BGS in General Studies: Family History Emphasis
(33 hours*)

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

1. Complete the following prerequisite course:
   STDEV 100 : Essential College Skills. (1:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   STDEV 100 : Essential College Skills. (1:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	Independent Study also.
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
   DESCRIPTION:	Developing essential college skills. Aims of BYU, values and goals, sound thinking skills. Learning styles and adjustment to college courses. College requirements and planning.
   
   
2. In consultation with a BGS advisor, select a geographic area of interest (i.e., United States, New England, Latin America, British Isles, Europe, etc.) and select options that correspond to that area.
3. Recommended foundational course (may count toward religion credits):
   REL C 261 : Introduction to Family History (Genealogy). (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   REL C 261 : Introduction to Family History (Genealogy). (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	Honors also.
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
   DESCRIPTION:	Introduction to the doctrinal significance, necessary skills, and available resources dealing with family history and genealogy.
   
   
4. Complete the following introductory course:
   HIST 317 : The Family and the Law in American History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 317 : The Family and the Law in American History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	The interaction of families with law and government as illustrated in original American sources; individual family histories reconstructed in the broader perspective of history.
   
   
5. Complete two of the following area source courses:
   HIST 350 : England/Wales After 1700 Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 350 : England/Wales After 1700 Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall
   DESCRIPTION:	Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methods for reconstruction of individual families and development of demographic and family history studies in England and Wales after 1700.
   
   
   HIST 351 : Germanic Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 351 : Germanic Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter Odd Yrs.
   DESCRIPTION:	Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methodologies for reconstruction of individual families and development of family history studies in Germanic areas of Europe.
   
   
   (section 1)
   HIST 353R : Southern European and Latin American Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 353R : Southern European and Latin American Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall
   DESCRIPTION:	Records, geo-historical background, paleography, and methods for reconstruction of individual families; development of demographic and family history studies which may include Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy and their colonies in the Americas.
   
   
   HIST 404 : Southern United States Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 404 : Southern United States Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	On Demand
   DESCRIPTION:	Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methodologies for reconstruction of individual families and development of family history studies in southern states research.
   
   
   HIST 414 : Scotland Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 414 : Scotland Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methods for reconstruction of individual families and development of demographic and family history studies in Scotland.
   
   
   HIST 415 : Ireland Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 415 : Ireland Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methods for reconstruction of individual families and development of demographic and family history studies in Ireland.
   
   
6. Complete one of the following social history courses:
   HIST 319 : The Family in Europe. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 319 : The Family in Europe. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall Even Yrs.
   DESCRIPTION:	Nature and development of marriage and family life and structure from the ancient to modern era.
   NOTE:	Independent Study also.
   
   
   HIST 378 : American Family History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 378 : American Family History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   History of American families from colonial period to the present.
   
   
7. Complete one of the following handwriting courses:
   HIST 421 : English Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 421 : English Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall Odd Yrs.
   DESCRIPTION:	Interpretation of handwriting within historical contexts in vernacular scripts in the British Isles, sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, in sources useful in family, local, and social history research.
   
   
   LATIN 121 : Latin for Genealogists. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   LATIN 121 : Latin for Genealogists. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   
   
8. Complete one of the following area history courses:
   GEOG 250 : United States and Canada. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   GEOG 250 : United States and Canada. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Analysis of the natural environment, historical development, cultural patterns, economic systems, and political structures of geographic regions.
   
   
   HIST 220 : The United States Through 1877. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 220 : The United States Through 1877. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	Independent study also.
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
   DESCRIPTION:	Discovery, colonization, American Revolution, estabishment of the Constitution, foreign affairs, westward expansion, slavery, sectionalism, Civil War, and reconstruction.
   
   
   HIST 252 : Modern Latin America. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 252 : Modern Latin America. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring
   DESCRIPTION:	National period (1810 to present): independence, institutional development, culture, and inter-American relations.
   
