Strictly speaking, Thanatology is the study of death, and its associated practices and emotions. But Thanatology at King's is a life-affirming program, one that will teach you to view death, grief, loss, and transition with greater acceptance, live a more intentional and purposeful life, and support others through loss and transition.
The only undergraduate degree program in Thanatology in North America, King’s groundbreaking program celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The unique program takes a critical death studies approach and examines the intersections of culture, religion, power, inequity, gender, politics, injustice, access, race, age and more. You can choose from a wide range of courses, including an overview of bereavement and grief, ethics; palliative care; suicide; children and death; grief and loss among persons with intellectual disabilities; climate grief and eco-anxiety (part of the Certificate in Ecological Justice and Climate Ethics); extraordinary experiences in dying, death and bereavement; spiritual and philosophical issues; change, transition and loss across the lifespan; popular culture, grief and trauma; death doula work, grief activism; diversity and social justice and many more. The program includes online and blended courses, a practicum course with a 45-hour field placement, and a number of courses that use experiential learning and in-depth weekend workshops.
Thanatology also runs the Grief and Loss Research Lab. The Loss Lab is a collaborative learning space where Thanatology students can critically reflect on thanatological research to better understand the significance of research in this field, and develop hands-on skills.
Your Thanatology degree is broadly applicable to many fields; this is reflected in the many career paths it can lead you to. You’ll leave the program with valuable skills in critical thinking and self-awareness, and the capacity to see the world in new ways both personally and professionally.
Expand your options with a double major.
Program Options
| Area of Study | Honours Specialization | Specialization | Major | Minor | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THANATOLOGY | |||||
| LOSS, GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT STUDIES |
Sample Courses
Money Matters
Scholarships/Awards
Investigate the generous unlimited and guaranteed entrance scholarships King's offers to domestic and international high school students.
Residence
Explore your options for on-campus accommodations – they're guaranteed for first-year students who apply before June 2.
Potential Career Paths
Potential career paths for Thanatology graduates include the following:
- Social work
- Early childhood education
- Teaching
- Child life specialist
- Palliative care
- Nursing
- Grief support
- Funeral director
- Death doula
- Bereavement coordinator
- Aged care
- Medical school
- Public policy
- Social services
What People Are Saying
"Thanatology does not just prepare you for understanding the field, but it is a tool to understand yourself and the social issues. Choosing to study Thanatology gives you a different perspective on how loss and death are imperative to understand life. King's Thanatology faculty are ignited by their passions, which makes students like me passionate about entering the field and finding their calling in dying, death, loss and bereavement."
"The dedicated and passionate faculty ensure students have numerous opportunities to practically apply what they learn in class, such as through weekend workshops and practicum placements, which serves to both enhance and solidify learning."
"The Thanatology program truly changed my life. I had no idea what it was when I started at King's but the intro course convinced me I needed to be in the program. The knowledge and skills I have gained will help me throughout the rest of my life. Putting words to emotions I've felt throughout my life made me realize I'm not alone and what I felt was normal. Everyone should take at least one course, even if you don't end up in the program. The dedication and knowledge is unmatched in the Thanatology department. The best decision I ever made during my time at Kings was to join the thanatology program."
