Foundations of Death Care
End-of-Life Doula Class

Summer 2025 - Now open to register! 

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  • Online Course Material: July 6 - August 24; access anytime on your schedule

  • Meetings: Online on Zoom, held once a week for 8 weeks

  • Cohort Meets: 5:30-7:30 pm Thursdays or 4:00-6:00 Thursdays

8 Week Session. Live Zoom Sessions - choose your day!
Thursdays 5:30-7:30 MST
(July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21, 28)
or
Sundays 4:00-6:00 MST
(July 13, 20, 17, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31)

Onboarding Session June 29, 4:30-5:30 MST

Course overview
This 8 week course will provide resources, supportive community, and training for understanding the foundations of death care for serving as an End-of-Life Doula.
  • New course material opens every Sunday for 8 weeks starting July 6.
  • Weekly live Zoom sessions on Thursdays 5:30-7:30 (starting July 10) or Sundays 4:00-6:00 (starting July 13) - choose the day that works best for you.
  • Small group limited to 15 students per cohort.
Certification included
Create your own learning agreement and make the course work for you! You can choose to finish with an Iliff End-of-Life Doula Certificate that will prepare you to serve in your community.


Explore our unique approach to building skills and connections for end of life care

 
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Grounded in Justice and Intercultural Competency

Our approach, informed by Iliff School of Theology's longstanding commitment to justice, means that intercultural competencies are at the center of our approach. We honor the unique and diverse experiences of our participants and clients.

Practice Foundational Somatic Training for Real Self Care

Embodied awareness matters in end of life work. We emphasize the importance of somatic awareness and Polyvagel Theory as crucial for a sustainable end-of-life doula practice, both in helping those we serve and for ourselves.

Focus on Interpersonal Communication

End-of-life care includes not just the dying, but their communities of care and all those who love them. We focus on healthy communication patterns as well as understanding non-verbal cues, as well as family systems dynamics.

Connect with a Diverse Community

This course will connect you with leading scholars, practitioners, spiritual leaders, and thinkers from various backgrounds and perspectives in end of life care. Join us to change the narrative around end of life care.

How does the
course work?

Learn from 8 units addressing the most important topics in end-of-life doula care. Participants learn and study online on their own, then meet Thursdays on Zoom for live class sessions.
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Total Course Investment

$1600-$2600 for online course

Based on sliding scale, 
see details below

Payment Plans Available

8 Content Units

1. Centering Ourselves
2. Justice & Ethics
3. Legal and Medical
4. Legacy & Quality of Life
5. Spiritual & Religious
6. Practical & Thanatology
7. Communication & Community
8. Preparing Ourselves

Rich Learning Material

Instructor-Created Videos
Weekly Discussion Forums
Varied Assignment Modes
Weekly Journals
Videos, Podcasts, Articles

Customized Goals

Learners may pursue a learning context that makes sense for them:

a Certificate of Completion,

or commit to the more professional pathway of
Death Doula Certification

What do you learn?

An end-of-life doula (EOLD) is a non-medical, non-denominational holistic companion who guides and supports a dying person, recognizes their individual needs and ensures they feel loved, valued, and affirmed. They do this by:

Creating Sacred Spaces

Creating and holding sacred and/or compassionate space whether in a hospital, hospice, or home

Honoring Spiritual Beliefs

Honoring the person’s religion/spirituality or atheism/agnosticism

Understanding Family Dynamics

Supporting the person’s family and communities

Communicating With Teams

Working in collaboration with other providers

Anticipating Unique Needs

Sharing information and resources to ease transitions
kind words FROM students

What Students Are Saying

The Foundations of Death Care class at Iliff is exceptional.  Not only have I learned new and interesting skills and concepts that will support my job as a hospice Chaplain, but I have also met the most wonderful, new community of people who have informed me in so many ways. 

Whether you are new to the concept of death and dying and just want to learn more or are already a veteran professional in the field, you will not be disappointed in what you take away from this incredible, new innovative course.

Annie groves, mdiv
hospice chaplain
This is an amazing, embodied, educational experience through the processes of living, loving and dying. Beth is an invitational facilitator who is attuned to the specific needs and hopes of her colleagues.

It is a heartfelt journey as a group together exploring the multiple layers of dying and loss with individuals, systems, and organizations.
Highly highly recommend!

Rev Dr. Dee Cooper
Lead Presbyter
I’m here to share that this course has been truly transformative. This course improved our awareness of the power of justice, compassion, and community. With this awareness, we can enter the current conventional space of death care and empower people, especially the vulnerable.

I highly recommend that you dive in and experience the power of this course. Your worldview, how you view death, death care, and life, will blossom and enrich your way of being. 

Jiyoon Lee
Meditation Center Director
self-identify your cost

Sliding Scale Pricing:
you choose your investment

We are committed to making this program as accessible and affordable as possible while also maintaining high quality educational tools, exceptional facilitators, and ongoing support through community care. We ask that you consider contributing at the highest level possible in order to live into the values of generosity and mutual aid. 


In lieu of scholarships, this "pay what you will" system of tiered tuition allows us to provide the highest quality while supporting more expansive community inclusion. This, in turn, benefits everyone. Your payment level is entirely self-chosen; there is no documentation or justification required, and it will in no way affect your participation or access to all course materials.

The factors to consider, shown below, are asked in the Iliffian spirit of justice and redistribution. We recognize death care as essential and we invite you to join us in our efforts to grow this program and have as large an impact as possible. Please reach out with questions. Thank you!
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When determining your payment level, please consider the following factors:


  • Do you plan to use this in personal or professional contexts?
  • Do you have institutional support for this cost?
  • Do you have zero to no debt, or do you have disposible income?
  • Have you had difficulty accessing or affording health care?
  • Does your income only support you, and not other loved ones?
  • Do you plan to "pay it forward" in other, non-financial ways?

Sliding Scale Course Payment Options:
Choose What Works for You

The Final Curtain
$1600

Excellent! So glad to have you!

Payment Plan Options:
  • One-time $1600 payment
  • Four monthly $400 payments
  • Eight monthly $200 payments

The Last Chapter
$2100

Terrific! I love this for you!

Payment Plan Options:
  • Two monthly $1050 payments
  • Four monthly $525 payments
  • Eight monthly $262.50 payments

The Great Equalizer 
$2600

Welcome! Let's do this!

Payment Plan Options:
  • Two monthly $1300 payments
  • Four monthly $650 payments
  • Eight monthly $325 payments

Still have questions?
Let's talk! Join our live Zoom Office Hours, held weekly
Thursdays 10-11:00am MST
starting May 8

Pop on for our informal "office hours" to ask any questions. The Zoom link for the Q&A session provided as part of the free info course - mark your calendar, join us and find out more.
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