Sports History and Culture MA

Sports History and Culture MA

Sport cannot be understood without an appreciation of its history. Taught by expert staff based in DMU's International Centre for Sports History and Culture (ICSHC), the only centre of its kind in the world, this MA offers you a flexible, interactive way to develop your knowledge and understanding of all aspects of modern sport from its traditional to its present day form. Issues you will investigate include:

• What are the origins of modern sport?
• Why has sport become so culturally and globally important?
• How can sport help us understand society and different cultures?
• What primary sources are available to historians of sport and how can they be used?

While the course may be taken online and by distance learning course, you will be invited to attend optional seminars and conferences organised by the ICSHC and affiliates. We encourage you to become part of our wider research community at the ICSHC, either in person or via social media.

You will benefit from the ICSHC’s extensive network of sporting and cultural partnerships with local, national and global sporting bodies.. These partnerships, along with our academic team’s combination of expertise and experience, will provide you with a challenging and rewarding intellectual experience leading to a valuable qualification.

The course comprises of four taught modules, plus a 15,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice selected in consultation with your tutor.

• Social and Cultural Themes of Sport
• Sport, Politics and Policy
• Investigating Sports History: Research Methods
• Sport, Writing and History
• Football: Past and Present
• The History of Rugby

Many of our students have used their studies to develop careers in sports writing, sport development, management, the media and teaching. Others have gone on to undertake PhD research and pursue academic careers. A number have used their studies to publish work. A number of our students have undertaken a six month paid internship with the history management team at the Adidas headquarters in Germany.