Students

PBHX2201 – Global Sport: Heritage and Public Histories

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Keith Rathbone
keith.rathbone@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
From Olympic stadiums to local footy fields, sport is more than just a game, it is a powerful lens through which we can understand identity, politics, and culture.  In this unit, you'll explore how sport has shaped, and been shaped by, global histories and public memory. We’ll dive into the heritage of iconic sports and events—from AFL and swimming in Australia to football in South America and Africa, yoga in India and across the British empire, as well as the ancient and modern Olympic movement. Along the way, we’ll examine how sport is remembered, celebrated, and contested in public spaces and the media. You’ll develop your research and communication skills while exploring the cultural significance of sport in diverse contexts.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe the historical and cultural significance of sport across different global contexts, recognising how sporting practices and institutions reflect and shape identities, politics, and values.
  • ULO2: Evaluate the heritage value of sporting sites, objects, and traditions, applying key concepts and methods from public history to assess their significance in contemporary public memory and discourse.
  • ULO3: Curate and interpret scholarly and popular materials relating to the global histories of sport.
  • ULO4: Communicate historical insights creatively by producing public-facing work that engages with the complex relationship between sport, heritage, and public history.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Annotated Bibliography 30% No 20/03/2026 Individual No Open
Significance Assessment of Sporting Heritage 40% No 15/05/2026 Individual No Open
Reflective Audio Report 30% No 05/06/2026 Individual No Open

Annotated Bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 20/03/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Build your research skills by curating and analysing key sources on the historical and cultural significance of sport.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the historical and cultural significance of sport across different global contexts, recognising how sporting practices and institutions reflect and shape identities, politics, and values.
  • Curate and interpret scholarly and popular materials relating to the global histories of sport.

Significance Assessment of Sporting Heritage

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 15/05/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Conduct a critical evaluation of a sporting site, object, or tradition, assessing its heritage value, significance and public meaning. Record evidence of your research process in written, video or oral form.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the historical and cultural significance of sport across different global contexts, recognising how sporting practices and institutions reflect and shape identities, politics, and values.
  • Evaluate the heritage value of sporting sites, objects, and traditions, applying key concepts and methods from public history to assess their significance in contemporary public memory and discourse.
  • Communicate historical insights creatively by producing public-facing work that engages with the complex relationship between sport, heritage, and public history.

Reflective Audio Report

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 05/06/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Share your personal insights on sport and heritage in a creative audio format, developing your voice as a public historian and critic.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the historical and cultural significance of sport across different global contexts, recognising how sporting practices and institutions reflect and shape identities, politics, and values.
  • Evaluate the heritage value of sporting sites, objects, and traditions, applying key concepts and methods from public history to assess their significance in contemporary public memory and discourse.
  • Communicate historical insights creatively by producing public-facing work that engages with the complex relationship between sport, heritage, and public history.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

There is no text book for this unit. All essential readings will be provided. Students will need to conduct some of their own research online and/ or in the library to complete assessment tasks. External and OUA students will be able to complete all tasks off campus.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook