NSU program dealing with death receives new life
Lerone Graham, Managing Editor
Section: News
Tidewater Community College has done Norfolk State a service by reviving its dying funeral service education program by taking full control. The result? -an increase in enrollment.
The funeral service program offers an associate's degree to students interested in becoming embalmers and funeral home operators. While this is an improvement from the certificate program that was originally offered at NSU, the curriculum is virtually the same, and TCC retained both professors who taught the course.
By moving the program to TCC's Virginia Beach campus, students may have to sacrifice convenience, but they save a lot of money in the long run. Students should expect to pay around $5,400 to complete the two-year program at TCC, while they would pay $10,600 at NSU for the same courses.
Michelle Woodhouse, dean of social services at the Virginia Beach campus, said that TCC's program boasts 70 students, including 12 who transferred from NSU.
The change offers NSU students an opportunity to receive a license for tasks such as embalming and funeral arrangements. Virginia law mandates that individuals must complete a nationally recognized program before receive a license.
NSU began their funeral service program in 2001. Shortly afterwards, students desired to receive associates degrees upon completing their coursework as opposed to certificates. Two-year degree programs offered at four-year colleges and universities aren't well received by the state of Virginia because community colleges could just duplicate the program on their own campuses.
With an incentive to receive a degree for their hard work while also keeping money in their pocket, administrators hope the TCC funeral service program will serve as an option for Norfolk State students for years to come.
The funeral service program offers an associate's degree to students interested in becoming embalmers and funeral home operators. While this is an improvement from the certificate program that was originally offered at NSU, the curriculum is virtually the same, and TCC retained both professors who taught the course.
By moving the program to TCC's Virginia Beach campus, students may have to sacrifice convenience, but they save a lot of money in the long run. Students should expect to pay around $5,400 to complete the two-year program at TCC, while they would pay $10,600 at NSU for the same courses.
Michelle Woodhouse, dean of social services at the Virginia Beach campus, said that TCC's program boasts 70 students, including 12 who transferred from NSU.
The change offers NSU students an opportunity to receive a license for tasks such as embalming and funeral arrangements. Virginia law mandates that individuals must complete a nationally recognized program before receive a license.
NSU began their funeral service program in 2001. Shortly afterwards, students desired to receive associates degrees upon completing their coursework as opposed to certificates. Two-year degree programs offered at four-year colleges and universities aren't well received by the state of Virginia because community colleges could just duplicate the program on their own campuses.
With an incentive to receive a degree for their hard work while also keeping money in their pocket, administrators hope the TCC funeral service program will serve as an option for Norfolk State students for years to come.
August 30th
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