Folklore and Public Culture
Martha Bayless, Program Director
541-346-3930
344 Prince Lucien Campbell Hall
The interdisciplinary Folklore and Public Culture Program offers perspectives on ethnic, regional, occupational, gender, and other traditional identities of individuals in specific societies and cultures. Students in the program study the extent to which traditions enrich and express the dynamics of human behavior throughout the world. Folklore and public culture courses examine the historical, cultural, social, political, and economic dimensions of such expressive forms as mythology, legend, folktale, art, music, dance, culinary practices, religion, ritual, and ceremony. Theoretical analyses, research methods, and fieldwork techniques are integral parts of the curriculum.
The Folklore and Public Culture Program offers bachelor of arts, master of arts, and master of science degrees in folklore and public culture. An undergraduate minor is also available. Folklore and public culture courses cover an extensive range of interdisciplinary topics: cultural heritage, ethnicity, subcultures, popular culture, performance, gender, film, religion, public folklore, and issues of diversity and globalization. Folklore and public culture graduates work in public and private agencies as educators, archivists, editors, arts and humanities consultants, museum curators, and festival planners.
Folklore Archive
The Randall V. Mills Archive of Northwest Folklore is a research repository available to folklore scholars and students. It houses raw field data, student and faculty research projects, and audio-visual materials including more than 7,000 slides. Located in 453 Prince Lucien Campbell Hall, the archive is open to the public.
Faculty
Martha J. Bayless, professor (Britain, Welsh, Old and Middle English medieval literature and culture). See English.
Doug Blandy, professor (art and community service, art and special populations). See Planning, Public Policy and Management.
D. Gantt Gurley, associate professor (Scandinavian literature and folklore, Jewish literature and folklore, Old Norse literature). See German and Scandinavian.
Habib Iddrisu, assistant professor (Africa, dance, performance). See Dance.
Leah Lowthorp, assistant professor (folklore and gender, fieldwork methods and theory, social justice). See Anthropology.
Dorothee Ostmeier, professor (18th- and 20th-century literature, culture, philosophy). See German and Scandinavian.
Riki H. Saltzman, instructor (public folklore, foodways, ethnicity-identity)
Gordon M. Sayre, professor (early American literature, 18th-century literature, folklore). See English.
Philip W. Scher, professor (Caribbean, politics of culture, transnationalism). See Anthropology.
Daniel N. Wojcik, professor (alternative religions, subcultures, vernacular arts). See English.
Juan Eduardo Wolf, associate professor (ethnomusicology, folklore, Latin American studies). See Music.
Participating
Ina Asim, history
Mokaya Bosire, linguistics
Bob Bussel, Labor Education and Research Center
Carl R. Bybee, journalism and communication
Matthew Dennis, history
Keith Eggener, history of art and architecture
Maria Fernanda Escallón, anthropology
Kenneth I. Helphand, landscape architecture
Lamia Karim, anthropology
Patricia Lambert, planning, public policy and management
Ana Lara, anthropology
Gabriela Martinez, journalism and communication
Debra L. Merskin, journalism and communication
Julianne H. Newton, journalism and communication
Jeffrey Ostler, history
Priscilla P. Ovalle, English
Ben Saunders, English
Stephanie "Lani" Teves, ethnic studies, women's, gender, and sexuality studies
Janet Wasko, journalism and communication
Stephanie Wood, College of Education
Stephen R. Wooten, global studies
Undergraduate Studies
Students studying folklore and public culture at the UO receive comprehensive training in scholarly approaches and methods for researching, documenting, and presenting traditional arts and cultural practices within the United States and abroad. Students majoring in folklore and public culture must earn a minimum of 48 credits, of which 32 must be upper division, and 20 of the 48 must be Folklore (FLR) credits.
