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Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology

Bachelor of Arts in Folklore and Ethnomusicology

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements FOLKBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Folklore and Ethnomusicology includes the study of performance, specific cultures and regions, human diversity and worldview, and research methods. Folklore and ethnomusicology emphasize fieldwork methods to learn how societies function. Fieldwork involves documenting and learning about people's lives, expressions, and beliefs in context. Through the study of different social groups and cultures, students gain skills in observation, analysis, documentation, reporting, and multicultural understanding. The major prepares students for a range of careers, including those involving the arts, education, historic preservation, communication, cross-cultural understanding, and human diversity and relations. Upon entering the program, the student and undergraduate advisor plan an individualized program of study. Majors may focus on either ethnomusicology or folklore, or a combination of the two.

Folklore is the study of the world's expressive culture; the study of art in culture. Folklorists study tradition and innovation, looking at both groups and individuals, by focusing on creativity in everyday life, including customs, celebration, festivals, stories, jokes, dance, architecture, food, car art, and body art. Ethnomusicology is the study of music of all types and from all cultures. Ethnomusicologists not only listen to the sounds of music, but also explore the roles of music in human life and analyze relationships between music and culture.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Methods and Theories. One (1) course:
    • FOLK-F 401 Methods and Theories
  2. Advanced Seminar. One (1) course:
    • FOLK-F 497 Advanced Seminar
  3. Electives.
    1. 300–399 Level Electives. Two (2) courses:
      • FOLK-E 302 Music in African Life
      • FOLK-E 303 Zimbabwean Mbira Performance Ensemble
      • FOLK-E 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
      • FOLK-E 388 Motown
      • FOLK-E 394 Survey of African American Music
      • FOLK-F 301 African Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 305 Asian Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 307 Middle Eastern Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 308 Middle Eastern and Arab Mythology
      • FOLK-F 312 European Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 314 Irish Folklore
      • FOLK-F 315 Latin American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 316 Caribbean Arts and Cultures
      • FOLK-F 320 Pacific Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 330 Folk Culture and Related Fields
      • FOLK-F 351 North American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 352 Native American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 353 Native American Film and Video
      • FOLK-F 354 African American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 356 Chicano Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 357 American Jewish Popular Music
      • FOLK-F 358 Jewish Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 359 Exploring Jewish Identity Today
      • FOLK-F 360 Indiana Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 361 Traditional Arts Indiana: Documenting Indiana Traditions
      • FOLK-F 363 Women's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 364 Children's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 365 American Regional Cultures
      • FOLK-F 367 Folklore of the South
      • FOLK-F 368 Folklore and Science of Childhood
      • FOLK-F 369 Aliens, Psychics, and Ghosts
      • FOLK-F 370 Memory, Art, and Aging: Life Stories and the Expressive Lives of Elders
      • FOLK-F 377 Popular Culture and Politics in the Middle East
      • FOLK-F 399 Readings for Honors
    2. 400–499 Level Electives. One (1) course:
      • FOLK-E 407 Applied Ethnomusicology and Folklore: Media Productions
      • FOLK-E 496 African American Religious Music
      • FOLK-F 404 Topics in Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 405 Studying Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 406 Museum Practice in Folklore Studies
      • FOLK-F 410 Multimedia in Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 420 Forms of Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 430 Folklore and Related Disciplines
      • FOLK-F 440 Folklife and Material Culture Studies
      • FOLK-F 450 Music in Religious Thought and Experience
      • FOLK-F 492 Traditional Musical Instruments
      • FOLK-F 494 Transcription and Analysis of Traditional Music
      • FOLK-F 499 Honors Thesis
      • FOLK-X 402 Traditional Arts Indiana
      • FOLK-X 476 Museum Practicum in Folklore
      • FOLK-X 477 Field Experience in Folklore/Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-X 490 Individual Study in Folklore
    3. 300–499 Level Electives. One (1) additional course:
      • FOLK-E 302 Music in African Life
      • FOLK-E 303 Zimbabwean Mbira Performance Ensemble
      • FOLK-E 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
      • FOLK-E 388 Motown
      • FOLK-E 394 Survey of African American Music
      • FOLK-E 407 Applied Ethnomusicology and Folklore: Media Productions
      • FOLK-E 496 African American Religious Music
      • FOLK-F 301 African Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 305 Asian Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 307 Middle Eastern Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 308 Middle Eastern and Arab Mythology
      • FOLK-F 312 European Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 314 Irish Folklore
      • FOLK-F 315 Latin American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 316 Caribbean Arts and Cultures
      • FOLK-F 320 Pacific Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 330 Folk Culture and Related Fields
      • FOLK-F 351 North American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 352 Native American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 353 Native American Film and Video
      • FOLK-F 354 African American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 356 Chicano Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 357 American Jewish Popular Music
      • FOLK-F 358 Jewish Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 359 Exploring Jewish Identity Today
      • FOLK-F 360 Indiana Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 361 Traditional Arts Indiana: Documenting Indiana Traditions
      • FOLK-F 363 Women's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 364 Children's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 365 American Regional Cultures
      • FOLK-F 367 Folklore of the South
