Earning a mythology degree can be a rewarding and educational experience for students interested in working in academic fields related to writing or the arts. The first step toward achieving this degree is finding an accredited college or university that offers a mythology-related program and applying for admission. Once the student has been admitted to a program, he will need to complete a course of study and fulfill all degree requirements before being awarded a bachelor’s degree. Some mythology students continue post-graduate studies to earn a teaching certificate or master’s degree that will qualify them to teach at the post-secondary level.
Finding the right mythology degree program can be one of the biggest challenges facing prospective students. Not all colleges and universities offer majors or concentrations in this field, and the ones that do often combine mythology and folklore into one subject area. Other schools offer a major in classics that incorporates elements of Greek and Roman mythology, along with an in-depth study of the history and languages of the Classical Period. Colleges and universities that do not offer a these types of degrees may offer students a method of designing their own mythology degree with a combination of literature, history and anthropology coursework. Some prospective students may seek a more conventional liberal arts undergraduate degree such as English or anthropology before specializing in mythology as a graduate student.
Once a student has successfully enrolled in a mythology degree program, he will need to complete the program requirements before being rewarded with a degree. While the structure of the coursework depends largely on the institution and the department housing the mythology program, most undergraduate students will need to pass a series of literature and anthropology courses along with the department’s core curriculum. Some undergraduate English programs offer concentrations that allow students to specialize in literature courses related to mythology and folklore. Some students interested in mythology may choose to seek a minor in this subject area along with a more conventional business- or science-related major.
Students who are interested in researching or teaching mythology after college should consider seeking a graduate degree in this area. There are several colleges around the world that offer this course of study, with some placing a higher emphasis on folklore or regional mythology. A few of these programs allow students to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.