Bachelor of Arts in Folklore and Public Culture
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
FLR 250 | Introduction to Folklore | 4 |
Seminar Research Methods | 4 | |
Electives from Electives list | 40 | |
Total Credits | 48 |
Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Folklore | ||
FLR 198 | Workshop: [Topic] | 1-2 |
FLR 225 | Voices of Africa | 4 |
FLR 235 | Folklore and the Supernatural | 4 |
FLR 255 | Folklore and United States Popular Culture | 4 |
FLR 320 | Car Cultures | 4 |
FLR 399 | Special Studies: [Topic] | 1-5 |
FLR 400M | Temporary Multilisted Course | 1-5 |
FLR 407 | Seminar: [Topic] | 1-5 |
FLR 410 | Experimental Course: [Topic] | 1-5 |
FLR 411 | Folklore and Religion | 4 |
FLR 415 | Folklore and Foodways | 4 |
FLR 450 | Folklore in the Public Sector | 4 |
FLR 370 | Folklore and Sexuality | 4 |
FLR 401 | Research: [Topic] | 1-6 |
FLR 403 | Thesis | 1-6 |
FLR 404 | Internship: [Topic] | 1-8 |
FLR 405 | Reading and Conference: [Topic] | 1-6 |
FLR 406 | Field Studies: [Topic] | 1-6 |
FLR 408 | Workshop: [Topic] | 1-5 |
FLR 409 | Practicum: [Topic] | 1-6 |
FLR 483 | Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | 4 |
Anthropology | ||
ANTH 114 | Anthropology of Pirates and Piracy | 4 |
ANTH 161 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
ANTH 119 | Anthropology and Aliens | 4 |
ANTH 315 | Gender, Folklore, Inequality | 4 |
ANTH 326 | Caribbean Societies | 4 |
ANTH 365 | Food and Culture | 4 |
ANTH 411 | Politics, Ethnicity, Nationalism | 4 |
ANTH 429 | Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | 4 |
Arts and Administration | ||
PPPM 250 | Arts and Human Values | 4 |
PPPM 399 | Special Studies: [Topic] | 1-5 |
PPPM 470 | The Arts in Society | 4 |
PPPM 471 | Cultural Policy | 4 |
PPPM 473 | Cultural Programming | 4 |
AAD 451 | Community Cultural Development | 4 |
Dance | ||
DAN 301 | African Dance Aesthetics | 4 |
DAN 410 | Experimental Course: [Topic] (Dema) | 1-5 |
DAN 436 | Dema African Performance Ensemble: [Topic] | 3 |
Judaic Studies | ||
JDST 213 | The Jewish Encounter with Modernity (Judaic Studies) | 4 |
Music | ||
MUS 349 | American Ethnic and Protest Music | 3 |
MUS 358 | Music in World Cultures | 4 |
MUS 359 | Music of the Americas | 4 |
MUS 360 | Hip-Hop Music: History, Culture, Aesthetics | 4 |
MUS 365 | Regional Ethnomusicology: [Topic] | 4 |
MUS 451 | Introduction to Ethnomusicology | 4 |
MUS 452 | Musical Instruments of the World | 4 |
MUS 462 | Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | 4 |
Scandinavian and German | ||
GER 356 | German Fairy Tales | 1-4 |
SCAN 259 | Vikings through the Icelandic Sagas | 4 |
SCAN 325 | Constructions versus Constrictions of Identity | 4 |
SCAN 343 | Norse Mythology | 4 |
SCAN 344 | Medieval Hero and Monster | 4 |
Women's and Gender Studies | ||
WGS 321 | Feminist Perspectives: Identity, Race, Culture | 4 |
Students may substitute courses to fulfill requirements with the approval of their major advisor. Programs from other departments or programs offering folklore-related courses include anthropology, arts and administration, classics, dance, English, ethnic studies, German and Scandinavian, historic preservation, humanities, international studies, journalism and communication, Judaic studies, music, religious studies, Romance languages, theater arts, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Residency Requirement
Twenty-eight credits of upper-division course work for the major must be completed at the University of Oregon.
Advising
Majors should construct their programs in consultation with an advisor from the core folklore and public culture faculty. At least two terms before graduation, students who want to apply for a folklore and public culture degree should consult the program director to obtain authorization and course work approval.
Minimum Grade
Course work required for the folklore and public culture major, both lower division and upper division, must be passed with grades of C– or better. No more than 8 pass/no pass credits may be applied to the major.
