Medieval and Folklore Studies

[Ms Teatime]

Hello -- new to this forum -- and quite premature, too, as I am only entering UC Berkeley in January 2011 for my BA in English. I should graduate in 3 or 4 semesters I think.

Anyway, I was just curious to see if anyone here was also interested in Medieval/Renaissance studies AND folklore studies. I'm interesting in getting a PhD in English with an emphasis in the former. But I am very interested in folklore as well. I have a strong sense -- more like a compulsion sometimes -- that "the keys to the answers I am looking for lie in _______ discipline!" (Insert paleography/historical linguistics/history of science/history of the Bible/etc./but mostly folklore.)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, from Medievalists or Folklorists or anybody. No matter how much Googling I do, I'm still going to feel terribly uninformed until I actually hear from real people.

[poco_puffs]

I'm not specializing in either of those areas, though Medieval History was my thing for undergraduate. Anyway, I'm heading to University of Oregon this fall, and they have specialized programs in both Folklore and Medieval Studies, especially the latter. In fact, at the visiting week this last spring, I couldn't walk 5 feet at the department functions without running into a Medievalist. The people who were considering the program at UO were weighing it thoughtfully against lots of other colleges, including big name universities over on the East coat, so I assume it has a good reputation for those specialties.

Edited August 8, 2010 by poco_puffs

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

I'll second University of Oregon, I'm applying there for 2011 as well (and I'm an aspiring medievalist).

Many schools that have strong medieval departments also have some folklore concentrations - my recommendation to you, if you want to be a medievalist, is look for good, strong programs in medieval lit (you may look at my signature for ideas, every single school listed has a phenomenal medieval program - obviously there are many more out there, but the ones below suit my particular research interests in Arthurian lit / Medieval Studies secondary field) and then cross-reference with schools that offer a secondary PhD or PhD minor in folklore (I can understand the attraction - as a budding Arthurian scholar, lots of cross-references with folklore occur in medieval literature).

I'm assuming you already have your 2 years of gen ed, if you're planning to graduate from Berkeley in 3-4 semesters? (good luck, btw). Take A LOT of medieval lit classes, obviously, but also some folklore, and try to write as many research papers that cross those fields - and there's your writing sample ).

Good luck!

[wreckofthehope]

Hello -- new to this forum -- and quite premature, too, as I am only entering UC Berkeley in January 2011 for my BA in English. I should graduate in 3 or 4 semesters I think.

Anyway, I was just curious to see if anyone here was also interested in Medieval/Renaissance studies AND folklore studies. I'm interesting in getting a PhD in English with an emphasis in the former. But I am very interested in folklore as well. I have a strong sense -- more like a compulsion sometimes -- that "the keys to the answers I am looking for lie in _______ discipline!" (Insert paleography/historical linguistics/history of science/history of the Bible/etc./but mostly folklore.)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, from Medievalists or Folklorists or anybody. No matter how much Googling I do, I'm still going to feel terribly uninformed until I actually hear from real people.

If I remember correctly, when I looked into their faculty, it seemed like the University of Maryland College Park possibly have strengths in both areas? Mediaeval stuff tends to pass me by as it's the opposite end of the time spectrum to my interests, but I usually notice folklorists as my MA is partly focused on myth.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

If I remember correctly, when I looked into their faculty, it seemed like the University of Maryland College Park possibly have strengths in both areas? Mediaeval stuff tends to pass me by as it's the opposite end of the time spectrum to my interests, but I usually notice folklorists as my MA is partly focused on myth.

Maryland is unfortunately not very strong in Medieval (I thought of applying there, since I lived in north VA for so long and know the area so well). I don't know about folklore, though.

[Medievalmaniac]

Ahhhhh.... a girl after my own heart. Like Branwen, I am also a medievalist specializing primarily in Arthurian/Celtic matters, but I also work very extensively in mythography and folklore.

