Your Genealogy Education Plan - Part I

By Barbara Mattoon

As the busy holiday season winds down, have you begun to think about your genealogy goals for the coming year?  Do they include updating and enhancing your genealogical education and skills?  Just as science, technology, medicine and many other fields are advancing at an accelerating rate, so too is our hobby or avocation – genealogy-- changing all the time.  Planning your genealogy education rather than just taking what comes along for the coming year or two will help you achieve your goals.

Your plan will be unique to you, taking into consideration the goals you have set for yourself and the amount of time and resources you have available to commit to continuing education.  Take into consideration what you want to learn and the learning style that is most effective for you.  Do you want to pursue a structured program, or will a “self-designed” program better achieve your goals?  Are you available to travel?  Is cost an issue?

Your Learning Plan will surely include the monthly SKCGS General Meetings!  Special Interest Groups focused on technical skills, and Family Tree software meet monthly.  Once a month, the Family History Center in Kent is open for two hours of research exclusively for SKCGS members.  All these learning opportunities are included in your annual SKCGS membership.

Structured Learning: 
                                                                                                       
* Brigham Young University offers a Bachelor in Family History/Genealogy degree.  For more information visit https://history.byu.edu.
* The Boston University Center for Professional Education Certificate in Genealogical Research interactive online course offers excellent preparation for those seeking professional certification through the Board for Certification of Genealogists.  It is a fifteen-week course.  The tuition is $2695.
* The National Genealogical Society offers American Genealogical Studies, a four-module course.  The first three modules must be completed before a student may enroll in the Beyond the Basics module.  Each module is individually priced; the total for the four is $340 for NGS members and $430 for non-members.  (Note:  Annual NGS membership is $70).  Additionally, seven Continuing Genealogical Studies addressing specific topics are offered.  For more information visit:  https://ngsgenealogy.org.

Another form of structured learning is offered at Institutes.  The best known are:

* SLIG  The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy presented by the Utah Genealogical Association at the Hilton SLC Center.  It offers High-intermediate to Advanced Education each year in January.  Students choose one course from the fifteen courses that will be offered in 2019.  Classes run from 8:30 – 4:00 Monday through Friday.  Some courses will include homework, labs or consultations outside class hours.  Tuition ranges from $575 - $610 for the week depending upon the course.  Of course, meals, lodging and transportation are additional.  For more information visit: https://ugagenealogy.org.

* IGHR  The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research hosted by the Georgia Genealogical Society is held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel on the University of Georgia Campus in Athens, Georgia.  Thirteen courses will be offered from Sunday July 21 – Friday July 26, 2019.  Registration opens March 2, 2019.  Tuition ranges from $560 - $600 and includes one meal.  Other meals, lodging and transportation are additional costs.  Additional information is at ighr.gagensociety.org. 

* GRIP  Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh will offer 15 courses in two weeks in 2019.  Eight courses will be offered June 23 – 28, and seven from July 14-19.  Only one course, “Practical Genetic Genealogy” with Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D. is offered both weeks.  All others are different.   The institute is held on the campus of LaRoche College.  Lodging and meal packages are available.  Tuition for 2019 has not yet been announced but 2018 tuition was $460 - $485.  Dorm rooms ranged from single with “en suite” bath at $410 to a limited number of triple rooms with “en suite” bath at $310 per person. The rooms are bare-bones, but adequate.   All packages include fifteen meals in the college cafeteria (not bad).  It is only a short distance from the college dormitory to the building where classes are held and the dining hall is located.  Look for registration sometime in February 2019.  The web site is http://gripitt.org. 

* A unique twelve-month self-study program is the ProGen study group for professional and aspiring genealogists. It employs collaborative learning focused on developing genealogical writing skills and business practices.  Each month members study one or two chapters of Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  They meet online monthly to discuss the topics. Members review each other’s assignments and offer constructive feedback.  The program assumes that participants have completed a course such as the NGS American Genealogical Studies course, the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research or an intermediate course at SLIG, IGHR, or GRIP.   As of summer, 2018, participation in an institute is a prerequisite for admission. 

Next week I will discuss Conferences and Seminars, Research Trips, and Self-Guided Learning.

The SKCGS Board of Directors will meet Thursday, January 3, at 7:00 pm, at 106 10th Ave NE., Auburn.  Contact treasurer@skcgs.org for parking instructions.  All members are welcome to attend.

The Family Tree Maker User Group will meet at the Auburn Library Small Meeting Room from 10:15-11:45 am, Saturday January 5.  They will discuss adding pictures and documents to FTM.

Barbara Mattoon