      • FOLK-F 368 Folklore and Science of Childhood
      • FOLK-F 369 Aliens, Psychics, and Ghosts
      • FOLK-F 370 Memory, Art, and Aging: Life Stories and the Expressive Lives of Elders
      • FOLK-F 377 Popular Culture and Politics in the Middle East
      • FOLK-F 399 Readings for Honors
      • FOLK-F 404 Topics in Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 405 Studying Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 406 Museum Practice in Folklore Studies
      • FOLK-F 410 Multimedia in Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 420 Forms of Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 430 Folklore and Related Disciplines
      • FOLK-F 440 Folklife and Material Culture Studies
      • FOLK-F 450 Music in Religious Thought and Experience
      • FOLK-F 492 Traditional Musical Instruments
      • FOLK-F 494 Transcription and Analysis of Traditional Music
      • FOLK-F 499 Honors Thesis
      • FOLK-X 402 Traditional Arts Indiana
      • FOLK-X 476 Museum Practicum in Folklore
      • FOLK-X 477 Field Experience in Folklore/Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-X 490 Individual Study in Folklore
    4. Free Elective. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements
      • FOLK-E 112 Black Music of Two Worlds
      • FOLK-E 114 Music, Identity and Social Life: Performance and Community Action
      • FOLK-E 151 Global Pop Music
      • FOLK-E 250 Ethnomusicology and the Humanities
      • FOLK-E 251 Ethnomusicology and the Social Sciences
      • FOLK-E 290 Music and Violence
      • FOLK-E 295 Survey of Hip Hop
      • FOLK-E 297 Popular Music of Black America
      • FOLK-E 302 Music in African Life
      • FOLK-E 303 Zimbabwean Mbira Performance Ensemble
      • FOLK-E 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
      • FOLK-E 388 Motown
      • FOLK-E 394 Survey of African American Music
      • FOLK-E 407 Applied Ethnomusicology and Folklore: Media Productions
      • FOLK-E 496 African American Religious Music
      • FOLK-E 250 Ethnomusicology and the Humanities
      • FOLK-E 251 Ethnomusicology and the Social Sciences
      • FOLK-E 290 Music and Violence
      • FOLK-E 295 Survey of Hip Hop
      • FOLK-E 297 Popular Music of Black America
      • FOLK-F 101 Introduction to Folklore
      • FOLK-F 111 World Music and Culture
      • FOLK-F 121 World Arts and Cultures
      • FOLK-F 131 Folklore in the United States
      • FOLK-F 141 Urban Legend
      • FOLK-F 205 Folklore in Video and Film
      • FOLK-F 210 Myth, Legend, and Popular Science
      • FOLK-F 215 Folklore, Health, and Illness
      • FOLK-F 225 Forms of Commemoration
      • FOLK-F 230 Music in Social Movements
      • FOLK-F 235 Personal Narratives: A Course in Folklore and Literature
      • FOLK-F 252 Folklore and the Humanities
      • FOLK-F 253 Folklore and the Social Sciences
      • FOLK-F 256 The Supernatural and Folklore
      • FOLK-F 275 Indigenous Worldviews
      • FOLK-F 290 Myth, Ritual, Symbol
      • FOLK-F 301 African Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 305 Asian Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 307 Middle Eastern Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 308 Middle Eastern and Arab Mythology
      • FOLK-F 312 European Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 314 Irish Folklore
      • FOLK-F 315 Latin American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 316 Caribbean Arts and Cultures
      • FOLK-F 320 Pacific Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 330 Folk Culture and Related Fields
      • FOLK-F 351 North American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 352 Native American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 353 Native American Film and Video
      • FOLK-F 354 African American Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 356 Chicano Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 357 American Jewish Popular Music
      • FOLK-F 358 Jewish Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 359 Exploring Jewish Identity Today
      • FOLK-F 360 Indiana Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 361 Traditional Arts Indiana: Documenting Indiana Traditions
      • FOLK-F 363 Women's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 364 Children's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 365 American Regional Cultures
      • FOLK-F 367 Folklore of the South
      • FOLK-F 368 Folklore and Science of Childhood
      • FOLK-F 369 Aliens, Psychics, and Ghosts
      • FOLK-F 370 Memory, Art, and Aging: Life Stories and the Expressive Lives of Elders
      • FOLK-F 377 Popular Culture and Politics in the Middle East
      • FOLK-F 399 Readings for Honors
      • FOLK-F 404 Topics in Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 405 Studying Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 406 Museum Practice in Folklore Studies
      • FOLK-F 410 Multimedia in Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-F 420 Forms of Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music
      • FOLK-F 430 Folklore and Related Disciplines
      • FOLK-F 440 Folklife and Material Culture Studies
      • FOLK-F 450 Music in Religious Thought and Experience
      • FOLK-F 492 Traditional Musical Instruments
      • FOLK-F 494 Transcription and Analysis of Traditional Music
      • FOLK-F 499 Honors Thesis
      • FOLK-X 402 Traditional Arts Indiana
      • FOLK-X 476 Museum Practicum in Folklore
      • FOLK-X 477 Field Experience in Folklore/Ethnomusicology
      • FOLK-X 490 Individual Study in Folklore
      • Up to two (2) of the following:
        • AAAD-A 112 Black Music of Two Worlds
        • AAAD-A 290 Sociocultural Perspective of African American Music
        • AAAD-A 292 African American Folklore
        • AAAD-A 295 Survey of Hip Hop
        • AAAD-A 297 Popular Music of Black America
        • AAAD-A 345 Hip Hop Music and Culture
        • AAAD-A 496 Black Religious Music
        • CEUS-R 349 Topics in Hungarian Studies
        • CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology
  4. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the FOLK subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the major:

  • No more than six (6) credit hours of the following courses may count toward the major:
    • FOLK-E 112 Black Music of Two Worlds
    • FOLK-E 114 Music, Identity and Social Life: Performance and Community Action
    • FOLK-E 151 Global Pop Music
    • FOLK-F 101 Introduction to Folklore
    • FOLK-F 111 World Music and Culture
    • FOLK-F 121 World Arts and Cultures
    • FOLK-F 131 Folklore in the United States
    • FOLK-F 141 Urban Legend

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Minor in Folklore and Ethnomusicology (FOLKMIN)
  • [Name unavailable] (FLKCRT-TMP)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.