Oral History and Memory: Voices Across Time
UndergraduateMAQ-BHIX20012026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 19 July 2026
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 27 July 2026
- Price from
- $2,245
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Oral History and Memory: Voices Across Time
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the role of oral tradition in ancient and modern societies as a form of historical knowledge transmission.
- Analyse the methodological challenges and opportunities presented by oral history sources.
- Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between individual memory, collective memory, and historical interpretation.
- Apply ethical frameworks for conducting and interpreting oral history research.
- Assess the significance of oral history in recovering marginalised voices and alternative historical narratives.
- Compare oral tradition practices across different cultures and historical periods.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This unit examines the role of oral tradition and collective memory in shaping historical understanding from antiquity to the present day. Students will explore how societies have preserved, transmitted, and contested historical knowledge through spoken narratives, investigating both the potentials and limitations of oral sources in historical reconstruction. The unit begins with the oral traditions of First Nations cultures before examining how oral traditions functioned in ancient societies from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Classical Greece and Rome. We trace the evolution of oral culture alongside written records in the medieval and early modern world, exploring the ways in which communities maintained historical consciousness through storytelling, folklore, religion and ritual. We address the emergence of modern oral history as a disciplinary method in the twentieth century, looking at pioneering work in documenting lived experiences of ordinary people, marginalised communities, and significant historical events. These histories from below allow us to reflect on social history across longer time periods and diverse geographical contexts. Contemporary themes include the digitisation of oral history archives, ethical considerations in conducting interviews, and the relationship between individual memory and collective historical narratives.
- Oral History Interview Report (40%)
- Research Report (40%)
- Reflective Writing (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 9
Entry requirements
Others
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
BHIS2001 Oral History and Memory: Voices Across Time
Pre-requisite: 40cp at 1000 level or above
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-HIS-DEG
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