COURSE CURRICULUM

The three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Folklore at Cape Breton University is designed to introduce students to the study of traditional and contemporary cultural expression through a structured progression of theory, fieldwork, and applied learning. In the first year, students take introductory courses in folklore along with general arts subjects, building foundational skills in communication, critical thinking, and understanding cultural traditions and expressive forms. The second year focuses on core folklore genres and methods, including oral traditions, storytelling, music, festivals, food culture, material culture, and urban legends, along with training in ethnographic research, interviewing, and cultural analysis. Students also begin to explore how folklore reflects identity, community values, and social change. In the third year, the program becomes more advanced and specialized, with courses emphasizing regional studies, particularly Atlantic Canadian traditions, as well as thematic areas such as gender, cultural tourism, performance, and contemporary cultural practices. Students also engage in applied fieldwork and independent research projects that involve documenting and analyzing living traditions in real community settings. Across all three years, the curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, research skills, and interdisciplinary thinking. Graduates develop strong abilities in analysis, writing, and field research, preparing them for careers in cultural heritage, museums, archives, media, tourism, and community-based work.