FHGEN 252A: Geographic Specialization—US Regions Research
Outcomes
As a result of completing this course, students will be able to do the following:
- Determine how geographical features, cultural features, and historical events affect the research process in the region.
- Conduct African American and Latter-day Saint research.
- Identify the availability of records for each state in the region.
- Determine unique characteristics of records in the region.
- Identify the general process for conducting research in each region.
- Plan and conduct research in the region.
- Produce a well organized genealogical report.
Students will learn how to use region specific records to find genealogical information and solve research problems, produce client reports, and add family history information through the case studies and assignments in this course.
This online course teaches principles of effective report writing for genealogical projects including, formatting, documentation, source citations, and presentation of genealogical data. Through case studies, students will learn how to prepare effective genealogical reports for clients.
Description
This online course focuses on how to conduct genealogical research in the Mid-South, Gulf South, Mountain West, and Pacific states.
As they study each region, students will learn about the geographical and historical background, record availability, and research processes. Students will distinguish key record types from the area, use them to find genealogical information, and learn about conducting African American and Latter-day Saint research. Students will also conduct research in the region and produce a research report on how they solved a region-specific research problem. This course, in conjunction with the other courses in this program, will help prepare students to apply for a professional genealogy credential through ICAPGen or BCG. This course has been designed to provide students with solid academic content and to help them develop practical research skills which are critical for a professional genealogist across many research settings.
Learning Model Architecture
Prepare
Students will prepare by completing readings and coursework.
Ponder/Prove
Students will demonstrate their skills by completing interactive activities, assignments, research projects, reports, and assessments.
Teach One Another
Students will teach one another through discussion board interactions.
This course will include the following activities:
- Readings
- Interactive activities
- Discussion boards
- Assignments
- Research projects
- Written Reports
- Quizzes
Prerequisites
FHGEN 111, 112, 120, 130, 140, 160, 211, 212
Required Materials
No materials are required for this course.
Expectations and Class Time
The AAS in Family History Research, being an Applied Associate’s, is very practical in nature. The course’s primary objective is to prepare you to become a professional genealogist through deepening your research skills for the United States. The online class policy is that for every credit hour, you should expect to spend 3–4 hours of work per week. For this class you should plan on spending at least 9–12 hours per week.
Submitting Assignments
All assignments for the course can be submitted directly in Canvas or to your OneDrive and then shared with the instructor via a link to your OneDrive account. Instructions for signing up, sharing files, and submitting assignments in I-Learn are in the attached PDF, as well as cautions.
Grading Policies
Academic
- Assignments: 25%
- Mid-term/Final: 40%
- Quizzes: 18.4%
- Activities: 11.2%
- Discussions: 5.4%
Grade Distribution
The standard BYU-Idaho grading scale applies to this class and is as follows:
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 94–100% |
| A- | 90–93% |
| B+ | 87–89% |
| B | 84–86% |
| B- | 80–83% |
| C+ | 77–79% |
| C | 74–76% |
| C- | 70–73% |
| D+ | 67–69% |
| D | 64–66% |
| D- | 60–63% |
| F | 0–59% |
Disclaimers
The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus at any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place.
Due to the nature of certain assignments in this course, some images do not include alternative text. If you need assistance with these images, please contact your instructor.