family tree/genealogy courses

Jellybaby1

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I'm thinking of doing a Genealogy course next year. UCD run one, but its mighty expensive. I've also been told FAS has one but haven't found it yet. Has anyone got any recommendations?

I'm bumping this up just in case someone can advise.

pinkypinky

Jellybaby1,

Lucky you bumped it up because I never saw it the first time.
The UCD course is 6 modules of 10 weeks done over 3 years, which can be done for interest or credit. The credit is a level 7 certificate on the National Framework of Qualifications.

I'm just about to finish year 2 of it. It's good but it might be overly detailed for someone who just wants to start researching their family history. The first module (and possibly second) would probably give you all you need. More information about the course and prices, etc are on www.ucd.ie/adulted (Family History/Genealogy).

Pinky

Jellybaby1

Thanks so much pinkypinky. I gather then that the course is really for someone who wants to become a professional genealogist. Right now I am unemployed with nothing out there available for me. It might be a way to spend my latter years heading towards retirement. I'd say I've probably already done a lot of what they cover in Module 1 anyway. I'll have a thunk about it.

I saw this course for the first time many years ago - didn't expect the same lecturer to be teaching it still!

How are you finding the course pinkypinky? Do you spend a lot of time amid dusty archives? Or can you do a lot online?

pinkypinky

I am enjoying it, more time in the UCD library this term on more scholarly stuff that I wanted to do but in general, I've learnt a lot. You might consider looking at your local library because sometimes they run module 1 level courses for free.

Jellybaby1

Really! I didn't know that. Thanks for the info pinkypinky, I'll check that out. Much appreciated.

sweet-rasmus

If you were looking for an evening course, Independant Colleges holds one in Dublin. http://www.independentcolleges.ie/faculties_and_courses/arts/diploma_in_family_history.html
Pricey enough at €895 though.
I haven't done the course but had looked into it at some point.

pinkypinky

After admitting that I am doing the other course, my subjective view is that this course does not appear to be accredited at all. The people running it are respected professional genealogists so it will likely be of reasonable quality. However, the cost is high. The details of what it covers were covered in my first module at UCD for a quarter of the price.

Jellybaby1

At that price, I'd go for the UCD one. That Independent Colleges one is just way too rich for me!

LittleMissR

I've done the UCD course (all 6 modules) and it is great. It's the only one out there suitable for people who want to be professional Irish genealogists as it goes into a lot of detail on a very wide range of sources.

The other course is run by professional genealogists so I am sure it is good but it is just one term after all. The UCD course is much more in-depth with a 3 year syllabus and it is also accredited, which if you are going into it professionally is important. The tutor, Sean Murphy, knows his stuff and many of his former students are now professional genealogists themselves.

However, I agree with what has been said - the first module of the UCD course is worth it for someone who just wants a hand getting started with tracing their family history. If you are considering it, sign up quick though because the Module 1 classes are generally full.

Jellybaby1

Hi LittleMissR, thanks for your input. I'm really interested in the UCD course. Is it possible to sign up just for one module at a time, and then if I feel I can cope, sign up for the subsequent modules? Having read your comments I need to make my mind up pretty quick.

LittleMissR

Hi Jellybaby,

Yes - you can just sign up for one module at a time. Many peope decide to do just the first module which deals with the basic records and you can often trace your family back a few generations based on what you learn in that course.

You can stop after the first module, or go on to the second depending on how you feel at the time! A lot will depend on the group you are in too - our group got on really well and so we really enjoyed it.

The format is the first half of the lesson is a recap on last week's lecture, and then the second half covers new material - you also get handouts with all the lecture information in them.

Hope this helps - give me a shout if you have any more questions!

pinkypinky

Actually, I don't think you can book for the next first module until the beginning of August. I had to get my mother to book for me one year because I was on holidays and it fills up quick (just for the first module though).

Jellybaby1

I'll look into this more in depth in a week or two when I know if I will be available for the course. It might be at the same time as something else I'm looking at too. Thanks for all the info.

Bicycle

Does anyone know of any Irish based Distance-Ed genealogy courses please?

I'm not in Dublin so I couldn't do the UCD one and I work evenings during term time so I wouldn't be able to do an evening course.

I'm not looking for accreditation per se, just a bit of help on how I'd get things moving and general information.

And if there isn't one, would anybody be interested in setting one up? :D

Thanks in advance.

pinkypinky

Bicycle,

I've put a lot of what I learnt in the first module in the sticky at the top of this forum.
You could try local libraries....I know I've seen some beginner courses (I'm in Fingal though, so it could vary a lot of from council to council).

