Death impacts everyone differently. We see death all the time on television, and its effects have been debated for years. If watching television shows that deal explicitly with death - like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Six Feet Under - get you thinking about your career options, you should checkout Wayne State's Department of Mortuary Science Annual Open House on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Here in Detroit, real-life crime-scene investigators and funeral directors get their training at Wayne State. The Department of Mortuary Science, one of just a handful of programs of its kind in the country, offers degree programs for funeral service professionals and pathologists' assistants as well as a new post-bachelor's certificate in forensic investigation.

As the popularity of death-related television shows has increased in recent years, so too has the interest in the unique programs the department offers.

"In less than five years our forensic investigation program has gone from six or seven students to more than 100," said Peter Frade, PhD, interim chair of WSU's Department of Mortuary Science. "Interest in our programs, in general, is higher than normal." Frade adds that interest among women is especially high, a trend that is being experienced nationally.

To address the growing interest in fields related to its programs, the WSU Department of Mortuary Science will host an open house for prospective students on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m., at 5439 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Free parking is available in WSU Lot 33 (on Woodward Avenue, between Ferry and Palmer streets).

Wayne State University is a premier institution offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.