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The University of Oregon boasts one of the nation's most dynamic folklore graduate programs. With an interdisciplinary framework, our master's candidates can pursue personal academic passions within a robust scholarly community. Scholars engage in investigative work and theoretical examinations across diverse subjects, blending time-honored tradition studies with contemporary perspectives on folklore and public culture. Current research topics span from gender dynamics in rock music to West African drumming in American suburbs, from spiritual nature journeys to digital memorials on MySpace, and from street art and craft movements to museum curation studies.
The master's program in Folklore and Public Culture offers two specialized pathways. The General Folklore Track equips students with core folklore knowledge while permitting elective coursework in chosen focus areas. This track mandates foundational courses taught by Folklore and Public Culture faculty across multiple departments including anthropology, arts management, English, and music. Alternatively, the Public Folklore Track develops practical competencies for public sector careers, emphasizing ethnographic methods, archival practices, funding proposals, organizational leadership, and cultural programming. This pathway additionally strengthens academic folklore foundations while fostering professional connections within the field.