Combining the perspectives of the humanities and social sciences, folklorists examine processes of individual creativity and of communication in diverse social and cultural settings throughout the world. Folklorists study the ways in which human beings seek understanding and involvement through the shaping of tradition to fit new and challenging circumstances. Students use ethnographic, literary, historical, and cultural studies methods to understand better the meanings and uses of folklore forms in rural, urban, past, and present settings. Courses offer analyses of the forms and occasions of folklore performance, the folklore of specific countries and regions, theories and methods of inquiry, human diversity and worldview, and the relevance of folklore study to other fields. Ethnomusicology, the study of music in culture, is a special concentration within the folklore department.
Many courses fulfill distribution and culture studies requirements.
There are opportunities for direct student-faculty contact through individual and collaborative research projects such as fieldwork projects, specially designed readings courses, practical experience through internships in arts and cultural organizations, and team research. The major provides students with a liberal arts background, preparing them for a range of careers, including those involving the arts, education, historic preservation, communication, cross-cultural understanding, and human diversity and relations. Upon entering the program, the student and undergraduate director plan an individualized program of study. Majors may specialize in tracks such as cross-cultural or international studies, specific world areas, ethnomusicology, cultural conservation, and documentation of artistic performance. Two 300-level courses.