Art History
Art History is a humanistic discipline that focuses on visual art in its historical and cultural context. At ETSU we offer both a B.A. and an M.A. in the field, with courses ranging from surveys of western art to period courses and seminars in research topics. Three full-time art historians, all with doctorates from distinguished universities, offer a variety of expertise, research interests, and methodological approaches. Part-time faculty may teach sections of survey or special areas of expertise.
Classes are generally small, rarely above 20 students, except for the survey courses, which also serve as general education core courses in the area of Arts and Artistic Heritage.
Programs
The B.A. 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 (BA):
• Knowledge of major monuments of art in their historical context. (Emphasis is on the art of western culture, but opportunities are provided for students to gain awareness on non-western artistic traditions.)
• 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 images
• Familiarize students with approaches to the study of art
• Prepare students for graduate work in art history
The M.A. program includes and expands on the goals of the B.A. program, with emphasis on honing, deepening, and expanding research and critical abilities. By the completion of the degree students should be able to do independent research and to make an original contribution to the discipline. Graduate students take courses in a variety of art historical periods, but by selecting the topics of their research papers, independent studies, and thesis students may focus on areas of interest that build a specialization or research direction.
We recommend two academic years for the Master of Arts in Art History, no more than three courses per term. Although most classes will combine graduate and undergraduate levels, graduate students in art history are held to a higher standard of research that requires additional time.
Goals/Outcomes (M.A.):
• Deepen and expand knowledge of art historical monuments and the cultural factors of their creation and reception.
• Develop analytical and research skills to a professional level, with knowledge and ability to pursue independent research in art history, criticism, or theory.
• Learn and practice different methodologies and approaches to art history.
• Prepare students to continue their education at a Ph.D. institution if desired.
Slide Library
Facility and Equipment Highlights
• Small classrooms with slide and digital projectors
• Fully equipped multimedia auditorium with video, slide and digital projectors
• Extensive slide library collection and expanding digital collection
Faculty
Dr. Vida Hull hull@etsu.edu, professor, (Ph.D. Bryn Mawr College) specializes in Northern Renaissance Art. She also teaches Medieval Art, Italian Renaissance Art, Northern Renaissance Art, Women Artists, Research Methods for Art Historians, Special Topics seminars: Master and Pupil, Myth in Art, Art of the Protestant Reformation, Hans Memling, Symbol and Devotion, Jan Van Eyck. Dr. Hull is currently developing a class on Heroic and Virtuous Women in Art.
Dr. Scott Contreras-Koterbay koterbay@etsu.edu, associate professor, (Ph.D., St. Andrew’s University) specializes in Philosophy of Art and Contemporary Art. He also teaches Modern Art, Art History, Theory and Criticism, Research Methods for Art Historians, Special Topics: African-American Art and Russian Art.
Dr. Peter Pawlowicz pawlowic@etsu.edu, associate professor, (Ph.D. Northwestern University) specializes in 18th century French Art. He also teaches Classical Art, Baroque Art, and 19th Century Art.