Foreign Language Requirement
Majors must complete the university foreign-language requirement for the BA degree.
Minor in Folklore and Public Culture
Courses
The minor requires the completion of 24 credits. Introduction to Folklore (FLR 250) is required of all minors. Remaining courses are selected from the list of courses on the program website. Students may substitute courses from other departments to fulfill this requirement with the approval of their minor advisor. Programs from other departments and programs offering folklore-related courses include anthropology, arts and administration, classics, dance, English, ethnic studies, German and Scandinavian, historic preservation, humanities, international studies, journalism and communication, Judaic studies, music, religious studies, Romance languages, theater arts, and women’s and gender studies.
Residency Requirement
Sixteen credits of course work for the minor must be completed at the University of Oregon.
Advising
Minors should construct their programs in consultation with an advisor from the core folklore and public culture faculty. At least two terms before graduation, students who want to apply for a folklore and public culture minor should consult the program director to obtain authorization and course work approval.
Minimum Grade
Course work required for the folklore and public culture minor, both lower division and upper division, must be passed with grades of C– or better. No more than 4 pass/no pass credits may be applied to the minor.
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Arts in Folklore and Public Culture
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
FLR 225 | Voices of Africa | 4 | |
WR 121 | College Composition I | 4 | |
ANTH 161 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 4 | |
First term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Winter | |||
ANTH 163 | Origins of Storytelling | 4 | |
WR 122 | College Composition II | 4 | |
HIST 101 | Ancient Mediterranean | 4 | |
Second term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Spring | |||
FLR 250 | Introduction to Folklore | 4 | |
PSY 201 | Mind and Brain | 4 | |
JDST 213 | The Jewish Encounter with Modernity | 4 | |
Third term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Total Credits | 51 |
Second Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
GEOG 142 | Human Geography | 4 | |
FLR 235 | Folklore and the Supernatural | 4 | |
FLR 255 | Folklore and United States Popular Culture | 4 | |
First term of second-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Winter | |||
FLR 320 | Car Cultures | 4 | |
ANTH 341 | Food Origins | 4 | |
Second term of second-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 13 | ||
Spring | |||
ENVS 345 | Environmental Ethics | 4 | |
PPPM 250 | Arts and Human Values | 4 | |
Third term of second-year second-language sequence | 5 | ||
Credits | 13 | ||
Total Credits | 43 |
Third Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
MUS 358 | Music in World Cultures | 4 | |
GEOG 361 | Global Environmental Change | 4 | |
ANTH 365 | Food and Culture | 4 | |
FLR 370 | Folklore and Sexuality | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
ANTH 326 | Caribbean Societies | 4 | |
FLR 350 | Folklore and the Bible | 4 | |
MUS 360 | Hip-Hop Music: History, Culture, Aesthetics | 4 | |
FLR 411 | Folklore and Religion | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
ANTH 315 | Gender, Folklore, Inequality | 4 | |
GER 356 | German Fairy Tales | 4 | |
PPPM 473 | Cultural Programming | 4 | |
MUS 359 | Music of the Americas | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Fourth Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
FLR 415 | Folklore and Foodways | 4 | |
FLR 411 | Folklore and Religion | 4 | |
Anthropology course chosen in consultation with advisor | 4 | ||
PPPM 470 | The Arts in Society | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
FLR 483 | Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | 4 | |
ANTH 429 | Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | 4 | |
