← Folklore Program (FOLKLORE)

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

Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.

An 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

Explores 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 2026

Introductory 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 2025

The 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 2026

Introduction 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 2026

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 2026