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The University of Oregon boasts one of the nation's most dynamic folklore graduate programs. Our cross-disciplinary method empowers master's students to pursue personal academic passions within a robust scholarly framework. Scholars engage in investigative work and theoretical examinations across diverse subjects, blending time-honored tradition studies with contemporary perspectives on folklore and communal culture. Current research topics span from gender dynamics in rock music to African drumming traditions in American suburbs, from spiritual nature journeys to digital memorials, 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 concentration delivers comprehensive training in folklore studies while permitting customized coursework in students' chosen focus areas. This track mandates core classes taught by Folklore and Public Culture faculty across multiple departments including anthropology, arts management, English, and music. The Public Folklore concentration equips students for professional careers by developing practical abilities like ethnographic fieldwork, archival practices, funding proposals, organizational management, and cultural programming. This pathway additionally emphasizes core folklore scholarship and professional networking within the discipline.