PhD in Folklore

Memorial University of Newfoundland is a public university located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as business, education, engineering, sciences, and humanities. The university is known for its research excellence, particularly in areas such as ocean sciences, environmental sustainability, and indigenous studies. It also has a strong focus on community engagement and offers a range of programs and services to support its students and the local community.

The only Anglophone university in Canada to offer comprehensive folklore programs at all levels, Memorial is also a vital part of its community - one steeped in unique lifestyles and traditions, and where the study and celebration of culture and heritage is considered crucial. This provides folklorists with rich opportunities for innovative community partnerships and learning experiences. In the 40 years since its creation, Memorial's Department of Folklore has built an international reputation as a thriving, imaginative, eclectic, and highly professional department. Ethnographic field research practices are fundamental to folklore studies. Excellent library and archive services are also available to graduate students, including the Folklore and Language Archive, the Centre for Material Culture Studies, and the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media, and Place. Training in folklore studies offers valuable preparation for careers in a variety of cultural enterprises, particularly those involving intangible cultural heritage. Graduates of our program teach at universities and colleges in many parts of North America and Europe, not only in folklore departments but also as interdisciplinary appointments in fields such as communications, dance ethnography, English, French, and women's studies. Not all have followed academic careers; our graduates have also gone on to work in museums, archives, print and broadcast media, public sector folklore, and arts administration. Description of programs Graduate diploma - Disciplinary graduate diplomas provide an opportunity to acquire additional academic credentials at the graduate level without committing to a full master’s program. These programs allow students to expand on their knowledge of a particular discipline and may also be used for professional development within their careers. MA – The MA program includes three options: 1) courses and comprehensive exam, 2) courses and thesis, and 3) courses and co-op education work term. The MA can normally be completed in two years of full-time study. PhD – The PhD program involves courses, a comprehensive exam, and a thesis. It can normally be completed in four years of full-time study.