How to Become a Mythologist in India: Salary, Degree, Books, Courses, Scope

Mythology has been an inseparable part of India. With historically rich and diverse cultures, tales and whatnot, the field definitely piques the curiosity of many individuals and young minds. If you also have wondered about these ancient tales, epics, creation of the universe and studies about gods then mythology studies would definitely interest you. And if you wish to know more about how to become a mythologist in India, continue reading the blog. 

Who is a Mythologist?

A mythologist is an expert or a highly knowledgeable person in the field of mythology and possesses the ability to skillfully write myths. Mythology is a body or collection of myths belonging to people or addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors and heroes. 

Also Read: Cultural Anthropology

What Does a Mythologist Do?

The following are the roles and responsibilities of a mythologist:

• They conduct research and studies to provide an explanation of myths or legends whether natural or cultural 
• Some mythologists also oversee scholarly project work for validation and verification. They examine various mythic traditions, narratives and symbolic systems from different cultures and societies 
• Mythologists also conduct a deep analysis of the themes, motifs and archetypes present in myths and often participate in exploring their cultural, spiritual and psychological significance
• Their job also includes delving into primary and secondary sources to gather information about myths, cultures, ancient texts, folklore and traditions
• Exploring the cultural, historical and geographical context in which the myths emerge and often take into consideration the religious practices, environmental influences and social structure to get a deeper understanding of how myths function within a specific society 

How to Become a Mythologist?

The following are the steps to becoming a mythologist:

Secondary Education 

It is recommended to pursue social sciences and humanities subjects in your secondary-level education. This will help you to develop the basic and basal knowledge about various aspects in the history 

Higher Education 

For the undergraduate degree program, there are very few mythology-specific courses. Thus, you can choose to study a relative course such as Literature, Sociology, History, Anthropology, Linguistics, Archeology and many more 

For the postgraduate level of study, you can choose more specific courses that focus on fields like cultural studies, folklore, myths of creation, Hindu myths epics and more 

Field of Study 

Next, you would shift focus to research work conducted during your doctoral degree programs where you would be required to present your dissertation in front of a jury and you can also seek funding to continue your research work depending on your field of study related to mythology.

Job Opportunities

After completing your education, you can seek job opportunities in a wide range of fields such as becoming a folklore researcher, literature professor, ethnomusicologist, etc in colleges, institutes, government organizations or non-profits

Also Read: English Literature Courses

Top Universities for Mythology 

The following are the top universities to study mythology or related courses:

University	Avg. Tuition Fees
Christ University	59K – 1L
Aligarh Muslim University	20K – 2.4L
University of Lucknow	16K – 24K
Banaras Hindu University	3K – 10K
University of Madras	500 – 16K
University of Mumbai	300 – 6K
Panjab University	42K
Osmania University	30K

Best Mythology Courses

The following are the best online and certification Mythology courses:

• Greek and Roman Mythology – University of Pennsylvania
• Magic in Middle Ages – Universitat de Barcelona
• Old Norse Mythology in the Sources – University of Colorado Boulder
• The Ancient Greeks – Wesleyan University 
• Introduction to Ancient Egypt and its Civilization – University of Pennsylvania

Some other courses to look at are as follows:

• Irish Mythology 
• The Lost Goddess – An Exploration of Herstory
• Nordic Mythology and the Vikings 
• Introduction to the Study of Myth
• Mythology 101
• Animal Myths and Legends in Finnish Folklore

Scope of Mythology 

The scope of Mythology is quite extensive and diverse in India. India is a country of rich and culturally diverse history and heritage that encompasses many ancient mythological tales. In simpler terms, branches of mythology are extended in the context of culture, literature and artistic traditions in various parts of India. There is a huge religious significance of mythology primarily in Hinduism with texts including manuscripts and scriptures such as Vedas, Purans and Upanishads which depict tales of gods, the universe etc. Mythology plays a vital role in India’s cultural identity as it is an inseparable part of Indian life including rituals, traditions, arts, music, festivals,  literature, and dances. In the historical context as well, the literature and epics of India have been the symbol of ancient teachings. The two greatest epics of India, Mahabharata and Ramayana have been the legendary narratives that have captured people’s interest from all over the world for centuries. 

Also Read: PhD Music

Jobs and Salary 

Once you have completed your education in the field of mythology or folklore studies you can seek a wide range of job opportunities depending on your degree, field of interest or aptitude. Some of the most pursued jobs in the field of mythology are: 

• Folklorists: They study the aspects of folk culture and work to preserve it. They are mainly employed at museums, university settings and in non-profit organizations. The focus is generally on a particular region, a particular group of people with a common issue or belief or a type of artefact. 
• Ethnomusicologist – Music has been an integral part of folklore. An Ethnomusicologist is an individual who studies music in a social context. Students can pursue ethnomusicology in a master’s degree and doctoral degree as well. In their PhD, students would be required to conduct research and teach the findings within the ethnomusicology.
• Literature Professor – Since the study of mythology shares cells with literature becoming a literature professor is another great option that one can consider. They could seek employment at community colleges, universities, liberal arts institutes etc. 

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