Alamo Community Colleges News & Events

SAC Mortuary Science Department to Offer First Online Course

For Immediate Release
May 18, 2007
Contact: John Hammond, Director of Public Relations, San Antonio College
210/733-2147
jhammond@accd.edu

The San Antonio College Mortuary Science Department has announced its first course to be offered on the Internet, titled "Contemporary Funeral Service Practices" (MRTS 1301), which will be available for the fall 2007 semester and taught by Instructor Jose Luis Moreno.

"This is a required course towards the AAS degree in Mortuary Science," said Moreno, who added, "In this course we define what society expects from the modern funeral director and embalmer."

Moreno said the course will expose students to the religions in the American funeral services and how these different beliefs seek to honor and celebrate a life well lived. Both traditional and Internet students are required to make field trips to at least three different churches.

"Students appreciate this direct exposure,"said Moreno, "because it re-emphasizes what they believe or it exposes them to a world that they have never seen before - a world they need to be familiar with, because families will expect for the funeral director to coordinate a meaningful ceremony for the loved one, even if the funeral director does not share the same religious conviction."

He noted that this course helps students confirm if this is the right field for them and helps them develop good relationships with local ministers, who believe there is a mutual benefit for both students and congregations.

For more information, contact the Mortuary Science Office at 733-2905.