   
   HIST 322 : English History to 1689. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 322 : English History to 1689. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	Independent Study also.
   DESCRIPTION:	Political, social, and cultural developments from prehistoric times to the Glorious Revolution. Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart periods.
   
   
9. Complete 6 hours from the following elective courses (including any area source or handwriting courses not used for core above):
   ENGL 220 : Composing Personal History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   ENGL 220 : Composing Personal History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Composing personal history through writing, mementos, oral history, chronologies, letters, documents, journals, and other mediums.
   NOTE:	Independent Study also.
   
   
   HIST 481R : Directed Research in Family History. (.5-3:0:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 481R : Directed Research in Family History. (.5-3:0:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
   DESCRIPTION:	Student research directed by faculty member on family history topic of mutual interest.
   
   
   REL C 393R : Special Studies in Religion: Church History and Doctrine. (.5-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   REL C 393R : Special Studies in Religion: Church History and Doctrine. (.5-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	Honors also.
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
   DESCRIPTION:	Topical studies in religion based on student interest and teacher expertise.
   
               : Presidents of the Church.
               : Men and Women of Mormonism.
               : LDS Temples.
               : Book of Mormon Witnesses.
               : Lectures on Faith.
               : Doctrine and Teachings of Joseph Smith.
               : Latter-Day Saints in Wartime.
               : Family History in Great Britain. (1-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
               : Honors: Special Studies in Religion: Church History and Doctrine.
               : Honors: Presidents of the Church.
               : Honors: Men and Women of Mormonism.
               : Honors: LDS Temples.
               : Honors: Book of Mormon Witnesses.
               : Honors: Lectures on Faith.
               : Honors: Doctrine and Teachings of Joseph Smith.
               : Honors: Latter-Day Saints in Wartime.
               : Honors: Family History in Great Britain. (1-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
               : History of the English Bible. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   
   (section 6)

   Note: A maximum of 3 hours of directed research credit can be counted toward the 6 hours of electives.

10. Other BYU campus classes (including Salt Lake Center classes) dealing with social history, handwriting, area source, and area history for geographic areas not offered through Independent Study may be substituted for core courses above. Obtain prior approval before enrolling.
11. Complete 6 hours from the following as the last courses in the emphasis:
    HIST 433 : Writing Narrative Biographies. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    HIST 433 : Writing Narrative Biographies. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    OFFERED:	Independent Study also.
    DESCRIPTION:	Workshop in writing narrative family, local, and social history, emphasizing the problems of writing biographical narrative.
    
    
    HIST 482 : Capstone Seminar: Writing and Professional Paths in Family History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    HIST 482 : Capstone Seminar: Writing and Professional Paths in Family History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
    PREREQUISITE:	HIST 439
    DESCRIPTION:	Research seminar; evidentiary analysis and writing skills in preparing a compiled lineage and exploring professional alternatives in family history, including professional accreditation or certification.
    
    
    HIST 496R : Academic Internship: Family, Local, and Social History. (1-5:0:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    HIST 496R : Academic Internship: Family, Local, and Social History. (1-5:0:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
    DESCRIPTION:	Work-study involving family, local, and/or social history at one or more archives, libraries, publishers, data providers, or research organizations on the international, national, state, or local level, under supervision of a professional genealogist, historian, archivist, or librarian.
    
    
    (3 hours maximum)
12. Complete the following capstone course:
    STDEV 490 : Bachelor of General Studies Capstone. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    STDEV 490 : Bachelor of General Studies Capstone. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
    
    OFFERED:	Independent Study only.
    PREREQUISITE:	STDEV 100; completion of all other BGS program requirements.
    DESCRIPTION:	Culminating course required for bachelor of general studies degree: analyze and evaluate BGS experience in light of the "Aims of a BYU Education" and summarize this experience in a reflective paper, integrate material learned in emphasis by completing a scholarly essay, and demonstrate accomplishment of learning outcomes.
    
    

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.