I cannot imagine that someone with a double-interest in medieval studies and in folklore studies and the ability to travel pretty much anywhere would not look at Ohio State, for starters; also, Oregon. You can look at doing work at George Mason and completing a dual degree via the consortium, which gives you the option of completing coursework at Maryland College Park, Catholic and American Universities as well; WUSTL  has strong professors in Medieval and Renaissance (David Lawton, Joe Loewenstein, Steven Zwicker). Memorial University in Newfoundland, believe it or not; the bonus there is Bill Schipper in Anglo-Saxon studies. One thing you need to watch out for is that a lot of the folklore programs that lead to degrees focus in American studies. Overseas (for example, UCC Dublin) is a good bet for folklore that deals with more medieval-y sorts of matter; but of course there's the dicey question of the degree's "worth" in America if you choose to return here to work - there are threads about that on this forum if you search for them.

Hope that gets you started, anyway!

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Isn't Mason an MA only program? Since they're my Alma, I looked at their programs, and I don't remember a PhD available (GW does, of course...)

[Medievalmaniac]

Isn't Mason an MA only program? Since they're my Alma, I looked at their programs, and I don't remember a PhD available (GW does, of course...)

Yes, Mason is an MA program but some good courses there; you could go to GW for the PhD and take Mason courses via the consortium.

[redread]

Glad to find fellow Medievalists on here. I'm starting my MA at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo this fall to study Medieval literature (focusing more on the Anglo-Saxon OE side of things, though I do thoroughly enjoy working with Middle English). I hadn't really considered Western as an option--despite knowing that they hold the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies--and am looking forward to beginning this degree. I do not know if you're leaning toward an Arthurian or even Norse side of folklore, but I know that there are professors here who specialize in both.

Oregon State is another great option, but know that they do require the GRE Literature test. Purdue's Arthurian scholars and overall Medieval program was my top choice last year, and they are worth the application fee.

Good luck (and welcome to the dark side)!

Edited August 14, 2010 by redread

[poco_puffs]

Oregon State is another great option, but know that they do require the GRE Literature test.

Minor nitpick for the benefit of future applicants, but there's an important distinction to make between University of Oregon and Oregon State University. UO has the great English program with Medieval and Folklore programs within the department, and OSU is more of an agricultural, forestry, engineering, business school. I only make the point because I'm going from OSU, which has a rather minimal English program and no MA/PhD program for English students, to UO, which is much sunnier territory.

I, for one, am terrible with all other state schools. It causes no end of consternation when I talk with my boyfriend's father about sports teams, and I'm sure it will cause problems at conferences later in my career.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Minor nitpick for the benefit of future applicants, but there's an important distinction to make between University of Oregon and Oregon State University. UO has the great English program with Medieval and Folklore programs within the department, and OSU is more of an agricultural, forestry, engineering, business school. I only make the point because I'm going from OSU, which has a rather minimal English program and no MA/PhD program for English students, to UO, which is much sunnier territory.

I, for one, am terrible with all other state schools. It causes no end of consternation when I talk with my boyfriend's father about sports teams, and I'm sure it will cause problems at conferences later in my career.

I'm applying to U of O - excellent program. Oregon State, however, I've never heard of their English dept. Meaning it's probably not that large.

[poco_puffs]

I'm applying to U of O - excellent program. Oregon State, however, I've never heard of their English dept. Meaning it's probably not that large.

I can affirm that the OSU English department is very small in scale and not really a "destination." In spite of that, there are some true gems in the faculty, and they have done a great job of hiring passionate young professors to fill the ranks. I spoke with one of the young guns in the department a few years ago, before I started the application process, and he made the point that OSU is great from a teaching/working perspective-- there is a great sense of teamwork, people aren't overloaded with students or courses, publishing and editing still happens at a pretty good clip, and there isn't that stress of "We must be the BEST." I can only hope to be so lucky to teach in a department like that someday, whether it be small or large.

Something I know that I'll have to get used to at my new school is the fact that their English department IS a destination. It's not the underfunded underdog, like it was at my old school. Instead of 200 English majors at the whole university there are whole armies of them, and dozens of graduate teaching fellows, and reading groups out the yin-yang. I'll have to re-align my sense of under-represented persecution, since I won't be such an academic outcast anymore

Edited August 15, 2010 by poco_puffs