PPPM 399 | Special Studies: [Topic] (Arts Management) | 1-5 | |
Credits | 9-13 | ||
Spring | |||
Program-approved course | 4 | ||
Anthropology course chosen in consultation with advisor | 4 | ||
PPPM 471 | Cultural Policy | 4 | |
Credits | 12 | ||
Total Credits | 37-41 |
- Master of Arts: General Folklore
- Master of Arts: Public Folklore
- Master of Science: General Folklore
- Master of Science: Public Folklore
- Graduate Specialization: Folklore and Public Culture
Graduate Studies
The master of arts (MA) or master of science (MS) degree in folklore and public culture is interdisciplinary. In consultation with an advising committee, students take designated courses from faculty members in anthropology, arts and administration, English, folklore and public culture, German, Scandinavian, and music in addition to elective courses that strengthen their areas of expertise. A public folklore track is available to students preparing for careers in the public sector. A thesis or terminal project is required for completion of the degree. Students working toward an MA degree must demonstrate competence in a second language.
The Department of English’s PhD program offers a structured emphasis in folklore. For more information, see the English section of this catalog.
Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.30 (B+)
- A minimum score of 153 on the verbal section of the general test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), and a score of 4 or better on the analytical writing section (GRE-AW)
- For nonnative speakers: a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 88 on the Internet-based test
Application procedures are listed on the program website.
Language Requirement for the MA Degree
The master of arts degree requires the satisfactory completion of a second-year level of proficiency in a second language, as required for the B.A. degree (see Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the catalog for details). Competency may be demonstrated by either a standardized test or with adequate undergraduate course work. Language competence must be demonstrated within the overall seven-year limit for completion of a master's degree.
Additional Courses
Consult the program’s website or members of its faculty each term for special offerings that fulfill degree requirements. Visit the program website for a list of additional approved courses.
Other undergraduate and graduate courses with related subject matter may be applied to folklore and public culture certificate programs by arrangement with the instructors and the folklore and public culture director. For a list of these courses, visit the program website.
Master of Arts: General Folklore Track (63 credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FLR 681 | History and Theory of Folklore Research | 5 |
FLR 684 | Folklore Fieldwork Seminar 1 | 5 |
Interdisciplinary Core Courses 2 | 28 | |
Folklore Core Courses | ||
Seminar: [Topic] (Video Production) | ||
Folklore and Religion | ||
Mythology and Modern Fantasy Fiction | ||
Folklore and Foodways | ||
African Folklore | ||
Folklore and Gender | ||
Folklore in the Public Sector | ||
Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | ||
Anthropology Core Courses | ||
Politics, Ethnicity, Nationalism | ||
Performance, Politics, and Folklore | ||
Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | ||
Anthropology and Popular Culture | ||
Ethnographic Research: Epistemology, Methods, Ethics | ||
German and Scandinavian Core Courses | ||
Translations-Transformations (Fairy Tales on the Move) | ||
Music Core Courses | ||
Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
Musical Instruments of the World | ||
Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
Planning, Public Policy and Management Core Courses | ||
Cultural Programming | ||
Cultural Policy | ||
Electives | 16 | |
Select courses from the folklore core or outside that bolster areas of student expertise | ||
Thesis or Terminal Project | ||
FLR 503 | Thesis 3 | 9 |
or FLR 609 | Terminal Project |
