Hardest courses in Folklore Program

Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.

Lowest 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.

Find your fit

6 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.

#1 ·FOLKLORE 430

Topics in American Folklore: Ethnic Studies

3–6 credits

FOLKLORE 430 explores topics in historical and contemporary folklore and folklife focused on marginalized racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of B. Marcus Cederstrom: Reviewers describe Cederstrom as an easy grader who prioritizes content knowledge over strict grading standards.

Langston Wilkins

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2025

#2 ·FOLKLORE/MEDIEVAL/SCANDST 235

The World of Sagas

3 credits

Introduction to Icelandic sagas as a major body of early medieval vernacular literature.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Scott Mellor

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

#3 ·AFRICAN/FOLKLORE 210

The African Storyteller

3 credits

Explores African oral and written traditions, focusing on story composition, performer-audience dynamics, and cultural transmission.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Harold Scheub, Matthew Brown: Scheub required essay prep and strict attendance. Brown’s format used weekly online modules. Students reported varying experiences, from boring readings and busy work to lenient grading and clear instructions.

DIAMOND Urey Lyn Faakor Nutakor+3 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

#4 ·FOLKLORE 100

Introduction to Folklore

3 credits

Introduction to Folklore surveys global and US folklore, examining how cultural expressions address identity, authenticity, and authority.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of B. Marcus Cederstrom, Ruth Olson: Workload involves significant weekly reading, multiple papers, and large group projects. Grading can be strict, with one reviewer noting a high threshold for top grades.