As genealogy grows in popularity as a hobby and profession, so does interest in genealogical education. There are an expanding number of institutions that have programs or classes in genealogy. Some offer degrees and others grant certificates. There are programs that require attendance at a university; others are exclusively online. There are a variety of educational opportunities out there and hopefully this introduction to them will inspire you to continue learning.
Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah has a wide range of different programs in family history. Its undergraduate program includes source classes, writing family histories, methodology, history, paleography and more. Those classes can culminate in a bachelor's degree in Family History/Genealogy. For those who don't have the opportunity to attend BYU, there is a certificate program available through the university's independent study program available on the Internet. In addition, BYU offers free genealogy courses on the Internet for those not interested in earning the certificate.
Many other schools offer certificates in genealogy. The University of Washington in Seattle offers a certificate through its Outreach Program. Canada's National Institute for Genealogical Studies teamed up with the University of Toronto to put together a certificate program completely online. There are also schools that have genealogy certificates in conjunction with library science programs, like Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College. Each has classes that cover the basics of genealogy. Some of them delve deeper and have regional source, methodology, as well as Internet classes. For more ideas, Cyndi's List has an entire section on education that includes links to several programs.
These programs provide you with a good base of knowledge. However, there are always new sources, programs and methods to learn about in genealogy. Attending conferences, subscribing to journals like the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and attending classes that may be provided by local libraries and genealogical or historical societies are good ways to keep current with new developments.
Brigham Young University Independent Study-
ce.byu.edu/is
University of Washington Outreach-
www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/gfh/gfh_gen.asp
Cyndi's List
www.cyndislist.com
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
www.genealogicalstudies.com/eng/gstudies.html
Hartnell College
http://www.hartnell.cc.ca.us
Montery Penninsula College
www.mpc.edu
National Genealogical Society
www.ngsgenealogy.org
