MINNEAPOLIS — A growing number of students enrolled in the University of Minnesota's mortuary science program are women.

The university says three-quarters of the current class of 60 are female, in contrast to four decades ago when women made up about 5 percent of program's enrollment.

Minnesota is one of a few states that require a bachelor's degree in order to obtain a mortician's license. Most states require two-year degrees.

The program's director Michael LuBrant tells The Minnesota Daily (http://bit.ly/1t7FBFe ) that 86 percent of the state's morticians have graduated from the University of Minnesota.

The program's course work includes microbiology, chemistry, business, marketing and law. Students must pass a national board exam and intern for 10 months.