Here’s a short synopsis of what I learned from the six classes required for the Salt Lake Community College’s (SLCC’s) genealogy certificate program. Since I’ve completed SLCC’s program in December 2015, they have made a few adjustments. Classes may have different names, and/or reference numbers, than the ones I will be discussing below, but overall their content remains the same (with the exception of some improvements to better accommodate their students). This information will be spread out through three blog posts.
- GEN1000/CEGN0001 Genealogy Computer & Internet Tools: In this class we learned to work with technology in the genealogical field. Fortunately, I was familiar with technology, but this part of the class might not come easy for everyone. We learned to maneuver through software and apps like: RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Legacy, and etc. (this was just to name a few). Overall, RootsMagic was/is the main software used for SLCC’s certificate program.
Besides technology, we also started to execute proper genealogical protocols in this class. We began citing sources more consistently, keeping research logs, and saving copies of our sources.
All of the research in this class was done on recent generations. We started documenting our lives while working back to our grandparents. (NOTE: This class is now known as GEN1000/CEGN0001 Introduction to High Tech Genealogy). - GEN1010/CEGN0010 Introduction to Genealogy: In this class we learned more about genealogy protocol (like: citing citations, transcribing documents, keeping research logs, writing research reports, and etc.).
In addition, students got an overview of different record types (like: land records, death records, birth records, marriage records, and more). We also learned how to better evaluate evidence and understand when more proof was needed. Research in this class focused on connecting our ancestors to individuals who lived during the 1850s.
Another major focus of GEN1010 was discovering various resources available to genealogists (like: websites, archives, repositories, and etc.) while starting to compile our own research binders. (NOTE: This class is now known as GEN1010/CEGN0010 Research I).
For a comparison of their genealogy certificate program changes, please click on the following links:
http://www.slcccontinuinged.com/program/genealogy
The link above leads to SLCC's current program specifications as of February 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150906104428/http://www.slcccontinuinged.com/program/genealogy
http://www.slcccontinuinged.com/program/genealogy
The link above leads to SLCC's current program specifications as of February 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150906104428/http://www.slcccontinuinged.com/program/genealogy
The link above leads to SLCC's program specifications as of September 2015. This link still exists thanks to Archive.org's Wayback Machine.