Folklore Studies Minor FSU College of Liberal Arts
The study of folklore and folklife involves examination and analysis of traditional expressive culture in all its forms, including oral and material. In every society, agricultural and industrial, rural and urban, folklore is a vital part of life. In higher education, then, since folklore is a study of the humanist expression which is typically transmitted by tradition, it is related to all departments that deal with literature, art, and music. Since folklore also deals with the entire traditional culture of mankind as manifested in customs and beliefs, it has close affiliations with anthropology, psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, linguistics, design, and pedagogy.
This 19 hour interdisciplinary academic minor, which can be attached to most liberal arts majors, is housed in the Department of Language and Literature under the College of Liberal Arts and is part of The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University.
Courses:
| Folk 2200 - | Introduction to Folklore Learning Community: Sciences and Culture in the Heart of Appalachia |
| Folk 2201 - | Lab field Research/Oral History Techniques |
| Folk 3300 - | Folk Literature |
| Folk 3301 - | Material Culture |
| Folk 3302 - | Regional Cultural Geography and History |
| Folk 4400*- | Directed Folklore Study Appalachian African-American Lore Appalachian (Regional/Written) Literature Study Archives/Collections Management Arthuran Legend:Comparative Folk Literature Study Children's Folklore Culture as Education Ethnolography and Process and Storytelling Folk Arts Folk Dance Museum Studies Rural Education Traditional Folk Music: Vocal and Instrumental Urban and Popular Culture Vintage Clothing Preservation West Virginia Literature World Tale |
| Folk 4401 - | Folklore Applications |
* Note: If an existing course is available on campus reflecting any of these topics, a sutdent may opt to take it, with the approval of the Folklore Studies advisor.
Dr. Judy P. Byers and Mr. Noel W. Tenney are the principle instructors in the program with faculty associates from such disciplines as Language and Literature, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Technology, Recreation, and Education. Dr. Byers is the Director of The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center and Mr. Tenney is the Folk Cultural Specialist for the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.