1 | Or other fieldwork course approved by advising committee. |
2 | 12 of the 28 credits must be earned in folklore (FLR) courses. |
3 | Students complete a thesis or terminal project based on original research. The number of thesis or terminal project credits that a candidate may complete has no maximum, although only 9 credits count toward the degree. |
Courses are chosen in consultation with the student’s advising committee. Students may substitute courses not listed above to fulfill requirements with the approval of their advising committee.
Master of Science: General Folklore Track (63 credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FLR 681 | History and Theory of Folklore Research | 5 |
FLR 684 | Folklore Fieldwork Seminar 1 | 5 |
Interdisciplinary Core Courses 2 | 28 | |
Folklore Core Courses | ||
Seminar: [Topic] (Video Production) | ||
Folklore and Religion | ||
Mythology and Modern Fantasy Fiction | ||
Folklore and Foodways | ||
African Folklore | ||
Folklore and Gender | ||
Folklore in the Public Sector | ||
Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | ||
Anthropology Core Courses | ||
Politics, Ethnicity, Nationalism | ||
Performance, Politics, and Folklore | ||
Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | ||
Anthropology and Popular Culture | ||
Ethnographic Research: Epistemology, Methods, Ethics | ||
German and Scandinavian Core Courses | ||
Translations-Transformations (Fairy Tales on the Move) | ||
Music Core Courses | ||
Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
Musical Instruments of the World | ||
Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
Planning, Public Policy and Management Core Courses | ||
Cultural Policy | ||
Cultural Programming | ||
Electives | 16 | |
Select courses from the folklore core or outside that bolster areas of student expertise | ||
Thesis or Terminal Project | ||
FLR 503 | Thesis 3 | 9 |
or FLR 609 | Terminal Project |
1 | Or other fieldwork course approved by advising committee. |
2 | 12 of the 28 credits must be earned in folklore (FLR) courses. |
3 | Students complete a thesis or terminal project based on original research. The number of thesis or terminal project credits that a candidate may complete has no maximum, although only 9 credits count toward the degree. |
Courses are chosen in consultation with the student’s advising committee. Students may substitute courses not listed above to fulfill requirements with the approval of their advising committee.
Master of Arts: Public Folklore Track (63 credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FLR 550 | Folklore in the Public Sector | 4 |
FLR 681 | History and Theory of Folklore Research | 5 |
FLR 684 | Folklore Fieldwork Seminar 1 | 5 |
PPPM 573 | Cultural Programming | 4 |
Interdisciplinary Core Courses | ||
Select 20 credits from the following courses: 2 | 20 | |
Folklore Core Courses | ||
Seminar: [Topic] (Video Production) | ||
Folklore and Religion | ||
Mythology and Modern Fantasy Fiction | ||
Folklore and Foodways | ||
African Folklore | ||
Folklore and Gender | ||
Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | ||
Anthropology Core Courses | ||
Politics, Ethnicity, Nationalism | ||
Performance, Politics, and Folklore | ||
Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | ||
Anthropology and Popular Culture | ||
Ethnographic Research: Epistemology, Methods, Ethics | ||
German and Scandinavian Core Courses | ||
Translations-Transformations (Fairy Tales on the Move) | ||
Music Core Courses | ||
Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
Musical Instruments of the World | ||
Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
Planning, Public Policy and Management Core Courses | ||
Cultural Policy | ||
Electives | 12 | |
Select courses from the folklore core or outside that bolster specialization areas | ||
Internship | ||
FLR 604 | Internship: [Topic] 3 | 4 |
Thesis or Terminal Project | ||
FLR 503 | Thesis 4 | 9 |
or FLR 609 | Terminal Project |
1 | Or other fieldwork course approved by advising committee. |
