11 Nov | Fri. 10 Nov | Mon. 11 Nov | Tues. 11 Nov |
Thanksgiving Recess (Thursday and Friday) | 26 & 27 Nov | 25 & 26 Nov | 24 & 25 Nov | 23 & 24 Nov | 28 & 29 Nov | 27 & 28 Nov |
Christmas Day | Fri. 25 Dec | Fri. 24 Dec. | Mon. 26 Dec | Mon. 25 Dec | Wed. 25 Dec | Thurs. 25 Dec |
Please note: For online courses, check the individual semester calendars for holiday observance. Not all holidays are observed for online courses.
Technical Requirments
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.
What hardware, peripherals, software and applications should I have?
NOTE: Tablets, Tablet/Laptop Hybrid Devices, and Mobile Devices are not supported at this time. You may be able to use them successfully for reading lectures and assignments, but test-taking is not supported.
Please refer to https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/New/Browser_Support/000_Supported_Browsers#Tested_devices_and_operating_systems for specific information about supported devices, operating systems, and browsers. From there, click on the BROWSER CHECKER link to find out what operating system and browser you are already using, and whether it is supported.
In addition, you must have:
Microsoft Office 2007 (PC) or later, Office 2008 (MAC) or, at least, Microsoft WORD
Adobe® Reader 9.0 or later
Local administrative privileges (for required software installations) –
- It is strongly recommended that you have administrative rights to the computer you will use for AAMI online coursework. If you must use a computer over which you do not have administrative rights (such as a library computer or a workplace computer), you may experience difficulties with needed functions, such as installing plug-ins. Students using library or workplace computers will have limited support options due to access limitations on such networks. Check with your workplace IT department to ensure that you may access course materials from your company’s network.
- Anti-virus program (updated regularly)
- E-mail account
- Must be your own account, not shared with anyone else
- An email address that clearly identifies you is preferable
Unsupported Technologies:
- Windows XP
- Windows, MacOS, and Linux systems not running a supported browser
- Internet Explorer versions 10 and lower which are no longer supported by Microsoft; Internet Explorer on mobile devices
- Firefox versions 30 and lower on desktop; all Firefox versions on mobile devices
- Chrome versions 35 and lower (version 34 and lower on mobile devices)
- Safari versions 5 and lower
- JRE 5 for Blackboard Learn Original user interfaces
FAQs
1. How long will it take to complete the Campus Program?
Typically full-time campus students complete the program in 3 semesters (12 months) with advanced standing and 4 semesters (16 months) without transfer credits.
2. Is there an orientation for new campus students?
Yes, there is an orientation that takes place before the beginning of your first semester.
3. Is there a dress code at AAMI?
Yes, the campus dress code is business casual.
4. Is daily attendance at AAMI required?
Campus students must attend at least 80% of all scheduled hours in each course.
5. Is there a computer lab on campus for students?
Yes, there is a computer lab on campus dedicated for student use.
6. How do I apply for admission?
You can apply for admission online at: https://sonis.funeraleducation.org/studapp.cfm or by contacting our Admissions Office Toll Free 1-866-932-2264 (1-866-WEB-AAMI).
7. How much will it cost?
The tuition is the same for campus and online courses: $475 per credit hour. The fees are the same and are found on the AAMI web site.
8. Can I take just the courses required for a “Funeral Director-Only” program so that I don’t have to take embalming?
Not at this time. If the American Board of Funeral Service Education approves the accreditation of a Funeral Director-Only degree in the future, AAMI will consider offering it.
9. How do I buy my textbooks and other materials?
You can order your books by going to our online bookstore.
10. Is Financial Aid available?
Yes, Federal Aid and in some cases State Aid is available if you qualify.
11. How do I pay?
You may pay by check or pay online with Visa or MasterCard.
12. Can I receive transfer credit for courses I have already taken?
Yes. AAMI provides transfer credit for courses that meet general education requirements.
A transfer evaluation will be completed prior to your enrolling in your first class. Please review our transfer policy on the AAMI web site.
13. Do I have to register with the New York State Department of Health as a Registered Student Trainee even though I am not from New York?
Yes, the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing mandates that regardless of the state in which you wish to be licensed, you must register with their department.
14. Can I convert my diploma to an associate degree now?
You may request that your AAMI diploma be converted to an A.O.S. degree. Your records will be checked and if you are eligible, we will issue you a degree. The administrative fee is $100.
Each transcript will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. It is possible that you will be required to retake courses that have been revised substantially in the intervening years.
15. I attended but did not complete the program at another ABFSE program; can I transfer my credits to AAMI and get a degree?
If you have credits from another institution, you may apply to AAMI as a transfer student. Please refer to the transfer policy in the catalog or online.