Throughout the history of civilization, artworks serve as tangible cultural products that, on one hand, preserve and reflect local, traditional, and moral identities and values; and on the other hand, convey creative, innovative, inclusive, universal, observant, insightful, analytical, critical, objective, and subjective responses. In terms of essence and function, artworks enable an objective and comprehensive reading of the history of civilization. This is due to their societal and moral binding nature, their role as a cultural dynamic that has transformed societies throughout history, and their ability to reconcile and relate the local with the universal on both individual and societal levels.
The discipline of Art History examines artworks through a multi-perspective analysis. It considers the conditions of the time and geography in which they were produced, the specific influences and interactions involved, and the evolution of the context and evaluations attributed to the work over time. This is done using Art History research methods along with scientific data provided by auxiliary disciplines. Our country’s geography is uniquely significant for the discipline and education of Art History due to its role as the cradle of civilization and as a host to diverse civilizations throughout history. The uniqueness of its historical and cultural layers, as well as the cultural intersections and interactions witnessed here, make it exceptional.
In alignment with the multifaceted and broad perspective of art and art history, and recognizing the exceptional nature of the geography we inhabit, we continue our educational and research activities in the Departments of Turkish and Islamic Art, Archaeology of Turkish World and Medieval Cultures, Byzantine Art, Western Art, and Contemporary Art. This is facilitated by a faculty that spans all branches, offering a unique advantage compared to other art history departments in our country.

The mission of our department is:

·         To document the cultural and artistic richness and heritage that have existed in the geography of Turkey from ancient times to the present by transforming them into scientific knowledge. This entails conducting art history research that is of universal validity, identifying the place, intersections, connections, and distinctions of these cultural elements within the broader context of world art history.

·         To educate competent art historians who are equipped with a solid scientific and intellectual foundation, are aware of the cultural and artistic values of their geography, and embrace the responsibility of this awareness. These historians will possess strong professional sensitivity and the capacity to approach issues from multiple perspectives, critically and objectively, while being capable of generating ideas and solutions. They will be adept at conducting independent research and converting their findings into universally valid scientific knowledge through a critically analytical thinking approach.

·         To ensure the effective dissemination of the awareness and value that should be attributed to cultural assets through the art historians it educates and the research it produces. In line with this responsibility, the department aims to provide guidance to public institutions and non-governmental organizations on related matters.

Vision

The department aims to enrich and strengthen its educational and instructional activities through its undergraduate and graduate programs, continually expanding its range of offerings and opportunities. Our goal is to cultivate experts and researchers of such a caliber that they are especially preferred for key positions, where they can fulfill the awareness and responsibility of preserving cultural assets and the cultural and artistic heritage for future generations. By aligning with our university's aspiration to become a research-intensive institution, we strive to establish a hub producing original and high-quality work, making its mark both nationally and internationally through publications and research activities across all disciplines. Furthermore, by staying abreast of advancements in information technology and integrating technologies that particularly enhance educational and research processes, we seek to develop into a department that meets international standards in the field of Art History. In this way, our department is poised to stand out in the short term among Art History departments in the country for the quality of its publications, research, and graduates, and to achieve a status that sets a benchmark at an international level.

You can access our department's "Organization Chart" page here.

You can access our department's "Authorities, Duties and Responsibilities" page here.

Our Department's Quality Policy and Research Policy are being prepared.

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You can access the SDÜ Quality Assurance System Decision Tree Model here.

Mehmet Akça

Our department's Quality and Accreditation Commission meeting minutes will be published here.

Work on the Department Self-Assessment Report is being carried out. It will be shared here after the work is completed.

Work on the Department R&D Report is being carried out. It will be shared here after the work is completed.

Studies regarding the Department Self-Assessment Report are being carried out. It will be shared here after the work is completed.

Studies regarding the Department Activity Report are being carried out. It will be shared here after the work is completed.

Work on the Departmental Cross Peer Report is being carried out. It will be shared here after the work is completed.

The preparation process of the surveys to be applied in our department continues. Survey reports will be shared after the surveys are implemented.