Folklore is the discovery and understanding of everyday human culture: the patterns of ideas, behavior, music, dance, foodways, rituals, crafts, traditions, beliefs, lore, and customs of the everyday people that define our world.
Folklore is a discipline which crosses cultural borders and ethnic boundaries. It seeks to define the place of cultures and ethnicities within the family of humankind as well as examine and document how they intersect and influence each other. It builds bridges of understanding and is critical to our appreciation of how the world works, and how we use traditional knowledge to meet new challenges.
Folklore students will gain fresh perspectives on the ethnic, regional, occupational, gender, and other identities of individuals in specific communities. Students gain knowledge and experience in cultural backgrounds, collection techniques, fieldwork and research, theoretical analysis, and text comprehension and writing.
Folklore touches on every aspect of human life: health and illness, cultural diversity, social and political movements, superstition and fears, the movement of information and disinformation, trends and memes, family and home life, educational systems, entertainment and creative arts, politics and government, fashion and design, gender and sexuality, events and festivals, and more.
Training in folklore and folkloristic practices is useful in careers in the arts, public history, preservation, and museum stewardship, but also in health and medicine, social work, education, law, politics and intelligence, psychology, anthropology, marketing, the nonprofit sector, journalism, gaming, international business, tourism, and much more.
How to Get in
Students must make an appointment with or email the undergraduate advisor to declare the certificate.
Requirements
A total of 12 credits to complete the Certificate, to include:1
Category A: Basics, Fieldwork, Documenting, and Preserving
One course and three credits are required, from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/GNS 200 | Folklore of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 230 | Introduction to American Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 320 | Folklore of Wisconsin | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 439 | Foodways | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/L I S 490 | Field Methods and the Public Presentation of Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/COM ARTS 522 | Digital Storytelling for Social Media | 3 |
Category B: Analysis and Focused Topics
One course and three credits are required, from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 103 | Introduction to Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 104 | Sacred Places and Journeys | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/AFRICAN 210 | The African Storyteller | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/ANTHRO/INTL ST/LINGUIS 211 | Global Language Issues | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 215 | Elementary Topics in Folklore | 1-3 |
| FOLKLORE 220 | The Folk Tale | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 225 | Horror as Expressions of National Angst | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MEDIEVAL/SCAND ST 235 | The World of Sagas | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 315 | Intermediate Topics in Folklore | 1-3 |
| FOLKLORE 317 | The Irish Tradition | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/AFROAMER/ASIAN AM/DANCE 319 | Afro Asian Improv: From Hip Hop to Martial Arts Fusion | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 326 | The Supernatural in the Modern World | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/LITTRANS 327 | Vampires | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST/SCAND ST 342 | Nordic Mythology | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/LITTRANS/MEDIEVAL/SCAND ST 345 | The Nordic Storyteller | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/LITTRANS 347 | In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | 3-4 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 352 | Shamanism | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 399 | Directed Study in Folklore for Undergraduates | 1-3 |
| FOLKLORE 415 | Advanced Topics in Folklore | 1-3 |
| FOLKLORE/GEN&WS 428 | Gender and Expressive Culture | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 430 | Topics in American Folklore: Ethnic Studies | 3-6 |
| FOLKLORE/SCAND ST 440 | Scandinavian American Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/SCAND ST 443 | Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | 4 |
| FOLKLORE/MEDIEVAL/SCAND ST 446 | Celtic-Scandinavian Cultural Interrelations | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 460 | Folk Epics | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 515 | Proseminar in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 516 | Ethnographic Methods for Music and Sound | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 530 | Topics in Folklore | 1-3 |
| FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest | 3 |
| ANTHRO 237 | Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean | 3 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO/LINGUIS 430 | Language and Culture | 3-4 |
| GNS/ENVIR ST 210 | Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe | 3 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- At least 6 certificate credits must be completed in residence.
- Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
- 1
Courses taken on a Pass/Fail grading basis are not eligible, and do not count, in the Certificate.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate skill in the methods and productions folklorists employ in their work.
- Analyze the connections between expressive performances and the wider workings of culture.
- Apply and engage in ethical considerations in research and collaborative practice, particularly with reference to cultural, economic, religious, ethnic, and gender diversity.
Advising and Careers
Students should contact the undergraduate advisor to declare the certificate.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students