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:

 Category B: Analysis and Focused Topics

One course and three credits are required, from:

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

1. Demonstrate skill in the methods and productions folklorists employ in their work.
2. Analyze the connections between expressive performances and the wider workings of culture.
3. 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, Joanna Schuth (jschuth@wisc.edu) to declare the certificate.

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