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

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.

All news »


Jeremiah Public Symposium: Foodways in Early East Asia
Apr28
Jeremiah Public Symposium: Foodways in Early East Asia Apr 28 Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Dept. of History Seminar Series: “If the child dies, it will cost my life too, that cannot be avoided.” Suicide by Proxy, Social Discipline and the Psyche in Early Modern Germany
Apr28
Dept. of History Seminar Series: “If the child dies, it will cost my life too, that cannot be avoided.” Suicide by Proxy, Social Discipline and the Psyche in Early Modern Germany Apr 28 McKenzie Hall
Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr29
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 29 McKenzie Hall
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops
Apr29
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops Apr 29
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops 6-10
Apr29
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops 6-10 Apr 29
Department of History Presents: Screening of “The Devil’s Bath” and Talk with Kathy Stuart
Apr29
Department of History Presents: Screening of “The Devil’s Bath” and Talk with Kathy Stuart Apr 29 McKenzie Hall
"Nomad" Journal Release Party
Apr30
"Nomad" Journal Release Party Apr 30 Knight Library
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops
Apr30
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops Apr 30
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops 6-10
Apr30
NW-NALRC Community Project Planning and Development Workshops 6-10 Apr 30
Geography Colloquium Series: “Changing Disturbances, Ecological Legacies, and the Future of the Alaskan Boreal Forest"
Apr30
Geography Colloquium Series: “Changing Disturbances, Ecological Legacies, and the Future of the Alaskan Boreal Forest" Apr 30 Condon Hall

All events »