2 | Students may substitute other courses not listed to fulfill requirements with the approval of their advising committee. |
3 | An internship related to public folklore amounting to 120 clock hours of service on-site, organized through the Folklore Program or the Oregon Folklife Network. |
4 | The number of thesis or terminal project credits that a candidate may complete has no maximum, although only 9 credits count toward the degree. |
Master of Science: Public Folklore Track (63 credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FLR 550 | Folklore in the Public Sector | 4 |
FLR 681 | History and Theory of Folklore Research | 5 |
FLR 684 | Folklore Fieldwork Seminar 1 | 5 |
PPPM 573 | Cultural Programming | 4 |
Interdisciplinary Core Courses | ||
Select 20 credits from the following courses: 2 | 20 | |
Folklore Core Courses | ||
Seminar: [Topic] (Video Production) | ||
Folklore and Religion | ||
Mythology and Modern Fantasy Fiction | ||
Folklore and Foodways | ||
African Folklore | ||
Folklore and Gender | ||
Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | ||
Anthropology Core Courses | ||
Politics, Ethnicity, Nationalism | ||
Performance, Politics, and Folklore | ||
Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | ||
Anthropology and Popular Culture | ||
Ethnographic Research: Epistemology, Methods, Ethics | ||
German and Scandinavian Core Courses | ||
Translations-Transformations (Fairy Tales on the Move) | ||
Music Core Courses | ||
Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
Musical Instruments of the World | ||
Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
Planning, Public Policy and Management Core Courses | ||
Cultural Policy | ||
Electives | 12 | |
Select courses from the folklore core or outside that bolster specialization areas | ||
Internship | ||
FLR 604 | Internship: [Topic] 3 | 4 |
Thesis or Terminal Project | ||
FLR 503 | Thesis 4 | 9 |
or FLR 609 | Terminal Project |
1 | Or other fieldwork course approved by advising committee. |
2 | Students may substitute other courses not listed to fulfill requirements with the approval of their advising committee. |
3 | An internship related to public folklore amounting to 120 clock hours of service on-site, organized through the Folklore Program or the Oregon Folklife Network. |
4 | The number of thesis or terminal project credits that a candidate may complete has no maximum, although only 9 credits count toward the degree. |
Graduate Specialization: Folklore and Public Culture
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
FLR 681 | History and Theory of Folklore Research | 5 |
FLR 550 | Folklore in the Public Sector | 4 |
Minimum of 7 credits from the following: 2 | 7 | |
Folklore and Religion | ||
Folk Art and Material Culture | ||
Folklore and Foodways | ||
Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles | ||
Reading and Conference: [Topic] | ||
Field Studies: [Topic] | ||
Total Credits | 16 |
1 | One fieldwork/public folklore course, chosen from FLR 550 (Public Folklore), FLR 684 (Fieldwork) or another Folklore course or a course taught by core faculty approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in the Folklore and Public Culture Program. |
2 | FLR 550 and FLR 684 are also applicable if not taken to satisfy the fieldwork and public folklore section. |
3 | Courses must be taken for a letter grade and grade must be a B- or better to count for the specialization. An overlap maximum of 4 credits may be permitted with permission of the Folklore Director of Graduate Studies. |
See https://folklore.uoregon.edu/welcome/course_descriptions/ for course descriptions
Additional Requirements:
A statement of interest and a transcript of higher education to date are required. Contact information for recommenders is required, but recommendations are not required at this stage. Send application, including statement of purpose, transcripts, and list of recommenders, to Folklore secretary Beth Magee at emagee@uoregon.edu. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Students must be matriculated students at the University of Oregon.
Courses

