The National Genealogical Society has a Basics Course



The National Genealogical Society has a Basics Course  Find more genealogy articles at FamilyTree.com.Those that are brand new to genealogy could probably use some guidance. Everyone starts new and lacking the knowledge that seasoned genealogists have learned.

Even genealogists who have been working on their research for years sometimes need a refresher on basic techniques. One way to learn more about genealogy is to take the course offered by the National Genealogical Society.

The course is called American Genealogical Studies: The Basics. It is an independent learning course that a person can take from the comfort of his or her own home. The course is described as “cloud-based learning management system”, meaning that the information used in the course has been stored in an offsite “cloud” of data. No software or material will be downloaded onto a student’s computer or tablet.

Genealogists who take this online course must have their own computer or tablet to use. The first thing to do is check to see what browsers the course is compatible with. It is also a good idea to take a look at the minimal computer specifications and requirements that a computer needs to have in order to access the course.

There are four modules in the course. They are called Getting Started, Create A Research Plan, Home Sources, and Family Traditions and Connecting with Others. Students must go through them in order. Here are a few of the questions the course will answer:

* How do I develop a research plan?


* What kind of family papers and memorabilia have genealogical information?


* Why should I provide citations for my personal family tree?


* How do I prepare, conduct, and evaluate an interview?

The American Genealogical Studies: The Basics course costs $30.00 for members of the National Genealogical Society. It will cost non-members $45.00. All purchases of courses are final and no refunds will be issued.

It is expected that a genealogist will complete this course in a timely fashion. The National Genealogical Society gives students six months from the date of registration to complete the course.

Those that successfully complete the course will receive a certificate of completion. It is worth pointing out that the National Genealogical Society is not a licensing body. Those who complete the course will not receive any formal genealogical credential or accreditation.

Ideally, a genealogist should plan ahead and make sure that he or she will be able to have time to work on the course Work on a little bit of it every day, or several times a week, until the coursework is completed. Take time to absorb the information.

Image by Scott Schwartz on Flickr.

Related Articles at FamilyTree.com:

* FamilySearch.Org

* Best Free Genealogical Websites

* Learn to Validate Your Online Research

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