Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.
Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
6 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
Intermediate course exploring various topics in folklore, folklife, myth, foodways, or music. Students synthesize information and communicate via essays and presentations.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to Folklore surveys US and global traditions, examining how beliefs, songs, stories, sayings, dances, festivals, and artifacts address identity, authenticity, and authority.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · B. Marcus Cederstrom
The workload included a few papers and a final project, which students found to be manageable.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026The African Storyteller explores oral tradition, the written word, story composition, performer-audience dynamics, and tradition transmission in African societies.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Matthew Brown
One student reported a lot of busy work, while another noted that the midterm was fairly difficult and grading became stricter as the semester progressed.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory ethnomusicology course exploring global musics beyond standard music history through active engagement in larger world contexts.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Erin Brooks
There was almost no homework, and students found that simply showing up to class and preparing for each midterm was sufficient to achieve a good grade.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2025Explores the development of the vampire legend in folklore, literature, cinema, television, and popular culture in relation to colonization, race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Benjamin Mier-Cruz
There was lots of material, though attendance was required for some graded assignments and extra credit options.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026An examination of mythology, literature, ritual, and religion from Nordic areas and Scandinavia, focusing on pre-Christian beliefs and medieval folklore.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Scott Mellor
The course required heavy reading and assignments, with grades often dependent on essays that students described as difficult to master.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025