Goodwin University is creating new opportunities for aspiring funeral service professionals by expanding its nationally accredited Funeral Service program — the only one in the state of Connecticut — to a fully online format. This new distance learning option will enable students from both in-state and out-of-state to pursue their studies with greater flexibility, helping them balance their personal and professional commitments as they earn their degrees.
Accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), Goodwin’s Funeral Service program equips students to serve families with compassion and professionalism. With the addition of an online pathway to its existing on-campus program, Goodwin aims to meet the needs of diverse student populations across the country.
Program Director Jesse Gomes underscores the significance of the new remote learning option, saying, “The online program is an opportunity for students who have rigorous schedules. It gives them a lot more flexibility.” He notes that the online format mirrors the on-campus program, offering the same rigorous preparation to become licensed funeral directors and embalmers. The curriculum combines training in restorative art, embalming, grief psychology, and business management — equipping students to sit for the National Board Examination and enter the workforce ready to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Gomes also highlights that hands-on training is available, whether students pursue their degrees remotely or on campus. Online students participate in a required on-site immersion weekend during their final semester to gain practical experience. “We break students into groups where they go through and do these checks, or verifications, as we call them. They’ll come to campus and have the opportunity to interact with us so they can have that verification by one of the practitioners here on campus.”
With both on-campus and online pathways now available, Goodwin University continues its mission to prepare the next generation of funeral service professionals to serve their communities with expertise, empathy, and integrity.
Ready to begin your journey to a rewarding career in funeral service? Learn more about our online and on-campus Funeral Service programs today!
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.