Folklore and Public Culture Program

The Folklore and Public Culture Program at University of Oregon is one of a few major centers of folkloristic research in the US. Students study the ways tradition continues to enrich human behavior throughout the world and gain fresh perspectives on the ethnic, regional, occupational, gender, and other identities of individuals in specific communities.

What You Can Do with a Degree in Folklore and Public Culture

Theoretical analyses, research methods, and fieldwork techniques are integral parts of the folklore and public culture curriculum and provide students with a foundation for employment in:

  • Colleges and universities
  • Research institutes
  • Museums and archives
  • State and local government
  • Arts councils
  • Arts festivals
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Libraries and special collections
  • Historical preservation societies
  • New media, online media, newspapers and magazines

Our Degree Programs

Students in folklore and public culture can pursue a bachelor of arts, master of arts, or master of science degree. An undergraduate minor is also available. Courses cover an extensive range of interdisciplinary topics including cultural heritage, ethnicity, subcultures, popular culture, performance, gender, film, religion, public folklore, and issues of diversity and globalization.

 

Groups of people sitting at tables at a convention with projector screen in background
Learn from Experts in the Field

With more than 30 core and participating faculty, the students in the Folklore and Public Culture Program have access to an interdisciplinary range of subjects and expertise, allowing them to create a focused course of study in their areas of interest.

photo of students wearing backpacks hiking in a ocean grass toward a by with mountains in the distance
Get Real-world Experience

Our students extend their learning beyond the classroom through numerous experiential learning opportunities. Immerse yourself in another culture while studying abroad, develop vital job skills in an internship, or conduct original research on a topic that sparks your interest.

Scholarships and Funding

Students can apply for scholarships and awards from the Folklore and Public Culture Program and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Undergraduate Scholarships    
Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our academic advisors can help students understand their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study abroad opportunities, and more.

Undergraduate Advising     
Support for Graduate Students

Folklore and Public Culture Program News and Events

Through fellowships, the Oregon Humanities Center at the University of Oregon works to promote innovative humanities research produced by faculty members at the UO. The fellowships are for tenure-track faculty and are awarded on an annual basis. The 2025-26 fellows include CAS faculty members in the Divisions of Humanities and Social Sciences.
FOLKLORE AND PUBLIC CULTURE - Nearly 50 years after his death, Steve Prefontaine still motivates Eugene and University of Oregon runners to honor him. Professor Daniel Wojcik remembers running with the iconic runner in the May-June issue of CAS Connection.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, FOLKLORE AND PUBLIC CULTURE - After a recent week in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, five UO graduate students have returned ready to use what they learned to help local communities plan for a more sustainable future.

All news »


POTUS or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Feb23
POTUS or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive Feb 23 Miller Theatre Complex
Physical Chemistry Seminar Series - What’s spin got to do with it? Using organic semiconductors to manipulate spin for novel high-efficiency electronics   
Feb24
Physical Chemistry Seminar Series - What’s spin got to do with it? Using organic semiconductors to manipulate spin for novel high-efficiency electronics    Feb 24 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Chinook Justice: A Survivance Journey—Native American and Indigenous Studies Research Colloquium
Feb24
Chinook Justice: A Survivance Journey—Native American and Indigenous Studies Research Colloquium Feb 24 Many Nations Longhouse
Composition Writing Lab Drop-In Hours
Feb24
Composition Writing Lab Drop-In Hours Feb 24 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Department of History Coffee Hour
Feb25
Department of History Coffee Hour Feb 25 McKenzie Hall
Disruption vs. Stability: Impacts on People and Policy Under a New Republican Majority
Feb25
Disruption vs. Stability: Impacts on People and Policy Under a New Republican Majority Feb 25 Ford Alumni Center
Catalysts for Impact Information Session
Feb26
Catalysts for Impact Information Session Feb 26 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Galapagos Info Session
Feb26
Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Galapagos Info Session Feb 26 Condon Hall
Public Lecture: Modern Japan through the Lens of Frank Lloyd Wright
Feb26
Public Lecture: Modern Japan through the Lens of Frank Lloyd Wright Feb 26 Straub Hall
Lecture and Book Launch: "Ghosts of a Holy War" by Yardena Schwartz
Feb26
Lecture and Book Launch: "Ghosts of a Holy War" by Yardena Schwartz Feb 26 Knight Library

All events »