Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree Course - University of Strathclyde
Online United Kingdom
Course
DURATION
6 weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
Dive into your family ancestry and learn how to create a family tree on this online genealogy course.
Discover the basics of genealogy and build your own family tree
Have you ever wondered about your family ancestry or wanted to create a family tree of your own? On this 6-week genealogy course for beginners, you’ll learn how to uncover the past and record your family history.
The information on this course does not apply to just one country, so you can learn about your family lineage no matter where you’re from.
Gain an introduction to genealogy
Learn how to find and analyse sources, discover different research strategies, and tackle genealogy databases and wildcards. You’ll learn about the importance of names and explore the challenges that name changes cause for genealogists.
You’ll be introduced to the main source types including civil, church, census and military records and learn how to use these different kinds of data.
Discover DNA testing
Learn about the more technical sides of genealogical research such as the principles of the Genealogical Proof Standard, where you’ll discover how to establish proof.
You’ll be a scientist for the day and find out how DNA testing works in genealogical research. You’ll learn about the principles of genealogical inheritance, find out how autosomal DNA testing helps genealogists and learn about Y chromosome inheritance.
Create a family tree
Uncover the secrets of your family’s past and turn your genealogy into tangible family history. You’ll discover the best ways to record your research, document it and protect it so that it lasts for generations to come.
You’ll learn how to balance genealogical data and historical context, delve into local and general histories, and use maps and photographs to bring your family history to life.
Throughout the course, you’ll also follow one woman’s journey as she researches her family tree and learns about her past.
When would you like to start?
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.
- Available now
What do people say about this course?
"The Genealogy course was brilliant, it updated my knowledge in the general area of Genealogy which I have been studying as a hobbyist since 1962, but most importantly it dealt with very modern systems such as DNA research which had been a closed book for my research and now I have embraced those new technologies freely and feel very empowered to take my hobby into a new, refreshed ‘second wind’." Neil Spurgeon
Who will you learn with?
| Tahitia McCabe I am a genealogist and educator based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland and am Course Leader for the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (distance learning). | Graham Holton (Educator) Graham is the Principal Tutor on the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies by Distance Learning at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. |
Who developed the course?
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological university located in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, committed to useful learning.
What topics will you cover
- Week 1 - Analysing documents
- Week 2 - Effective searching techniques
- Week 3 - Using major source types
- Week 4 - Genealogical proof and DNA testing
- Week 5 - Putting your research into context
- Week 6 - Documenting and communicating your research results and sources
What will you achieve
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:
- Design a research plan for tracing family history.
- Describe the differences between genealogical source types and why they may cause problems for the researcher.
- Develop an understanding of the ways in which genealogical information can be recorded and communicated.
- Apply key techniques used when searching for and analysing genealogical records.
- Develop an awareness of the use of historic and social context in family history research.
Who is the course for
No special knowledge or previous experience of studying is required.
This course will be suitable if you:
- Have no experience with genealogy and want to learn your family history.
- Have some experience with genealogical research but want to develop your skills and knowledge further.
- Are a more experienced genealogical researcher but want to learn new searching, analytical or communication techniques.
- Find it difficult to access opportunities for training and development.