Anyone thought about getting a qualification?

[Lensgirl]

Hi

Im not sure why, but i would love to get a genealogy qualification (i would also love to get a history degree, although dont think i would ever use it!) Has anyone done that or looked at the best route to take?

I have emailed the Heraldry place in Kent to see what they suggest, although as it would be a correspondence course its going to be mega expensive.

I think maybe i would like to teach it one day, but im certainly not knowledgable enough at the moment

many thanks

[Uncle John]

I think it's one of those things like making a living from "doing trees" that's a bit of a pipe-dream. But what do I know, it's 40-odd years since I did any formal study.

[Lensgirl]

Thanks John. Like i said, it would probably be for my own benefit rather than for an actual teaching thing. i have no idea why i would like one, i just would. i think i would actually like to study something i enjoy rather than something you have to do

[Vivienne]

I thought about it but I was given the oportunity last year to do a course on TNA from Pharos courses. The course was very well structured but I've been out of formal education for too long & it just didn't sink in.
I've saved the course to my computer & keep thinking I'll go back to it but my attention span seems to be a bit like that of a goldfish.:D

[Olde Crone Holden]

I think a History degree would be far more use to you and top up study from degree level to genealogy would be easy from there on.

There are very very few professional genealogists who earn a living from genealogy. Most of those who do are linked to a genealogical body or a university etc. and all have a degree in history or an allied subject. All have specialist research skills - mediaeval history, latin, greek etc.

I have looked at the courses on offer, but apart from SoG courses, I get the impression that most of them are thinly disguised courses on "How to do your family history" which anyone with an ounce of common sense can get from the millions of books written on the subject, free from your local library!

OC

[herky]

The Open University do a short 12 week course called "Start Writing Family History".
Cost £155.
I don't really know much about it but the OU site will have details.
herky

[Janet]

Robyne,

No, I personally would not be interested in doing a Degree in Genealogy as I would rather spend the precious time I have left doing my own actual research and writing up on projects that I have already researched, for which I would not need a degree, just the time to do these things. I doubt that a course would teach me any more than I can find out by reading further myself, though it might give me some discipline in getting down to the tasks that I have.

I did go as a full time student to University for a year, when I was in my fifties, to do a post graduate course. I did not have a degree, and it was hard going, but it gave me a lot of insight into research techniques, use of computer and writing, to the point where I wished that I had done a History Degree in my early years, and then taken up a career in research. Instead, I am enjoying the research that I am doing now.

I realise I am saying this with the satisfaction of achieving a Post Graduate Degree Course and that was very satisfying to complete successfully in my mid fifties, so if you want to do a degree in something interesting, just because you want the satisfaction of getting a degree, then I can certainly understand why you may wish to do this.

Janet

[Little Nell]

The Open University do a lot of history courses, some of which may be more relevant to family history. You can work at your own pace and choose a short course like the writing one, to see how much time it takes and see how committed you are.

There are also lots of one-off topic courses at the Society of Genealogists.

Depends what you want to do it for. Personally, I think the best way to do genealogy is to actually DO it - with some help from FTF to point the way when searching something new. There's no lesson like experience!

Good luck in what you decide.