Family History
Many people study Family History to better understand their genealogy. You’ll build your skills and knowledge in finding and interpreting information about your ancestors and sharing family stories with others.
This practical course will assist you in exploring your family’s past and enable you to become more proficient and comfortable in a digital environment.
You will learn how to research online while developing your communication and writing skills. You will be part of a supportive cohort of family history enthusiasts and experts.
The Diploma of Family History is fully online and consists of eight units that each run for eight weeks. You can study at your own pace – all you need is regular access to a desktop computer and the internet.
Course Options
Diploma of Family History
Part time only. Minimum 1 Years, up to a maximum of 3 Years
Online
The Diploma of Family History units are available to all Australian citizens; and for NZ citizens, Permanent Residents and Humanitarian Visa Holders provided all studies are undertaken on-shore in Australia.
100% online, study anywhere, anytime
Suitable for any level of study experience
Free access to Ancestry.com Library Edition
Pathways
At the University of Tasmania, we’ll help you get the skills you need to pursue a degree. We offer a wide range of preparatory and pathway programs, as well as short foundation programs, to assist in the transition to university.
Study options
Specialisations
Learn how to research, write, and creatively collate and communicate family history. You will develop skills to identify, analyse and interpret historical information from a range of family history sources.
Coming up
Place, Image, Object
Find stories in your family treasure through homes, heirlooms, albums and art. Find immediate ways to relate to your family's past with remembering, researching and communicating family history and memories.
28 Sep - 20 Nov 2020
Coming up
Writing Family History
Develop key skills for the writing of fiction and/or non-fiction based on genealogical records. Learn to craft and polish engaging and readable multigenerational family history narratives.
19 Oct - 11 Dec 2020
Course breakdown
To graduate with a Diploma of Family History, you need to complete eight units. You can study these units in any order you choose.
1
Foundation level
Choose four units
- Introduction to Family History
- Place, Image, Object
- Writing Family History
- Convict Ancestors
- The Photo Essay
2
100 level (Introductory)
Choose three or four units
- Families at War
- Migrant Families
- Writing the Family Saga
- Oral History
3
100 level Elective
Option to choose one unit
- English 1A
- English 1B
- Making the Modern World - History
- Creativity and Ageing
- Making Modern Europe - History
Career outcomes
Lessons from the life of Sarah Wentworth
“I’ve been interested in family history for many years. One thing I loved about the Diploma was the diversity of the units. There was a unit on writing skills, one on photography, one specifically on convicts – I enjoyed every unit that I did and learning different approaches to the same topic.”
Ros Escott, Diploma of Family History student
Completing a Diploma of Family History could lead to work in the following fields:
- family history and genealogical research
- creative writing
- non-fiction writing
- cultural and/or heritage tourism
- local and regional museums
- history and heritage consultancies
- local and community history organisations
- adult education
- archives and library information systems
Study Experiences
Delving deeper into your ancestry
“The greatest benefit for me from completing the diploma was a greater understanding of the immense resources available to family historians and how to access them.”
Caroline Haigh, Diploma of Family History student
Entry information
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary across courses and are available on each individual course page, which you can access from Course Options. We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Credit for prior learning
The University of Tasmania aims to provide you with credit for approved prior study or equivalent professional experience which exceeds standard entrance requirements for courses. For more information please visit Recognition for Prior Learning.
English language requirements
For those applicants who are nationals of and currently residing in a country where English is not the official language, evidence of an IELTS or TOEFL test must be provided. For more information, please visit International Future Students.