MORTUARY SCIENCE
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MORTUARY SCIENCE PARRIS J. BAKER, Ph.D., MSSA, Program Director Of all human experiences, none is more overwhelming in its implications than death. Presently, the number of openings for funeral directors, embalmers and other funeral personnel exceeds the number of graduates in the mortuary science field, thereby providing a wealth of employment opportunities. The study of death and how individuals and our larger society prepare for this life event is filled with questions that are rooted at the center of our human experience. This journey of professional and personal discovery is multidisciplinary. Gannon University’s mortuary science curriculum is taught by a variety of professors from biology, business, psychology, sociology, social work and health sciences. As a BS student in the Gannon University Mortuary Science Program you will receive excellent instruction, completing the first three years of your education at Gannon University and your fourth year at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science or another licensed institution of your choice. Vision Statement Preparing funeral service practitioners who touch people; offering dignity to the deceased and consolation to the survivors. Mission Statement To produce compassionate and competent funeral service practitioners who respect diverse cultural practices related to illness, dying, death, and care of the deceased and who know and practice the laws and ethics of the mortuary science profession. The ultimate mission of the program is to produce leaders in the field of mortuary science across the United States and abroad. Motto Death does not end relationships.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS MORT 211: Introduction to Gerontology An overview of the study of gerontology. Examines aging in America, stereotypes, theories on aging, adult development, work and living environments, and selected problems of the elderly. This course has a service-learning component. 3 credits, Fall MORT 221: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I This is the introductory course to understanding human behavior from a multidimensional, biopsychosocial approach. Here we focus on the social environment and apply theoretical frameworks in order to put human behavior into perspective. In this course, students begin to study the person from a biological perspective, looking at the major systems of the human body. We also examine the psychological and sociological theories and knowledge by looking at cognition, emotion, the self as well as stress and coping. This course examines the impact of culture, spirituality, the physical environment and social institutions in shaping human behavior. Finally, this course addresses different sized social systems from formal organizations, communities, groups and the family. Students begin to see how social systems promote or defer health and well being. 3 credits MORT 316: Counseling Older Adults This course will identify various areas impacting lives of the “young” old, “middle” old, and the “old” old. Misconceptions, stereotypes, and biases toward the aging process will be explored. The course focuses on assessment, counseling interventions, and techniques designed to enrich the world of the mature adult and their families. 3 credits
