Our students are enthusiastic about our online genealogical courses. However, many new students are unsure of where to begin. Which courses should they take first? Just as in planning to build a house, your genealogy education plan must begin with the foundation. Whether you are just beginning to research your family history, or you are an experienced researcher, it is recommended for all students to begin with understanding the methodology guidelines and standards used in all genealogy research. This is accomplished through our Methodology Certificate. 

If you are considering any certificate, these are the first courses to work on as the Methodology Certificate courses are COMPULSORY for all of our Certificate Programs. To find out more about our Methodology Certificate and the suggested course order, check out our blog post. 

For our American Certificate in Genealogical Studies, you must successfully complete 40 courses, which includes the 14 required courses of the Methodology Certificate, 14 compulsory American courses, and 12 elective courses of your choice. The American courses include 4 compulsory courses at the Basic Level, 5 compulsory courses at the Intermediate Level, and 5 compulsory courses at the Advanced Level. 

American Certificate Package = 40 courses

Basic Level
US: Census Records 
This course is designed to give you a better understanding of the history, content, and uses of census records and related material.
US: Vital Records, Understanding and Using the Records
Examining Birth, Marriage, & Death records in the United States, the history of when they began to be recorded in various places and the depth of the information in them.
US: Religious Records-Part 1 
This course focuses on religions which had a significant presence in the developing new land in America, prior to 1800, including the culture and beliefs of the immigrants who settled in America.
US: Land Records 
This course will provide a brief overview of the history and types of land documents in the United States, such as Colonial Records (English, French, Mexican, Spanish), land grants, homestead records, the development bounty lands, as well as deeds and maps.

Intermediate Level
US: Cemetery and Mortuary Records 
This course will explore the history of cemeteries, the symbolism used, the types of cemeteries, the records created, how to locate a gravesite, and a summary of records published in books and online.
US: Religious Records-Part 2
This course discusses American religions in the United States primarily after 1800, exploring types of religious records available, how to use them, and where they can be accessed. 
US: Immigration & Naturalization Records 
This course discusses how to trace your immigrant ancestors to the United States, including the various immigration and naturalization sources, such as passenger arrival lists.
US: Probate Records 
This course discusses legal records created by the courts when an ancestor died.
US: Migration Patterns 
This course will discuss the history of migration across the United States, including particular routes westward; the time period of settlement of areas; and specifics about the common patterns of movement of people between areas and states through the decades.

Advanced Level
US: Newspaper Records 
This course will introduce you to newspapers as a genealogical resource; from an introductory overview of newspapers, and a look at the history of American newspapers to accessing newspapers online.
US: Military Records 
This course discusses the various types of records created by military service, such as service records, muster rolls, pension records, and draft registration. Records of conflicts of the United States and colonial America from the early colonial wars of the seventeenth century to the Second World War are included.
US: Occupational Records 
This course will focus on occupational records and what they can reveal about our ancestor’s lives.
US: Institutional Records 
This course will introduce the student to records of institutions such as orphanages, prisons, poor houses, asylums, and schools.
US: Court Records 
This course provides an overview of United States court records, selected finding aids to United States court records and strategies for gleaning the records of the courts.

We offer several additional American-themed courses, or courses relevant to American research, which could be chosen to fulfill the elective portion of the American Certificate. These courses can be added to your certificate package, and will supplement your genealogical knowledge for your specific area or family history topic. You are sure to find several relevant courses to build your research skills. 

Combination Certificates 
Alternatively, you can use courses from other certificates as your electives and complete TWO certificates for the cost of one. Your customized certificate could include the compulsory American Records courses, plus the compulsory courses from any other topic or country-themed certificate. Both include the Methodology Certificate courses as they form the basis for all of our Professional Learning Certificates. 

American Records and DNA Certificate
American Records and Librarianship Certificate
American Records and Professional Development Certificate

Building your genealogical research skills with these essential courses is for both serious family historians and professional researchers. We can assist you in building your genealogical education plan for your future research projects. Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your options to successfully reach your research goals.

The International Institute of Genealogical Studies offers quality online education with over 240 courses. Our wide range of courses cover specific countries, enhance methodology research, build skills to maximize your research time, and all count toward the certification you choose. 

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Contact information:
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Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com 
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LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997