Certificate in Family History—Genealogy
(18 hours)

The certificate is administered by the History Department at the BYU-Provo campus; however, courses can also be taken at the Salt Lake Center or through Independent Study.

Certificate Requirements

1. Complete the following:
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
2. Complete one course from the following:
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 422 : Germanic Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 422 : Germanic Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall Even Yrs.
   DESCRIPTION:	Interpretation of handwriting in vernacular scripts in the German kingdoms, sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, in family history sources.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 423 : Slavic Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 423 : Slavic Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Interpretation of handwriting in vernacular scripts in the Slavic language areas of Eastern Europe, sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, in family history sources.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 424 : Romance Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 424 : Romance Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Interpretation of handwriting in vernacular scripts in the Romance languages of Europe (especially Spanish, French, and Italian), sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, in family history sources.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 425 : Scandinavian Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 425 : Scandinavian Language Handwriting and Documents. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Interpretation of old Gothic script handwriting in Scandinavian areas of Europe (including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland), sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, in family history sources.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
3. Complete three courses (9 credit hours) from the following:
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 352R : Scandinavian Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 352R : Scandinavian 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 methodologies for reconstruction of individual families and development of family history studies in Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and/or Finland.
   
              : Danish Family, Local, and Social History Research.
              : Norwegian and Iclandic Family, Local, and Social History Research.
              : Swedish and Finnish Family, Local, and Social History Research.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 354 : Slavic Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 354 : Slavic Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   DESCRIPTION:

   Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methodologies for reconstruction of individual families; development of family history studies in Slavic areas of Europe.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 401 : Northeastern United States and British Canada Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 401 : Northeastern United States and British Canada 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 New England and Mid-Atlantic states research.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 403 : Midwestern United States and Plains States Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 403 : Midwestern United States and Plains States Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Records, geographical-historical background, paleography, and methodologies for reconstruction of individual families and development of family history studies in Midwestern and Plains states research.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 405 : Native American Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 405 : Native American 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 Native American research.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 411R : Advanced Southern European and Latin American Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 411R : Advanced Southern European and Latin American Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Advanced research methods utilizing the reconstruction of individual families in the development of demographic and family history studies in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Latin America, Quebec, and Spanish United States.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 412 : England/Wales Before 1700 Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 412 : England/Wales Before 1700 Family, Local, and Social History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter Odd Yrs.
   DESCRIPTION:	Advanced research methods utilizing sources prior to 1700 in the reconstruction of individual families in the development of demographic and family history studies in England and Wales.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   

   Note: It is recommended that students focus on one geographical area. Certificate candidates should consult with the family history coordinator soon after declaring.

4. Complete one course from the following:
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 434 : Computers in Family Historical Research and Publication. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 434 : Computers in Family Historical Research and Publication. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Use of computer programs and the internet in researching family, local, and social history; including programs and techniques for publishing.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   HIST 439 : Seminar on Professional Family History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   HIST 439 : Seminar on Professional Family History Research. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   WHEN TAUGHT:	Fall; Winter
   DESCRIPTION:	Practicum in professional client research exploring advanced genealogical methodologies.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   
   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.
   
   
   Course Outcomes
   
   
   

Note: The certificate program can help prepare for certification or accreditation but should not be confused with these two separate, private methods of credentialing professional genealogists.

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