Pinky

Bicycle

Pinky, thank you so much.

I have already been using the information from the stickies to do my research.

I will enquire in Limerick City Library when I'm in there next week.

Very much appreciated and thank you for all the wonderful work you do here. You are brilliant!!

pinkypinky

That's very kind of you!

I've dealt with Limerick city library over the phone/internet and they are great. There's a guy called Michael. I presume you have seen their website which has a pile of useful trade directories, census stuff and other bits.

Bicycle

Yes, Pinky, thank you. The Limerick Corporation website is brilliant. If only the other local authorities could do the same, it would be very helpful.

Unfortunately our gang were out the county.... They did move in, in bits and pieces during the 20th Century but don't appear to be on voting registers or trade registers, but I did find a very interesting piece about my great grandfather's brother in the Old Limerick Journal.

aev

Hi guys,
Does anyone know if you can start on Module 2 in the UCD course? I know, probably a stupid question. I've obviously missed the first module and don't want to have to wait until next September!
If I am enrolling for next September how early do I have to apply in the summer?

aev

Just saw this on the UCD website

Please note that the Diploma in Genealogy/Family History
is being discontinued and that there will therefore be no entry to it in 2011 and future years.
Consequently, students who wish to complete
the course must do so by the end of the 2010/11
academic year; it will not be possible to repeat the
course after that time.

Does this just cover the diploma, or does it cover the certificate course as well does anyone know?

pinkypinky

Hi Aev,

I'm on module 5 of the course now and we had to do each part. However, there is way you can get into the second term, it might involve an essay. But I did learn some bits I didn't know already.

The diploma year (fourth year) has ended. There is still the 3 year certificate program though. This happened when they reviewed all the courses under the new NFQ system. A lot of people only do the first year of the course. If you want to pm me some specific questions, go ahead.

Pinky

Jellybaby1

If there is not a good uptake of the Dip. course then that is probably why they are discontinuing it. I was told that after the first year of the cert course the numbers drop off as each 10 week course finishes so I suppose by the time the Dip course comes up there might not be anyone left to do it. Pity. Does anyone know what is on the Dip. course? Can it be done anywhere else?

pinkypinky

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

If there is not a good uptake of the Dip. course then that is probably why they are discontinuing it. I was told that after the first year of the cert course the numbers drop off as each 10 week course finishes so I suppose by the time the Dip course comes up there might not be anyone left to do it. Pity. Does anyone know what is on the Dip. course? Can it be done anywhere else?

Actually, it's nothing to do with the drop-off, which happens in every evening course. There are 24 people in my class for mod 5 and all expect to do the final 6th module. We had about 40 people in the first 2 modules but lots of them were only interested in the knowledge and didn't sign up to be assessed, so it's natural they would leave after that point, when the work becomes much more scholarly and specialised. The standard of all courses were upgraded to match the NFQ and European standards. They wanted a team of people to teach the final year rather than just one lecturer, and he couldn't get other qualified people to assist so they dropped it.

Let me be clear (while obviously being a little biased): this UCD course is the only properly accredited course on genealogy in the whole country. I know of 2 other courses that call themselves a diploma but they are both 1 module of 10/12 weeks and each institution is accrediting themselves, so the course would not be recognised anywhere else. The difference is 24 hours for those "diplomas" versus UCD's 150 hours for their cert.

Jellybaby1

Thanks Pinkypinky for clearing that up. My assumption was entirely wrong and you obviously have the inside info. Apologies.

aev

Thanks pinky, really appreciate it. I will pm you certain questions if that's okay. Thanks for your help.
aev

Jellybaby1

Anyone doing these courses this year?

pinkypinky

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Anyone doing these courses this year?

Well, I just started into module 6!

davidjcie

A good one in UCC as an Evening Course. Are you based in Dublin?

Jellybaby1

Yep - in Dublin. What subjects are you covering in Mod6 Pinky?

pinkypinky

We're mainly on to case studies at this point: records of Ulster's Office (chief herald), US presidents with Irish ancestors, practical stuff like how to publish, etc.

Jellybaby1

Its all fascinating stuff. My own search is running out of steam but mainly because I haven't been able to dedicate enough time to it up to now. Hope to do more this year.

midnight_train

Hi all,

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I was just wondering has anyone else been doing the UCD course, and how do you find it?

I was also wondering how possible it is to find a job as genealogist??

Any comments or insight welcome!

Thanks a mil.

Hermy

Here's a link to a similar thread I started earlier this year if it helps.