Folklore Studies - MA, MS

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of English

Folklore Studies MA/MS

The Folklore Studies graduate program at Utah State University offers an interdisciplinary master’s degree (MA, MS) that allows students to focus on the study of folklore. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U. S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for is admission to and completion of the Folklore Studies graduate program. For up-to-date information, including advice for submitting a competitive application, refer to the Folklore Studies graduate program. For more comprehensive information about graduate programs in the English Department, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook. To apply, go to the graduate school admission page.

The GRE, MAT or GMAT are not required to be considered for the Folklore Studies graduate program. Applicants need to have a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in the last 60 credits taken in order to be considered. International applicants from non-English-speaking countries should see the additional requirements described on the Graduate School Admissions Policies.

Due to its wide-ranging interdisciplinary and cultural focus, the Folklore Studies program prepares students for a wide range of careers in education, museums, non-profits, public relations, marketing, government agencies, the arts, and more.

Foundation Courses: 6 credits (2 courses)

ENGL 6700 - Introduction to Folklore Studies 3 credit(s)
ENGL 6720 - Oral History and Fieldwork Methods 3 credit(s)

Folklore Elective Courses: 9 credits (3 courses)

Students may choose any of the following folklore courses, pending available course offerings:

ENGL 6710 - Space, Place and Folklore 3 credit(s)
ENGL 6740 - Folk Narrative 3 credit(s)
ENGL 6750 - Advanced Folklore Workshop: Fife Conference 3 credit(s)
ENGL 6760 - Folk Art, Traditional Art, and Material Culture 3 credit(s)
ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife 3 credit(s) (Repeatable for credit)
ENGL 6900 - Graduate Internship 1-15 credit(s)

Open Elective Courses: 9-12 credits, depending on thesis option (3-4 courses)

For electives, students may choose any graduate courses offered within the English department, including folklore classes. Students may also take one elective course from outside the English Department, with approval from the Folklore Program chair and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Students who decide to complete a Plan B thesis must take 9 credits of open elective courses (3 courses).

Students who decide to complete a Plan A thesis must take 6 credits of open elective courses (2 courses).

Thesis Credits: 3-6 credits, depending on thesis option

Students must choose to complete either a Plan A or a Plan B thesis. Students who decide to complete a Plan B thesis must register for 3 credits of thesis work. Students who decide to complete a Plan A thesis must register for 6 credits of thesis work.

The Folklore program strongly encourages students to complete a Plan B thesis.

Plan B: For a Plan B thesis, students must write a single research paper that is modeled on a publishable journal article. For the Folklore program, the minimum page requirement for a Plan B thesis is 25 pages, although most tend to be 30-50 pages. The length of a Plan B thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.

Plan A: For a Plan A thesis, students must write an extensive research project that consists of several chapters. For the Folklore program, a Plan A thesis must be a minimum of 50 pages, although most tend to be 50-100 pages. The length of a Plan A thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.

NOTE: Students who wish to complete a Plan A thesis must complete their thesis proposal defense by April 15 during the second semester in the program. Students who do not complete a thesis proposal defense by this date will not be eligible to complete a Plan A thesis and must complete a Plan B thesis.

Requirements for MA/MS Degree in Folklore Studies

Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades lower than a B- will not be accepted for a Folklore Studies graduate degree.

The Program of Study for the Folklore Studies master’s degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. Refer to degree requirements above for more information. To count toward degree requirements, courses numbered below 6000 must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and Supervisory Committee chair.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.

In addition to the minimum 30 credits of coursework, Plan A Masters students must take Responsible Conduct of Research training, a brief online training on ethical conduct in research that the university requires.

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

At least 24-semester credits for the Folklore Studies master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.

All Folklore Studies graduate students must successfully defend their thesis and submit the thesis to the library. An oral defense typically takes place in the last semester of study. For details on the thesis writing and defense process, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook.

A graduate student in Folklore Studies will be required to complete the following academic forms during their time of study:

Supervisory Committee
Program of Study

Thesis/Project Approval
Appointment for Examination
Record of Examination
SGS and library review and approval
Other forms may be required; for details refer to the Graduate Program Handbook.

Additional Requirements for MA Degree

To obtain an MA (Master of Arts) degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Students in Folklore Studies must pass a language requirement in order to receive an MA degree. Without a foreign language, students will receive an MS (Master of Science).

The language requirement for the MA degree may be completed in the following ways:

Test: Pass a test of written and oral comprehension in an approved foreign language through the Department of Language, Philosophy, and Communication Studies at Utah State University.

Coursework: Students may satisfy the requirement through one of the following forms of coursework:

Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020 level or higher (or its equivalent)

Demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level (or its equivalent) in one language and the 2020-level (or its equivalent) for the other

Complete an upper-division (3000-level or higher or the equivalent) in a foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Note: Conversation courses do not satisfy this requirement.

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree or who have passed coursework in a foreign language within the past five years from the date of matriculation into the Folklore Studies program may petition for acceptance of coursework to fulfill the language requirement for the MA degree. Please see the English Department’s Director of Graduate Studies for more information.