Archaeology and History of Art

The Department of Archaeology and History of Art (ARHA) offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of archaeology, the history of art and visual culture, late antique and Byzantine studies, cultural heritage management, museum studies, and maritime archaeology. Our courses cover a wide historical and geographical scope including prehistoric Anatolia, the Greek and Roman Empires, the Late Antique period, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and the modern period and introduce the students to recent theories and methodologies in archeology and art history. Active engagement in the study of archeology and art and architectural history is integral to our curriculum and ranges from hands-on training in methods of analysis and conservation in the university’s laboratories to field trips to archaeological sites and architectural monuments, museum visits, and participation in conferences and workshops organized by Turkish and international visiting scholars and specialists. Our students are further encouraged to participate in one of our archaeological excavation projects during the summer, conduct internships at museums or cultural heritage organizations, and participate in workshops in Türkiye and abroad. They are also encouraged to take courses essential to their area of interest or specialization in the field of Digital Humanities and in Languages of the Mediterranean and Anatolian worlds, such as Greek, Latin and Ottoman Turkish. ARHA’s multidisciplinary educational approach provides a wide range of employment opportunities for their students, including in museums and cultural heritage organizations.

Program Overview

The Department of Archaeology and History of Art (ARHA) offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of archaeology, the history of art and visual culture, late antique and Byzantine studies, cultural heritage management, museum studies, and maritime archaeology. Our courses cover a wide historical and geographical scope including prehistoric Anatolia, the Greek and Roman Empires, the Late Antique period, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and the modern period and introduce the students to recent theories and methodologies in archeology and art history. Active engagement in the study of archeology and art and architectural history is integral to our curriculum and ranges from hands-on training in methods of analysis and conservation in the university’s laboratories to field trips to archaeological sites and architectural monuments, museum visits, and participation in conferences and workshops organized by Turkish and international visiting scholars and specialists. Our students are further encouraged to participate in one of our archaeological excavation projects during the summer, conduct internships at museums or cultural heritage organizations, and participate in workshops in Türkiye and abroad. They are also encouraged to take courses essential to their area of interest or specialization in the field of Digital Humanities and in Languages of the Mediterranean and Anatolian worlds, such as Greek, Latin, Hittite, Luwian and Ottoman Turkish. ARHA’s multidisciplinary educational approach provides a wide range of employment opportunities for their students, including in museums and cultural heritage organizations.

Faculty

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Courses

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PhD

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MA with Thesis

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  • Advanced insight and understanding of the primary study tracks related to Anatolia and broader Mediterranean, covering the period from Prehistory up to contemporary times, within its broader geographical and cross-boundary context.
  • A sound understanding of the distinct types of material from and written sources describing different periods and regions available for studies in the primary study tracks.
  • A working knowledge of selected ancient and modern foreign languages, allowing direct access to original literary sources as well as archeological and epigraphical material.
  • Clear insight into the current state of research in the primary study fields.
  • Advanced understandings of archeological field data collection, up-to-date laboratory analyses, and/or proficiency in GIS or other geospatial and database technologies as analytical tools for archaeology, history of art, and heritage needs.
  • Clear insights in collecting, interpreting, and synthesizing specific maritime archaeological data to understand past and present societies.
  • Clear understanding of concepts and methods of the art historical analysis of materials from different periods and regions of Anatolia and the larger Mediterranean world.
  • Skills to identify, analyze, interpret, and contextualize attestations of material and visual culture during archaeological fieldwork or in post-processing work in museums.
  • Knowledge of theoretical approaches and practical skills needed to assist in the creation of heritage management plans or to carry out various aspects of a heritage project in Türkiye or abroad.
  • Skills to conduct research about and in museums using a variety of methods, from field work to archival research, by encouraging inter- and cross-disciplinary thinking, and by acquiring both the theoretical and practical skills needed to become a museum curator or manager.
  • Skills to carry out research as independently working, critically thinking scholars who possess well-developed written and oral skills in English and other modern languages.

Graduates of Koç University Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities work at leading companies in Türkiye and abroad. The Graduate School is actively working on keeping the alumni network alive.

Some of the students who graduated from this program also apply to doctoral programs.