The study of folklore and folklife involves examination and analysis of traditional expressive culture in all its forms including verbal, musical, material, and customary. In every society, agricultural and industrial, rural and urban, folklore is a vital part of life. The discipline has close affinities with literature, anthropology, sociology, history, geography, linguistics, philosophy, ethnomusicology, and psychology. Students in our renowned Master of Arts program in Folk Studies take a core of courses that provide them with a firm grounding in the theories and methods of the field of folklore, preparing them for further study in folklore and/or a wide range of careers. In addition to core requirements, students choose from electives that suit their interests. The MA program is designed as a two-year program for full-time students, but we are happy to work with students who prefer to complete the program on a part-time basis over a longer period of time. We also offer a JUMP (Joint Undergraduate-Master's Program) for highly qualified and motivated undergraduates.<br><br>Interested in working hands-on with a community to showcase and support local culture Students in the Public Folklore concentration focus on creating effective public folklore products-festivals, school curricula, and other forms of public programming-in collaboration with communities. This option prepares students for careers in public folklore, jobs that engage with communities in a variety of ways, and permits individually planned programs (with advisor) stressing those combinations of course-related research, applied skills, and writing experiences that will best prepare them for their personal and professional goals. Students can choose to complete an internship with a public folklore program and/or to complete a capstone project or write a thesis.