Before Armenia became a part of the Soviet Union, Sociology was one of the first five disciplines at Yerevan State University established in 1919. Much later then, with efforts of Professor Lyudmila Harutyunyan, Department of Applied Sociology was reestablished at Yerevan State University in 1986, based on the Laboratory of Sociological Research (functioning since 1980) and becoming one of the first sociology departments on the Soviet and post-soviet space.

In 2005, the Faculty of Sociology was established on the basis of the enlarged Applied Sociology Department, which also gave birth to Department of Social Work and Social Technologies, Department of Theory and History of Sociology, as well as to the Center for Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution, Migration Competence Center, Distance Learning Laboratory and Laboratory for Applied Sociological Researches. Nowadays, Faculty of Sociology is one of the leading academic and research institutions at YSU and in Armenia.

Department of Applied Sociology currently leads Bachelor level program in Sociology, and 2 Masters level study programs: MA program in Methodology of Sociological Studies, and MA program in Social Security and Migration Policy. The main staff of the Department includes 4 professors, 4 associate professors, and 2 assistant professors. We also have visiting professors from University of Sapienza in Rome, La Rochelle Business School in France, University of Oldenburg in Germany, Kuban State University in Russia, and other partner universities who periodically deliver their special courses during the regular academic process.

Research profile of the Department Faculty includes study projects conducted in frames of Political, Economic, Military Sociology, Sociology of Communications and Mass Media, Sociology of Everyday Life, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Security Studies, Gender Studies, and Migration Studies.

On the international level Department of Applied Sociology within the Faculty of Sociology collaborates with various scientific and educational institutions, including Hamburg University, University of Konstanz, University of Oldenburg (Germany), University of Fribourg (Switzerland), University of Sapienza (Italy), University of Graz (Austria), University of Alicante (Spain), Ural Federal University, South Federal University, Kuban State University (Russia), Eurasian State University, Karaganda State Technical University (Kazakhstan), etc.

As part of Faculty of Sociology, Applied Sociology Department is a member of International Sociological Association. Department of Applied Sociology closely cooperates with YSU Center for Gender and Leadership Studies.

Besides the University library resource, Department of Applied Sociology also provides extra access to the thematic resources thematically collected in the Center for Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution, and in Migration Competence Center which are accompanying the academic and research project led by the Department.

Among our institutional partners is Ministry of Defense of Armenia, OSCE Yerevan office, International Organization for Migration, Armenian Caritas, State Migration Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration under the Government of Armenia, CRRC Armenia, and other local and international academic, research and non-governmental organizations.

The chair of theory and history of sociology in YSU was formed in 2011 and separated from the chair of sociology, which has been functioning since 1986. From the very beginning of the formation, the chair started to organize/realize many projects (directed to study) for studying Armenian societie`s problems of various sectors. The main directions of scientific and educational activities in YSU sociology`s theory and history chairs are the followings: sociological theories, history of sociology and especially the history of Armenian sociology, sociology of economy, sociology of work, studies of marketing, sociology of religion, sociology of management, etc.

On an international level the chair cooperates with different educational institutions such as University of Humboldt (Germany), University of Potsdam (Germany), University of Fribourg (Switzerland), Mogilev State University (Belarus), Saint Petersburg`s state academy of finance and economics (RF), Saint Petersburg`s State University of engineering and economics (RF), University of Harward (USA), Princeton University (USA), Tbilisi State University in name of Ivane Javakhishvilli (Georgia), Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University after Yeltsin.

The main educational and scientific activity of the faculty of Sociology is actualized by the following staff:
2 professors, 2 assistants, 2 Associate Professors, 3 assistants, 6 lecturers and assistants, 6 workers by classified unity.

The chair has 3 postgraduates, 2 applicants. From the very beginning of the chair’s formation, one candidational work was prepared and supported.

Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies of YSU was founded in 2004. Starting from 1988 social work education in YSU was implemented by Sociology Chair of YSU. In 2004 the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies separated and became an independent chair. It trains specialists on BA and MA programs. Social workers as a specialists work with vulnerable groups. Social Work Curriculum has 3 components - theory, practice and research.

Social Work Bachelor Program is implemented by two methods face to face education and distance education.

Staff of Social Work and Social Technologies Chair includes 10 full and part time working lectures. Some of them passed trainings in different universities of Europe and US. Total number of the students studying social work at YSU is 200. Staff of Social Work Chair is widely involved in administration of Social Protection System of Armenia.

Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies organized international Conference “The development of Social Work Institution in Armenia – achievements and problems” in 2006, which brought together more than 100 participants.

Staff of the Chair had a regular session in 39-th World Sociological Congress held in Armenia in June, 2009.

Recent Collaboration Programs

Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies tightly collaborates with Connecticut (USA) School of Social Work. We have rich experience in organization of joint trainings for social workers both in Armenia and US.

Moreover, Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies, in collaboration with Connecticut School of Social Work, implements electronic course for MA students.

Another partner is Stavanger University of Social Work/Norway/. In 2007 two students from Stavanger passed their practice in Armenia under the supervision of Social Work Chair.

Social Work Chair is in working partnership with Munster Catholic University (Germany).

The Activities of the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies in the Frames of Tempus Project

The Development of “Social Policy and Social Administration” Master Programme as an aim of YSU for Participating in “Master Courses in Public Health and Social Services” Tempus Project

Migration Competence Center (MCC) was established in 2011 at the Faculty of Sociology of Yerevan State University, in the framework of EU Tempus IV Joint project for «Migration and Higher Education - Building Skills and Capacity», and in cooperation with Russian-Armenian University (Armenia), Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (Georgia), Khazar University and Qafqaz University (Azerbaijan), Karl-Franzens University of Graz (Austria), Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg (Germany), Free University Brussels (Belgium), University of Alicante (Spain), World University Service - Austrian Committee, International Organization for Migration (IOM), State Migration Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration of Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan.

The aim and need in having the Center established is determined by migration problems around the world, and in the region of Eurasia in particular. Having Armenia in the Center of its research focus, the Center is concentrated on the following internationally important topics and on actual problems in Armenia and around, such as: Internal migration, Permanent migration, Short- and long-term labor migration, Trade migration, Shuttle migration, Irregular migration, Trafficking victims, Immigration, Asylum seekers, Return migrants, repatriated, Re-emigration, Environmental migration, Refugees.

Now in the framework of Faculty of Sociology of Yerevan State University introduced new MA program in Migration and Conflict Studies, bringing the both directions of analytical and research work into synchronized and very modern graduate study program. Among the courses taught at the graduate program in Conflict Studies, are basic courses in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Conflict Management, International Negotiations, and Peace Studies. There are also special courses, including Conflict and Communications, Theories of Nationalism, Regional Conflicts in South Caucasus, and Security Studies. The concentration on Migration Studies introduces a number of courses, including Migration and Multiculturalism, Gender and Migration, Migration and Small Nations, Regional Migration History, Social Partnership etc.

You can get more detailed information about the centre from the official website of the Centre for Migration Studies.

The Center for Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution was founded as a resource center in 1996 by Dr. Nancy Humphreys, a professor at the School of Social Work, University of Connecticut, and Dr. Lyudmila Harutyunyan, a professor at the Department of Applied Sociology, Yerevan State University. Dr. Moorad Mooradian, a professor at the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, had a significant contribution to the foundation of the Center.

The Center supports scholarly activities aiming at the study of regional issues, particularly of the processes of integration in the South Caucasus, prevention and de-escalation of conflicts, the problems of “no war no peace society” and the possibilities of democratic transformations. One of the major goals of the center is to contribute to the development of professional abilities in Armenia in conflict and peace studies. The center works everyday to improve teaching, organizes conferences, summer schools, produces textbooks and teaching materials. The realization of all this made it possible to develop and propose a new Masters program in Conflict and Peace Studies, which has been successfully introduced at the Department of Sociology, Yerevan State University.

As a resource center, the Center for Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution has a rich collection of literature in conflict resolution, sociology and social work, which is being updated regularly.

The YSU Center of Innovational Social Research is operating within YSU Faculty of Sociology. The major areas of research center activities include, but are not limited to attracting and conducting basic and applied studies in the fields of social sciences, humanities and education. The Center is also engaged in the analysis of scientific-educational programs, organization and coordination of field research work, elaboration of research results in cooperation with local and international donor organizations.

The Center aims to apply the latest research methods, combining these with the traditions of basic and applied social research. The aim of the center's research policy is promotion of research efficiency in Armenia by involving a wide range of researchers with various expertise.

The Goals of the Center of Innovational Social Research include:

Organize and conduct social studies, surveys and public opinion polls.

Contribute to the expansion of YSU research potential in social sciences and humanities, as well as promote and facilitate cooperation among interested stakeholders and international and local institutions through the implication of scientific research programs.

