Professional Genealogy Educational Opportunities (National Institute)

Educational Opportunities
For those interested in a post-secondary degree, there is presently only one university which offers a degree in family history (see Brigham Young University, below). Genealogy has not yet been recognized as a stand-alone field of academic study. A degree in the associated field of history is often the closest option. However, there is a growing number of universities and colleges which offer individual courses or affiliated diploma/certificate programs. Leaders in genealogy have been very active in promoting educational standards to encourage scholarly publishing and academic acceptance. You should check the course offerings, particularly in continuing or adult education departments, of colleges and universities near you.

Canada
National Institute for Genealogical Studies 92 Ashbury Blvd. Ajax, Ontario, Canada L1Z 1N1 Telephone 416-861-0165 or 1-800-580-0165

The National Institute, leaders in online genealogy education, has been offering genealogy and history courses since 1997. We now offer over 200 courses in genealogical studies to help enhance researcher’s skills. Although courses were initially provided ‘in-classroom’ now all courses are online. With well over 100,000 course registrations, students can be found all over the world!

For those looking to acquire more formal educational training, The National Institute offers Certificate Programs in the records of Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and the United States, as well as a General Methodology, a Professional Development and a Librarianship Certificate Program.

Please see the website for full details on individual courses, certificate programs, faculty and other services.

United States
Brigham Young University Provo, Utah, USA 84602 Telephone: 801-422-4636

BYU offers a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Family History. In addition, they offer a variety of free introductory Web courses and are leaders in satellite television broadcasting.

National Institute on Genealogical Research P.O. Box 118 Greenbelt, Maryland, USA 20768-0118 Email: [mailto:NatInsGen@juno.com NatInsGen@juno.com]

For 50 years the NIGR has been a leader in American education. Its program delivers an in-depth study of U.S. federal records of genealogical value, with emphasis on the National Archives as the Institute is located in the Washington, D.C. area. It operates for a week of intensive studies in the summer. They stress that the Institute’s program is aimed at experienced researchers and is not an introductory level.

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research Lori Northrup, Director Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35229 Telephone: 205-726-2846 Email: [mailto:ighr@samford.edu ighr@samford.edu]

The IGHR is also one of America’s oldest week-long Institutes, featuring top genealogical instructors, on the Samford University campus. This is a very popular summer destination for all levels of genealogists and family historians, with perhaps more emphasis on intermediate and advanced learning. Their methodology stream is unexcelled. Recently they have been offering a separate British Institute where students visit major British repositories and have hands-on guidance for their own research.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy Utah Genealogical Association P.O. Box 1144 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 84110 Telephone: 801-259-4172 Email: [mailto:institute@infouga.org institute@infouga.org]

Sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association, this Institute generally takes place once a year in January. Students choose one course of several offered, and follow it through the week. Besides experienced instructors, you have all the rich resources of the Family History Library on which to draw.

England
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies 79-82 Northgate Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom CT1 1BA

This is an Institute with residential facilities as well as home study courses. Studies apply only to British research. Certificate and diploma programs are available. Some universities in the UK.—as in the U.S.—have a few courses related to genealogy, as continuing education offerings and/or online studies. For example Oxford University has an advanced diploma in Local History and University of Central Lancaster has a program in Local and Family History.

Scotland
University of Strathclyde Glasgow

Offer a Postgraduate Certificate, a Diploma and MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies which can be completed by distance learning.

Australia
University of New England Armidale, New South Wales 2351

Offers undergraduate and post graduate diplomas in Local, Family and Applied History―study is done by distance education.

Society of Australian Genealogists 120 Kent Street Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia Telephone: (02) 9247 3953

Offers a Certificate in Genealogical Research and a Diploma in Family Historical Studies.

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Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. To learn more about these courses or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at [mailto:wiki@genealogicalstudies.com wiki@genealogicalstudies.com]

We welcome updates and additions to this Wiki page.