The Genealogy Program at Salt Lake Community College is designed to prepare students for accreditation (though ICAPGen), or certification (though the BCG), but how well does the program actually prepare students? Since my focus was/is on accreditation I cannot speak for the certification portion of SLCC’s program.
Below is a rough checklist of requirements for starting the ICAPGen accreditation process (Level 1)…
Below is a rough checklist of requirements for starting the ICAPGen accreditation process (Level 1)…
- The Four Generation Project (including: pedigree chart, family group records, research logs, research report, and key documents [not to mention that sources need to be properly documented with citations, transcriptions/abstracts/extracts, and evaluations]).
- A chosen region to specialize in (example: the Midwest, or Rocky Mountain Region).
- 1000 hours of combined genealogical research including:
- 80 hours researching nationwide records (like census, tax, military records, and etc.).
- 80 hours of research per state in the region of expertise studying local state records (like church records, criminal records, and etc.)
- Review ICAPGen’s “Important Record Types List” for the region of specialization, and have experience using at least 10 document types from that list.
- Experience using 10 different repositories (places where records are kept including websites). Repositories may include courthouses, churches, libraries, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and etc.
- Research Binder (optional).
By the end of SLCC’s program, the only thing I was lacking was the 80 hours of research per state in my region of expertise and my research binder (although I was close to having those requirements completed). In addition, my teacher found spelling and grammar errors that I still need to correct in my four generation project. She even recommended I condense my project (as I know I can be long-winded).
The following list is where I believe SLCC students may lack by the end of the genealogy program (then again each student may have different results):
The following list is where I believe SLCC students may lack by the end of the genealogy program (then again each student may have different results):
- 80 hours researching nationwide records: Although SLCC’s genealogy program might get students close to this goal, I feel that my previous research prior to SLCC’s program helped me fulfill these hours.
- 80 hours of research per state in the region of expertise studying local state record: I easily researched over 1500 hours while going through SLCC’s genealogy program, but the main focus in almost every class was to complete the 4 generation project. In other words, I studied the state records where my ancestors lived. Since they only resided in Missouri and Illinois, I was lacking research in the other Midwest (region) states. Although, compiling my research binder helped with these hours, it still wasn’t enough.
- Research Binder: My research Binder was still not completed to my liking by the end of the program Then again, I’m a perfectionist so this may have nothing to do with SLCC’s program. Other student’s may find it easy to complete their binders. On a side-note, by the time I’m finished compiling my research binder I should have completed all the research hours I need in my various states.
Overall, I feel SLCC’s genealogy program has almost fully prepared me for the accreditation process (Level 1-3). Only minor tasks remain to be fine-tuned. Each student may have different results, but I believe this is a good synopsis of the program.
The only other thing I want to do before completing my accreditation would be to spend several research sessions at the FamilySearch Library in downtown Salt Lake City. This way I will get a feel for the environment before having a test there.
The only other thing I want to do before completing my accreditation would be to spend several research sessions at the FamilySearch Library in downtown Salt Lake City. This way I will get a feel for the environment before having a test there.
For more information on the Accreditation process, please see ICAPGen’s details about Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. For information about their research requirements, please see their Level 1 Checklist. For policy changes, please view their updates.