Take a Course: Back to School Time!

It’s the time of year now to plan for your continuing educational needs. We have some suggestions!

Just before listing out a few options, have a think about your reasons for wanting some education, what do you hope to gain from it? Are you more or less academic or practical in your outlook? Do you prefer hands-on in-person sessions or remote sessions? Do you want just to read the lecture notes and not have to actually attend any lectures on-line or otherwise? How much do you want to pay? We all learn differently and have different goals so start by identifying yours. And for any IFHS members, we are running our September Back to School series – take a look at the calendar of events.

Now, here are a few options I’ve come across. If you know of other courses, please drop us a line at info@ifhs.ie.

Master’s Level. This will be an academic qualification from a University that will usually take either 1 year full time or 2 years part time to achieve and will include a requirement to work on a project / thesis as part of the course, in addition to regular ongoing essays / assignments / assessments. A relevant Master’s degree in genealogy would enable you to join the Register of Qualified Genealogists. But do read up as to which particular degrees are included. Such degrees will also usually have educational prerequisites such as holding a Bachelor degree in an Arts / Humanities subject.

• MA in History of the Family. This is available from the University of Limerick and is not specifically about Irish family history research but does include modules on Irish culture and family history. The MA in History of Family equips you with the tools to investigate how families lived, worked, and evolved over time, both locally and globally. You will learn how to uncover and interpret historical records, analyse social and cultural contexts, and produce research that connects personal histories to wider historical narratives. It is available in both in-person and online formats.
• MSc / PgDip / PgCert: Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland is not focused in Irish research. It is online and is offered at three levels and you progress from one to the next. Their flexible learning programme allows you to work through each level of study, as follows:
  • to gain the PgCert qualification, you must complete a first group of classes
  • to achieve the PgDip, you must complete the PgCert qualification and the three Diploma classes
  • for the MSc qualification, you must complete the first two stages and the final class

Diploma Level. Diplomas are usually more focused on practical skills but are most often accredited by a University.

• City College Dublin’s Diploma in Family History Research. This is delivered in collaboration with the Accredited Genealogists of Ireland (AGI). Presented over 2 semesters, it provides a practical grounding in all the major facets of Irish family history research, including write up, and culminates in the research and write up of a project of your own. This is useful for both those wishing to pursue a career in Irish genealogy and also those who wish to upskill in order to undertake better research for themselves. It is taught remotely with an option for students in Dublin to visit archives together once per semester (alternative lectures are provided for other students).
• Diploma in Genealogy from University College Cork. This course combines practical skills with portfolio based assessments designed to equip learners with transferable skills aimed at genealogy, heritage and tourism employment. The course offers modules in genealogy, fieldwork, collection care and portfolio building. The Diploma offers participants the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary study of the past while developing genealogical research skills. It is delivered part-time over 2 years, with online lectures with in person field trips.

Certificate Level. This is either a course focused on a particular aspect of research or typically a broader focus with less depth than a Diploma. These are usually 1 year part-time.

• History of Family and Genealogical Methods at the University of Limerick. This is a 1 year part-time, online course. You will study the theory, methodology, and practice of family history and genealogy, and learn how to apply research skills to understand familial heritage in local, regional, and national contexts.  The programme is ideal for anyone seeking structured support in conducting genealogical research.

Other Courses. These are either courses focused on a particular aspect of research or typically broader courses without the academic requirement for assessments or theses to be undertaken. They may be presented in-person locally rather than online or wholly online with no direct tutor / student interactions. Take a look at your local society to see what they might offer, also your local library you may also host courses. Always check the credentials of the people offering courses to ensure you are happy that they can teach you more than you already know!

• Introduction to Irish Family History at Trinity College Dublin. This lecture-only module is taught through a series of eight lectures per term over two terms by Fiona Fitzsimons & Brian Donovan of the Irish Family History Centre (Eneclann). The course covers a broad sweep of Irish history (1650s to 1950s) and is deeply rooted in the sources. The focus is on the records generated by churches, central and local government, enterprises, families and individuals; exploring what section of the Irish population is documented in these records, and how to interpret the evidence. Where record collections were destroyed, do any collateral records survive that contain relevant information? Lectures will be live streamed but not recorded.
• The International Institute of Genealogical Studies offers a variety of individual courses related to all aspects of genealogy, including Irish. Courses can be taken individually or taken as part of a Certificate. Claire Bradley, MA is the director of the Irish Department. Courses are credit-based and can be taken at any time – meaning they are not live-streamed as part of standard classes. Courses are normally at your own pace from the time a course opens to when it closes, but you also can request instructor assistance via the chat app for a question.
• Pharos Tutors offer 2 courses specific to Irish research, both presented by Chris Paton. They are: Progressing Your Irish Research Online and Researching Irish Land Records. Both courses are 5 weeks long and wholly online. They comprise a 1 hour tutorial each week with lecture notes sent out in advanced for you to read through. Tutorials may be via Zoom or just a chat interface.