Art History
Winged Nike
Mona Lisa
Four Horseman
Continuity in Space
Art History is a humanistic discipline that focuses on visual art in its historical and cultural context. ETSU offers the BA in Art History, with courses ranging from surveys of western art to period courses to contemporary art history and art theory to seminars in research topics.
Two full-time art historians, both with doctorates from distinguished universities, offer a variety of expertise, research interests, and methodological approaches. Part-time faculty teach sections of survey or special areas of expertise.
The BA in Art History is intended to give students an understanding of art in its historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts, to develop their research skills and critical abilities, to prepare them for careers in the arts and for graduate work in art history. Emphasis is on the art of western culture, but opportunities are provided for students to gain awareness of non-western artistic traditions.
Goals/Outcomes of the BA in Art History degree
- Knowledge of both western and non-western art history
- Ability to analyze works of art stylistically and to make relationships between the art works and their cultural context
- Development of research skills and critical abilities, including cogent use of language to describe and interpret artistic image
- Preparation for graduate work in art history
- Preparation for careers in a variety of arts institutions, including galleries and museums, careers that require research, writing, and cataloging skills
Art History Minor
The Art History Minor provides students the opportunity to study the history of art from the Neolithic cave paintings, to ancient Greek and Roman art, to contemporary art from around the world. The minor is designed to complement a variety of disciplines including business, history, philosophy, psychology, and literature among others. The study of Art History is provides an opportunity to learn about cultural changes, to develop interpretative strategies and research skills, and to engage with the span of human history.
Students have access to ARTstor, which holds over 1.4 million images, as well as numerous resources in the department, the university library, and the exhibition spaces and collections of the Slocumb Galleries and the Reece Museum. Students pursuing the Minor in Art History at ETSU will be well equipped for careers that require research, writing, and cataloging skills.
Faculty
