Needless to say, this vastly expands the available course list, embracing such classes as Material Culture of the African Diaspora, Performance and Oral History, Medical Anthropology, and The South in Comparative Perspective. Additionally, students pursuing an M.A. must demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language. Those opting for a Folklore minor in another Ph.D. program must complete only six courses. In their fourth semester, most students take a four-hour comprehensive exam that tests their understanding of folklore theory, history, and practice. The approximately 60 items on the list encompass key texts and monographs, articles, films, and sound recordings.
Students have the option of tailoring a section of the exam to their particular research interests.
Working closely with a thesis advisor and two readers, students typically complete their thesis within a year of finishing their three semesters of coursework. We do not require an oral defense.