Thanatology is the study of death, with Thanatos being the personification of death in Greek mythology. It is an interdisciplinary field of study and is often combined with other subjects or areas of work. If you are interested in taking a course in this subject, combining it with your existing work or studies, or you just want to know a little more about what thanatology involves, here are a couple of the basics.
What is thanatology?
Thanatology is the scientific study of death and the different practices associated with it. Many professionals in different areas incorporate thanatology into their work, and the ways in which they do this depend on what they need to know about the process of dying. Professionals who may use thanatology include medical examiners, archaeologists, grief counselors, funeral directors, and philosophers. Thanatologists also work in a variety of settings, depending on their job, including hospices, hospitals, funeral homes, churches, or non-profit organizations.
How can you work in that area?
In order to incorporate thanatology into your work, you can complete a Marian University Thanatology Certificate Program online, which will teach you many valuable skills, and provide you with an additional education that adds to your existing skills. Undertaking additional courses can help you boost your career and skills, and make you stand out in a pool of applicants when you are applying for jobs, therefore it could be a useful way to help advance your career. You will learn how to support families and individuals while they deal with death and the issues related to it. These include loss, bereavement, and end-of-life care. This course is also taught online, which means it is very flexible and can be studied alongside your other commitments, such as your job or family.
What are the categories?
As thanatology itself is not a career, it is combined with many other jobs, some of which focus on it more than others. There are a variety of roles in which thanatology is a sole focus, including:
- Biological thanatologists, such as coroners or medical examiners.
- Psychological thanatologists like therapists and counselors.
- Medical ethicists use it to support work on issues like euthanasia or assisted suicide.
- Music thanatologists may be part of a palliative care team and play music to comfort or calm a dying individual.
- Death doulas and non-medical professionals provide physical, emotional, and psychological support to people at the end of their lives, and their family members.
- Pastoral thanatologists minister to people who are dying, and have verified knowledge and skill sets that are related to the social, spiritual, and human behavioral aspects of end-of-life care.
If you are considering working in one of these areas, then a thanatology certificate can help provide you with the extra skills and experiences you may need. Thanatology is a wide subject and can be used in combination with many different fields and jobs. It is important to understand death, and the processes that come with it, both for the individual who is dying and those around them.
