Bachelor of Arts - Art - Art History

Art History at the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a humanistic discipline that focuses on visual art in its historical and cultural context. The University offers the B.A. 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 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 of the B.A. 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.