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UND offers excellent preparation for any mortuary science school or program.  The Pre-Mortuary Science Program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences sets guidelines and timetables for UND students to successfully complete the prerequisite coursework relating to mortuary science schools.

This program is not a major and does not lead to a degree from UND!  Most Pre-Mortuary Science students complete 60 credits at UND before transferring to the Mortuary Science Program at UM Twin Cities. If, however, a Pre-Mortuary Science student plans to complete an undergraduate degree at UND, they must choose a major and meet the University Graduation Requirement of 125 semester credits.  These credits are to include: 

1.  General Education Requirements(GERs) for freshman students entering UND before Fall 2008 and transfer students entering UND before Fall 2009
OR
Essential Studies Requirements for freshman students entering UND in the Fall of 2008 (or later) and transfer students entering UND in the Fall of 2009 (or later)
 
2.  36 upper divisional credits
3.  Specific requirements of a major as determined by the department responsible for that major
4.  Any prerequisites for mortuary school(s) as outlined by the Pre-Mortuary Science Program

We encourage you to meet with the Health Sciences Advisor, Mrs. Kimberly Ruit, as early in your UND undergraduate education as possible.  Mrs. Ruit can help in all aspects of your undergraduate preparation for mortuary science:  from scheduling, to study skills, to transferring credits.  Together, you can plan the undergraduate curriculum that is right for you.

 

Competitive Applicant Profile
Most Pre-Mortuary science students at UND work on prerequisites for one to two years and then transfer to University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program to earn a Mortuary Science degree there.  The table below summarizes what students need to be accepted into the UM program. (If you are planning to go to somewhere other than U of M, please check with the Health Sciences Advisor regarding entrance requirements and prerequisite coursework).
 

Prerequisite coursework

Transfer applicants to UM must have:

 

Completed at least one course in each of the following areas:

    General Biology with laboratory
General Chemistry with laboratory
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Accounting
Statistics
English Composition
Speech
General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
  Completed a minimum of 60 semester credits with grades of A, B, C, S, or P
  Completed prerequisite coursework with a preferred minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Students who have completed all of the admission requirements and liberal education requirements may be eligible to enroll in the Advanced Standing Plan and complete degree requirements in three semesters.

Applicants who have completed the application by the transfer admission deadline for the Mortuary Science program will have their application materials referred to the program office for consideration.

Liberal Education Requirements

The Diversified Core Curriculum

  Physical and Biological Sciences
    At least 8 credits including 1 course with lab or field experience in the physical sciences and 1 course with a lab or field experience in the biological sciences.
     
  Social Sciences/Humanities - A minimum of at least 15 credits distributed as follows:
 

 

At least 6 credits in the social sciences
At least 3 credits in historical perspectives
At least 6 credits in the arts and humanities including:
*** 1 course in literature
*** 1 course in other humanities

     
  Mathematical Thinking
    A minimum of 1 course totaling at least 3 credits
     
Designated Themes of Liberal Education - At least 3 credits in each of the following:
  Cultural Diversity
  International Perspectives
  Environment
  Citizenship and Public Ethics
     
Writing Intensive
    Students need to complete 1-2 first-year writing courses, depending on their college of enrollment, and 4 writing intensive courses.

Two of the writing intensive courses must be taken at the upper division level, 1 of which must be taken in the student's major.


Grades Credit?  60 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university.

Grades?  Only grades of A, B, C or S in prerequisite coursework will be accepted.

GPA?  Prerequisite coursework average must be at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

U of M 
high school 
preparation 
requirements
English - 4 years
Mathematics - 3 years

Science - 3 years

Single Second Language - 2 years*

Social Studies - 2 years
*If you did not take a language in high school, you will need to take it at UND!!

 

 

Sample Pre-Mortuary Science Schedule
UM has required coursework that must be completed successfully by prospective students.  The following table suggests a schedule for the most commonly required classes.  Remember, you need to transfer with 60 hours of credit (you may need more than what is listed here)!!  This schedule assumes a transfer to the UM Mortuary Science Program after two years.
 
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Fall Bio 150, 150L
Chem 121, 121L  
Math 103
Pre-Mort Requirements*
Anat 204, 204L
Pre-Mort Requirements*

   
Spring Bio 151, 151L
Chem 122, 122L
Psych 241
Pre-Mort Requirements*

Physio 301
Pre-Mort Requirements*
   

*Required Pre-Mort Courses: Accounting 200, Art (any 100 level), Comp Sci 101, Engl 110, Engl 120, Comm 110, History (any 100 level), Psych 111, Soc 110

**If you are planning to transfer to the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program, please beware: if you did not take a foreign language in high school, you will need to take 2 semesters of one in order to fulfill the state of Minnesota graduation requirements.

Remember...only grades of A, B, C or S will be accepted at the UM Mortuary Science Program.
It is imperative that you take your studies seriously from the first day of your freshman year!!



 

Bulletin Board


Welcome New and Returning Students!
Don't forget to check in with Mrs. Ruit this year to make sure you are on track with your program!
 

 

Freshman Pre-Health Student Orientation Meeting
Date: August 24, 2009
Time: 8:00pm
Place: Reed Keller Lecture Hall, UND Medical School

Come meet Mrs. Ruit, the Health Sciences Advisor, and find out what you need to know to be a successful Pre-Mort Sci student!

 

 
Don't Forget.....

Make sure you have your language requirement completed
BEFORE
you apply to the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program!!

(If you did not take language in High School, you will have to do it here at UND).

 


Pre-Mortuary Science Links
Check out these links to sites of interest for pre-mortuary science students:
 

University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program
     Home page for U of M's Mortuary Science Program

NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association)
     This site provides loads of information for those interested in mortuary science:  careers, programs, continuing education, licensing requirements, etc.

ABFSE (American Board of Funeral Service Education)
     This site contains information on college and university programs in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Education. 

 

 

Mrs. Ruit's Office Hours for 2009-10

 
August 24, 2009 -
December 18, 2009
January 11, 2010-
March 12, 2010
March 22, 2010 -
May 14, 2010
Summers
(Out of the Office)
Tuesdays
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
None
Wednesdays
12 - 2pm
None
12 - 2pm
None
Thursdays
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
None
Mondays
(During Early Registration dates)
9am - 12pm
(Nov 3-20, 2009)
**
9am - 12pm
(April 5-29, 2010)
**

Pre-Health Advising is by appointment only.

Appointments with Mrs. Ruit can only be made by calling 701-777-2749 during regular weekday business hours.

No e-mails for scheduling appointments please!

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University of North Dakota
Pre-Health Programs
College of Arts and Sciences
PO Box 8038
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8038
Toll Free: 1-800-CALL-UND
Tel: 701-777-2749
Fax: 701-777-4397
E-mail (school year only): kim_ruit@und.nodak.edu