Oral Traditions is a 36-credit Master of Arts degree program that examines the profound impact of spoken language on the individual and culture. Participants explore the relationship between oral traditions and the physiological, psychological, emotional, and spiritual realities that they convey. Emphasis is placed on personal and group mythology and on understanding the way that story archetypes function in human consciousness and behavior. The program draws upon resources in the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology, theatre, mythology and folklore, children’s literature, and linguistics to connect the study of the spoken word with its historical and cultural origins and contexts.

"We are our stories. We compress years of experience, thought, and emotion into a few compact narratives that we convey to others and tell to ourselves." -Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Why Oral Traditions?

Since their earliest appearance, well before the invention of reading or writing, oral traditions have served as humankind’s principal tool for maintaining life and promoting culture. Storytelling persists as a fundamental communications technology even in the present day, where it forms the foundation of electronic and print media, the internet, and other digital forms of interaction. From the very beginning oral traditions have been the primary source for transporting ideas and building enterprise. In a word, storytelling is the core of creating new realities.

Just how big is oral tradition? This essential and versatile communications medium is the principal force that connects our inner reality with expression in the outer world. Oral traditions have the power to bridge cultural differences, foster co-creativity and collaboration, and enable individuals across all walks of life to cultivate effective communication and leadership skills. The transdisciplinary study undertaken in the M.A. in Oral Traditions equips colleagues with many tools for understanding how the spoken word and the development of voice support their social consciousness and ability to effect change.

Who can enroll in Oral Traditions?

One of the astonishing aspects of Oral Traditions is that it is a field of study relevant to everyone. Why? Because the spoken word is a major force in developing personal identity. For those who are especially interested in fostering this connection and understanding how orality affects their sense of self, the M.A. in Oral Traditions offers a unique and unprecedented opportunity.

This program addresses the interests of engaged thinkers in every field –teachers, coaches, writers, librarians, business professionals, actors, storytellers, and more. Program participants are introduced to powerful oral and aural (listening) techniques that help them develop more effective communication skills. The program provides a comprehensive immersion in oral traditions that encompasses both personal and cultural aspects of language, aesthetics, and storytelling. It encourages wholly different ways of thinking, knowing, and communicating.

• Click here to view cohorts now enrolling. 
   
• Click here to view selected texts from this program in our amazon.com bookstore.
   
• Click here to link to Oral Tradition, the peer reviewed journal founded and edited by the Academic Director of Oral Traditions, John Miles Foley.

 Click here to visit the Connecticut Storytelling Center