Theology is one of the most ancient humanities, aimed at studying and substantiating a religious worldview that exists in different forms and variants, in different countries, in different languages and in different cultural traditions. Theologians are people who examine a particular religious tradition from the inside, explore and explain it.
Art history is an academic discipline of humanities which studies art from the time of its inception up to the present day. An art historian explores the laws of its development, evolution, the works of individual artists and worksof art themselves.
“The Department of Theology, Culture, and Arts invites students to study in the Theology and Art History programmes. We provide our students with a modern theological (Orthodox Culture profile) and art history education, combining classical traditions and new digital competencies,” says Nikolai Parfentiev, Head of the department, Doctor of Sciences (History), Doctor of Art History, Professor.
The department was opened in 2003 and now offers an opportunity to complete a full course of higher education. The academic staff of the department consists of 3 Doctors and 5 Candidates of Sciences.
Entrance examinations for Bachelor's degree 48.03.01 Theology, Culture of Orthodoxy profile, part-time contract-based 5-year programme: interview, Social Science or Foreign Language (Unified State Examination), History (Unified State Examination), Russian Language (Unified State Examination).
The graduates acquire competencies of their professional activity: in various areas of church ministry; education in secondary, special and higher educational institutions; can work as a research fellow in museums, archives, research institutes; in organizations and institutions of culture, media; in the expert and analytical work of a consultant and expert on issues of religion and interchurch relations, and more.
Anna Yurina, employee of the information department of the Chelyabinsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church: “We were the very first who enrolled in the Theology programme. Pioneers, so to speak. Not everything went smoothly in terms of organization. But it was informative and exciting at the classes. I can say that we had a kind of creative tandem with the academics. They learned how to teach us, and we swallowed with great interest all the information we received at the lectures. For me personally, this training became an opportunity to get an education corresponding to the profile of my professional activity.”
The training under the 50.04.01 History of Art programme is organised full-time for 2 years and 6 months. Entrance examinations: interview on the history of Russian Art and General History of Art. Graduates acquire competencies in the such fields, as research, education, cultural and educational, expert and analytical, organizational and management.
During the course of training, the resources of the SUSU Art Museum, including the Art Gallery, the repository of art collections, as well as the Virtual Russian Museum Information and Educational Centre, are used.
The graduate of the 50.06.01 Art History postgraduate studies programme is ready to conduct scientific and pedagogical activities in higher education and to lead and organize grant activities.
“The Master's degree in Art History at SUSU includes not only obtaining fundamental knowledge in the field of classical theory and art history, but also presenting the main development trends in the field of contemporary art,” says Valentina Kakurkina, a 2015-year alumnus of the Art History programme, Master, Research Fellow of the Department of Special Projects of theState Museum of the South Ural History. “Classes are held in museums, galleries, exhibition halls. Students have the opportunity to take part in competitions and grants, get acquainted with the work of organizations related to the artistic activities of the city.”
The main employers of the graduates of the department are the Chelyabinsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, the State Museum of the South Ural History, the Chelyabinsk State Museum of Visual Arts, the Exhibition Hall of the Chelyabinsk Regional Branch of the Union of Russian Artists, cultural organizations and institutions, local, regional and republican self-government and government bodies, etc.
The academic partners of the department are: State Institute of Art Studies, Moscow, State Russian Museum, Moscow State Conservatory, Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, Siberian Federal University, etc.