Art history deals with the identification, classification, definition, interpretation and understanding of works of art belonging to the fields of painting, sculpture, architectural decorative arts, original printing, photography, interior design, etc. and their historical development.

Art history research has two main areas of interest. The first of these covers studies in the context of the work of art. Finding out who made the work of art, determining who the artist is and showing its originality, determining in which cultural environment or in which period the artist who created that work made it, gathering information about the lives of artists, helping to understand the formal and stylistic developments of art traditions within a historical perspective are seen within this context. The second is related to the method and determining the methods related to the fields listed above is included in this area of ​​interest. Art history also covers iconography, which deals with the analysis of religious symbols, themes and subjects in visual arts.

It was among the departments opened within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences when the university was founded in 1992 and started its activities as a department of the Department of Archaeology and Art History. In 1998, with the separation of the Archaeology and Art History Departments, our department began to serve as the Art History Department. The department, which was closed in 2000, was reactivated by recruiting faculty members as of June 2014.

The Art History Department Thesis Master's Degree and the Art History Department Thesis Master's Degree (Second Education) Programs were opened and activated.

The Art History Department Doctorate Program was opened and activated in 2021.

An exchange agreement was signed with Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University (Warsaw - Poland) within the scope of the Erasmus Agreement.

The Art History Student Society was activated in 2018.

There are 2 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, and 2 Assistant Professors working in our department.

Graduates of our department work as academicians in our universities with their undergraduate or graduate degrees in art history departments, fine arts, tourism, education, and various departments of architecture faculties; They can find the opportunity to work as a research specialist in public institutions and organizations, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums, the General Directorate of Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets, Archaeology and Ethnography Museums, Conservation Boards, the General Directorate of Foundations within the KUDEB, in public works projects, in private museums, in various local government units, in the teaching profession by taking formation training (teaching professional knowledge), and as a freelancer in many institutions affiliated with the private sector. (18.01.2024)