Amy Robbins learned about family history research certificates and degrees offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide during a devotional at the Latter-day Saint ward in Riverton, Utah.
“That’s when I realized, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I didn’t even know that it was a reality and that you could go to school and get a certificate in family history research,” Robbins said during a Roots Tech session on Thursday, March 5.
As a young woman, Robbins earned an associate’s degree, but decided not to pursue further education as she and her husband started a family. Now a grandmother, Robbins said the idea of going back to school was scary, but she also saw it as a good opportunity, “so I jumped in.”
As an amateur family history buff, she thought she would have a basic knowledge, she said, but was surprised at how much she didn’t know. The class was “challenging and fulfilling.”
Robbins ultimately earned basic and advanced certificates in family history research, which she used to earn a bachelor’s degree and graduate last April.
“My life has changed, not just because of the education itself, but because of the skills I learned,” Robbins said.
Robbins was one of several student panelists who participated in a RootsTech session that explained how BYU-Pathway helps build skills in family history research.
The class was hosted by BYU Pathways Worldwide International Area Manager Matt Richards, who explained the program and introduced the student panelists. Student panelists provided insight into its benefits and impact on both career development and employment opportunities.
About BYU – Pathway Worldwide
Richards explained that BYU-Pathway is an online higher education provider for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is affiliated with other Church Educational System organizations, namely BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.
“We just served about 89,000 students last year, and we’re now in about 185+ countries, and we’re continuing to expand around the world. This is primarily based on the areas where the church is already active,” Richards said.
BYU–Pathway uses a certificate-first model, where students earn certificates for their work skills. These certificates can be stacked toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
BYU-Pathway also offers shorter three-year degree programs as opposed to four-year bachelor’s programs. “So we decided to eliminate elective courses and focus more on what people want to learn,” Richards said.
The two certificates stack up to earn an associate degree. The three certificates add up to a bachelor’s degree. In Family History Studies, students can earn a basic certificate and then an advanced certificate. Those who wish to incorporate these into their bachelor’s degree, like Robbins, who completed the interdisciplinary degree, can complete a third certificate with a separate course of study and pursue a specialized studies or interdisciplinary degree.
When explaining the benefits of BYU-Pathway, Richards was also quick to point out the program’s affordability. The cost per credit varies by country. In the US, it costs about $86 per credit. In addition, the program also offers return missionary scholarships and Heber J. Grant tuition discounts based on individual circumstances.
About family history certificate and degree
What can students do with a family history degree? In a BYU-Idaho video introducing specific degree pathways, BYU-Idaho family history research faculty member Margaret Chesley explained, “Most people become private researchers for clients or are employed by genealogy research companies. But the great thing about this degree is that it’s a very good foundation degree for many other fields, many other specialties, so students can take the historian route or the librarian route, or even the lawyer or business or computer technology or forensics route.
David Millward joined the RootsTech Student Board virtually from his home in Ottawa, Ontario. Milward earned an MBA, had a full-time job and a church calling, and earned a BYU Pathway certification because he “wanted to do something new and fun.”
Milward earned both basic and advanced certificates in family history studies by taking just three credits, or one class, per semester. He said the skills he learned in class allowed him to “break through a brick wall” in his own family history research.
For Robbins, the program not only benefited her own research, but also helped her grow as a professional and a person. “This program has made me… much more confident and helped me with a lot of other soft skills as well,” she said, adding, “I really feel like I have grown and developed in a lot of ways because of the opportunity I had to go through this program.”
To learn more about BYU-Pathway Worldwide or the Family History Program, visit apply.byupathway.edu/rfi to request more information.
