Where to Study Folklore

A number of universities have folklore studies departments, programs, or centers that offer coursework leading to PhD or MA degrees, or BA-level majors or minors. Since many faculty and students at these programs do fieldwork in the regions where their university is located, these programs can also be good sources for information about local folk traditions.

To begin to learn about these folklore departments, programs, and centers, click on the links below. 

Remember that in planning your education a web search is not enough; you should follow up by making personal contact with faculty members and department administrators to learn the specific circumstances, strengths, and opportunities of the departments that interest you. Remember, too, that many folklorists can be found outside institutions that offer undergraduate majors, minors, or graduate degrees. Search our Find an Expert database to find a folklorist near you, or contact us for more guidance. Looking for ways to support younger learners? Check out the resources offered by Local Learning.

	PhD*	MA**	UGrad***
Arkansas State University			✔
Cape Breton University			✔
Dallas International University	✔	✔	✔
Fairmont State University			✔
George Mason University		✔	✔
The George Washington University	✔	✔	✔
Georgia State University		✔	✔
Goucher College		✔
Harvard University			✔
Idaho State University			✔
Indiana University	✔	✔	✔
Memorial University of Newfoundland	✔	✔	✔
Missouri State University			✔
The Ohio State University	✔	✔	✔
Pennsylvania State University	✔	✔
Texas A&M University		✔
Truman State University			✔
Université Laval	✔	✔
University of Alberta	✔	✔	✔
University of California at Berkeley	✔	✔
University of California at Los Angeles	✔	✔
University of Hawai’i at Manoa	✔	✔	✔
University of Kentucky			✔
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	✔	✔	✔
University of Missouri			✔
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	✔	✔	✔
University of Oregon	✔	✔	✔
University of Southern California			✔
University of Sudbury/Université de Sudbury			✔
University of Texas at Austin	✔	✔
University of Wisconsin	✔		✔
Utah State University		✔	✔
Virginia Tech		✔
Western Kentucky University		✔	✔

*Universities that offer PhDs in foklore studies or PhD-level concentration in folklore studies
**Universities that offer masters degrees in folklore studies or MA-level concentration in folklore studies
***Universities with undergraduate majors, minors, and/or concentrations in folklore studies