Edgewood College

What you'll study

Core and elective coursework covers the breadth of thanatology, including clinical, ethical and educational dimensions. Sample courses named in the curriculum include:

• THN 600 – Introduction to Thanatology: foundational study of perspectives on death, where and how people die, grieving processes, faith questions, strategies to avoid burnout, and an introduction to Interprofessional Healthcare and IPEC core competencies.
• THN 615 – Family Systems and Thanatology: application of family systems theory to end-of-life care and bereavement with the family as the unit of care; topics include chronic illness, sudden illness, addiction and suicide.
• THN 630 – Ethics in Death and Dying: applied ethical frameworks and case studies addressing pain management, suffering, treatment termination, mechanical support and decision making, with attention to challenges faced by socioeconomically disadvantaged or historically marginalized individuals.

Students may deepen expertise through concentrations such as Children, Adolescents, and the Family; Death Education; Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice; Faith Communities, End of Life, and Grief Support; Funeral Service and Aftercare; Grief and Bereavement; and Suicidology and Postvention.

Entry requirements

The programme page does not list specific admissions criteria. Prospective applicants should assume standard graduate requirements (bachelor’s degree and relevant materials) and consult Edgewood College’s admissions office or the programme webpage for exact prerequisites and application steps.

Career prospects

Graduates work in a variety of settings where non-medical death- and grief-related services are needed. Roles cited by the programme include:

• Bereavement program coordinator
• Grief counselor
• Hospital bereavement support
• Funeral director and aftercare provider
• Faith community bereavement program development
• Healthcare professionals providing non-medical support
• Active-duty military and veteran support personnel
• Non-profit family grief centers and grief camps
• K–12 educators and school counselors
• Organ and tissue procurement organizations
• Death education in colleges, businesses and communities

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The programme page does not specify scholarships. Typical funding avenues to investigate include university graduate scholarships, departmental awards, employer tuition assistance for healthcare or faith leaders, and external grants for professionals working with bereaved populations. Prospective students should contact Edgewood College’s financial aid office and the programme director for current funding opportunities and eligibility.