FLR 198. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-2 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 225. Voices of Africa. 4 Credits.
Novels, music, dance, dress, paintings, films, and cartoons serve as a primary sources from which to learn about the diversity and vivacity of contemporary African peoples.

FLR 235. Folklore and the Supernatural. 4 Credits.
Introduces the study of beliefs about the supernatural by examining diverse approaches to the description and analysis of belief traditions and religious culture.

FLR 236. Magic in the Middle Ages. 4 Credits.
Examines how medieval culture defined magic and how the exploration of magic led to the beginnings of science. Analyzes the practices of medieval western Europe, particularly Britain.

FLR 250. Introduction to Folklore. 4 Credits.
The process and genres of traditional (i.e., folk) patterning; the relations between these forms of expression and other arts, especially English and American literature.

FLR 255. Folklore and United States Popular Culture. 4 Credits.
Explores the relationship between folklore and popular culture, with special emphasis on the analysis of legends, myths, icons, stereotypes, heroes, celebrities, rituals, and celebrations.

FLR 320. Car Cultures. 4 Credits.
Examines car customizing and tuning as forms of vernacular art; studies the environmental impacts of automobiles, the history of the industry, and the peculiarities of drivers' behavior. Offered alternate years.

FLR 350. Folklore and the Bible. 4 Credits.
Studies readings of the Judeo-Christian Bible in connection with mythological and traditional contexts and meanings from ancient times to the present. Offered alternate years.

FLR 370. Folklore and Sexuality. 4 Credits.
Examines intersections of folklore and sexuality as entry points for discussing social issues of sexual and gender identity, intolerance, and resistance. Offered alternate years.

FLR 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 400M. Temporary Multilisted Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 403. Thesis. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-8 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 406. Field Studies: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 409. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 411. Folklore and Religion. 4 Credits.
Explores the role of folklore in people's religious lives with particular emphasis on narrative, beliefs, rituals, celebrations, pilgrimage, and ecstatic states.

FLR 413. Folk Art and Material Culture. 4 Credits.
Survey of the research by folklorists on contemporary folk art, material culture, and the aesthetic impulse in everyday life.

FLR 415. Folklore and Foodways. 4 Credits.
Examines food traditions from a folkloristic perspective, looking at issues such as identity, performance, community, creativity, and innovation. Prereq: junior standing. Offered every second or third year.

FLR 450. Folklore in the Public Sector. 4 Credits.
Investigates the history of the field of public folklore as well as training students in contemporary practices including fieldwork methods, grant writing, and project development.

FLR 483. Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles. 4 Credits.
Basic folk traditions in the British Isles (e.g., ballads, folktales, legends, myths) and their treatment in the written literature of major British authors.

FLR 500M. Temporary Multilisted Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 503. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 511. Folklore and Religion. 4 Credits.
Explores the role of folklore in people's religious lives with particular emphasis on narrative, beliefs, rituals, celebrations, pilgrimage, and ecstatic states.

FLR 513. Folk Art and Material Culture. 4 Credits.
Survey of the research by folklorists on contemporary folk art, material culture, and the aesthetic impulse in everyday life.

FLR 514. Mythology and Modern Fantasy Fiction. 4 Credits.
Examines the folklore and literary sources that inspired writers such as J. R. R Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, and George R. R. Martin and gave rise to modern fantasy fiction. Offered only in summer.

FLR 515. Folklore and Foodways. 4 Credits.
Examines food traditions from a folkloristic perspective, looking at issues such as identity, performance, community, creativity, and innovation. Prereq: junior standing. Offered every second or third year.

FLR 516. African Folklore. 4 Credits.
Examines folklore forms across the African continent to analyze themes of history, identity, aesthetics, gender, class, politics, and globalization.

FLR 518. Folklore and Gender. 4 Credits.
Examines intersections of folklore and gender and the resulting issues of creativity, social dynamics, feminism, identity politics, and negotiations of power. Offered alternate years.

FLR 550. Folklore in the Public Sector. 4 Credits.
Investigates the history of the field of public folklore as well as training students in contemporary practices including fieldwork methods, grant writing, and project development.

FLR 583. Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles. 4 Credits.
Basic folk traditions in the British Isles (e.g., ballads, folktales, legends, myths) and their treatment in the written literature of major British authors.

FLR 601. Research: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 602. Supervised College Teaching. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 604. Internship: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 606. Field Studies: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 607. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 608. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-6 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 609. Terminal Project. 1-9 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 610. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

FLR 681. History and Theory of Folklore Research. 5 Credits.
Examines nature of scholarly inquiry, research questions, and techniques. Historic orientation with emphasis on ideological development of folkloristics from its beginnings to the present.

FLR 684. Folklore Fieldwork Seminar. 5 Credits.
Students conceptualize and execute a fieldwork project while developing practical skills in proposal writing, observation, interviewing, analysis, documentation, and presentation.