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.

 

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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

GERMAN AND SCANDINAVIAN, FOLKLORE — How does an oral Yiddish folk story become what is perhaps the most famous of all modern Jewish literary fantasies? Associate Professor of Scandinavian Gantt Gurley's research on this very question about the legend of golem is illuminating.
FOLKLORE AND PUBLIC CULTURE — Alix Roederer-Morin, winter ’26, chose the folklore and public culture master's program at the University of Oregon because it’s one of the rare places in North America to offer an academic program in the field. It often leads students to unexpected areas of interest, such as analyzing car culture and creating a documentary about lowrider culture.
CINEMA STUDIES, IRES, COMPARATIVE LITERATURE, ENGLISH, NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES, FOLKLORE AND PUBLIC CULTURE — Filmlandia is a film series running during winter and spring 2026. Each term will feature seven film screenings that spotlight Oregon’s unmistakable cinematic fingerprints. The screenings are free and open to the public.

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Screening of "Singing for Justice" with Co-director Estelle Freedman
May11
Screening of "Singing for Justice" with Co-director Estelle Freedman May 11 Knight Library
Film Screening: "The Dawn is Too Far" with Filmmaker Persis Karim
May11
Film Screening: "The Dawn is Too Far" with Filmmaker Persis Karim May 11 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Eugene History Pub Lecture Series: "From Oregon to Qatar: A History of ‘Temporary’ Migrant Workers"
May11
Eugene History Pub Lecture Series: "From Oregon to Qatar: A History of ‘Temporary’ Migrant Workers" May 11 Whirled Pies Downtown
WGSS Presents: "Feminist Futures in Pasifika: Student and Community-Led Pathways to Decolonization, Intersectional Racial Justice, and Healing"
May12
WGSS Presents: "Feminist Futures in Pasifika: Student and Community-Led Pathways to Decolonization, Intersectional Racial Justice, and Healing" May 12 Knight Library
Dept. of History Pierson Lecture: "Speaking of Sexual Violence: Voices from Women’s Oral Histories in the Twentieth Century U.S."
May12
Dept. of History Pierson Lecture: "Speaking of Sexual Violence: Voices from Women’s Oral Histories in the Twentieth Century U.S." May 12 Gerlinger Hall
Part-Time Job & Work-Study Fair
May13
Part-Time Job & Work-Study Fair May 13 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Department of History Coffee Hour
May13
Department of History Coffee Hour May 13 McKenzie Hall
Creative Writing Reading Series Presents: V. Penelope Pelizzon
May14
Creative Writing Reading Series Presents: V. Penelope Pelizzon May 14 Knight Library
Quackademics: A Ducks' Guide to Dark Matter
May15
Quackademics: A Ducks' Guide to Dark Matter May 15
Schnitzer School Ring Lecture: Transnational Trashscapes
May15
Schnitzer School Ring Lecture: Transnational Trashscapes May 15 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA)

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