Expert: Ted Nesbitt - 3/9/2009

Question
Im very interested in greek mythology, how would become a professor at any college teaching this subject? Do they exsist?

Answer
Dear Timm:

In some large universities, there are professors who teach only mythology.  However, there are very few such professors.

Often, classes in or about mythology are offered in the humanities department of a college or university.  I took a mythology course at my undergraduate college, and it was taught by a professor of religion.  For my master's degree at another institution, I took  a very comprehensive mythology class -- Greek, Roman, Norse, Asian, African, Native American, and South American -- and that course was taught by a literature professor.

As I recall, the religion professor tended to focus on the religious beliefs in mythology.  The literature professor, in a similar manner, focused on the literary traditions of various ancient cultures.

I think, however, that "professors of mythology" are a vanishing breed.  Mythology is usually incorporated into some other area, but generally, in the field of the humanities [liberal arts].

Ted Nesbitt