The foundations of the YSU Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology were laid from the very first years of the university's foundation, emphasizing the presence of philosophy and psychology as mandatory components of the educational program. For this purpose, famous figures, scientists, and pedagogues were invited to the university. Later, separate faculty and professional educational programs were formed based on that.
Initially, a chair of philosophy was operating at Yerevan State University, based on which a department of philosophy was opened in the faculty of history in 1964. In 1982, it was separated from the Faculty of History, and the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology was created. In 1991, sociology separated from philosophy and became an independent unit, from which the social work department was established in 1995.
In 1992, a department of psychology was opened in the faculty, and the faculty was renamed the Faculty of Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology. The departments of sociology and social work separated from the faculty in 2004 and formed an independent faculty, and the parent faculty was renamed the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology. Until 1998, the department of political science also operated in the faculty, which in 1998 was included in the newly created Faculty of International Relations.
The faculty operates a three-level system of full-time and part-time education: Undergraduate, Master's, and Postgraduate.
Now there are professional chairs and laboratories in the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology. In 2008, the Center of Applied Psychology was established in the faculty, which has a wide range of collaborators and carries out numerous activities.
Leading specialists in the field, academicians and corresponding members of RA NAS, doctors, professors, candidates of science, and associate professors teach at the faculty. The professors of the faculty, as guest specialists, give lectures at foreign universities, undergo training at prestigious international educational and scientific institutions, and are involved in international research programs.
Due to the activity of student organizations, the daily life of students becomes more interesting, and students further develop their professional skills and enrich their knowledge. Celebrating Philosopher’s, and Psychologist's days, meetings of upper-year students with first-year students, and graduation ceremonies around the statue of Davit Anhaght and in the hall of the faculty have become traditional in the faculty. One of the most awaited events at the faculty is the Mandarin Festival, during which senior students solemnly welcome freshmen. A ceremony is organized, the preparations for which start at the beginning of the semester. Both students and faculty participate in the Mandarin festival. At the end of the event, the famous "Teinik" (transferred kettle) is handed over to the freshmen. Mandarin festival has been organized for 21 years.
Within the framework of exchange programs, students of the faculty have the opportunity to study at prestigious universities abroad.
Undergraduate students can participate in the courses of the pedagogic educational block (on a paid basis) and receive the qualification of a pedagogue.
Students of the faculty conduct their professional and pedagogical practices in public schools and preschool organizations, psychological centers, children’s development centers, mass media, penitentiary institutions, hospitals of the capital, faculty chairs and laboratories, YSU library, and the National Library of Armenia, as well as private enterprises.
The Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology cooperates with a number of foreign universities, including the universities of Avignon (France), Vilnius, Poland, St. Petersburg, Belgrade, the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the state universities of Udmurtia, Moscow, Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Samara, Uppsala University of Sweden, Institute of Philosophy of Russian Academy of Sciences, Higher Economic University of Moscow, as well as with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Within the framework of the extended cooperation, the faculty regularly organizes seminar discussions, lectures, cross-cultural, and scientific studies with the involvement of invited specialists.
Career opportunities for graduates of the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology are diverse. They can work as psychotherapists, public relations infrastructure psychologists, educational center psychologists, lecturers, experts, public policy researchers and developers, journalist-publicist, researchers, PR managers, human resources managers, scientific-educational program coordinators, marketing department psychologists, training program managers, socio-psychological team leaders, psychologist-consultants on moral issues in the following fields:
• Higher education institutions,
• Scientific research centers,
• Schools and colleges,
• Primary and high schools,
• Educational institutions with special program training,
• Analytical centers,
• International organizations implementing educational and social programs,
• Social care and protection centers,
• Professional orientation centers,
• "National Institute of Labor and Social Research" SNCO and others.
Students also have the opportunity to work in psychological support, mental health care, children’s development centers, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities of various profiles.