Conduct studies aimed to analyze and make evidence-based recommendations to improve scientific, educational, managerial, as well as administrative operations at YSU.

Provide research results and expert consultations to governmental / non-governmental, local / international organizations, individuals and groups.

Organize and implement educational and scientific activities, conduct various courses through involvment of YSU teaching staff.

Organizen and conduct round table discussions and workshops to publicize research results.

Evaluate the quality of higher education, as well as monitor and assess the effectiveness of various innovative programs implemented in YSU.

Make efforts to unite the research community in Armenia.

Staff

Arem A. Mkrtchyan – Director
Shushanik G. Harutyunyan - Development director
Tatevik Z Karapetyan - Application representative
Vardan L. Vardanyan - Communication manager
Marianna Sargsyan - Office manager

The Laboratory of Applied Sociological Researches is one of the main research centers at the Faculty of Sociology. The focus of its studies is rather broad starting with the issues of Armenian higher educational system up to the most urgent social problems in Armenian society. The Laboratory of Applied Sociological Researches supports the development of research potentials and skills of students and professors as well. Thus it reaffirms the crucial traditions of State University, promoting the enlargement and increasing the effectiveness of educational-scientific activities within the faculty.

The research activity of the Laboratory is addressed to such tissues as:
•. Studying and analyzing the issues of self-government of higher educational institutes (HEI);
• Monitoring and evaluation of the quality of higher education;
• Testing and evaluation of effectiveness of innovation programs in the State University;
• Supporting the conduction of researches in the field of Armenian sociological traditions;
• Organizing the practical courses for the students of the Chair of Sociology;
• Organizing methodical conferences, summer schools, seminars, etc;
• Testing of new educational methods;
• Studying and analyzing the contemporary social problems in Armenian society,

Since 2006 the Laboratory has conducted an amount of projects including:
"Monitoring and Evaluation of the Higher Education System in State University" in 2008. Within this program was implemented the project on "The Elaboration of categories for higher education quality evaluation" that was addressed to designing the criteria system for higher education quality assessment on the basis of local and international experience analysis.

In 2009 the Laboratory is implementing the program on"Elaboration and testing the methodology for higher education quality assesment". In the frameworks of the latter the sociological research in "Participatory evaluation of higher education quality" is implementing which is addressed to the solution of the following issues:

• To clearefy and give a comprehensive definitions to the already selected criteria for evaluation of higher education quality;
• To design research tools and test them;
• To conduct the field work and analyse the results;
• To elaborate the preliminary model for higher education evaluation;
• To test the preliminary model for higher education evaluation;
• To design the general model for higher education evaluation.

Another project of "Monitoring and Evaluation of the Higher Education System in State University" was addressed to asses the effectiveness of teaching methods in Yerevan State University,

• Testing and evaluation of effectiveness of innovation programs in the State University. The Laboratory has implemented the project on "Evaluation of Master's program in faculties of social sciences in Yerevan State University" that was addressed to estimate the effectiveness of Master's program functioning and to suggest certain ways of its improvement.

• "Studing the image of YSU student". The Laboratory has implemented the research directed to study of sociologist-students social portrait. The objective of the survey was to reveal the features of sociologist-students’ self-identification and its dynamics in studying process.

The Laboraoty of Applied Sociological Researches has facilitated the following research programs.
• The research works of the Faculty of Sociology. Particularly, Laboratory promoted methodological support for the sociological researches implemented on the frameworks of practical courses at the Faculty of Sociology. The researches that were implemented by the support of Laboratory are the following: within winter practices - "The correspondence between State University's educational system and the demands of Labor market" (2006-07), "The factors effecting the youth migration in Armenia" (2007-08), "The peculiarities of Armenian identity" (2008-09); with summer practices - "The issues of immigration and the transformation of community identity Zhambarak" (2008), "The description of social structure of Vardenik community" (2009).

• The creation of sociological literature' database on the basis of the most contemporary research works implemented at the Faculty of Sociology. The Laboratory has designed catalogues of sociological research methodology literature lists on the basis of the modern reseach literature and journals existing in libraries of Yerevan.

Distance & Open Learning is a distinct approach to deliver education to students who are removed in space and / or time from the tutors or the teaching institution on account of geographical, economical, social and other consideration. A need for such an approach was felt by Yerevan State University few years ago.

Yerevan State University, as an integral part of Armenian educational system as a result of successful implementation of Tempus Joint European Project (1997-1999, 2001-2003), established Distance Learning Laboratory at the Department of Sociology in 2004.

Distance Learning Laboratory has its branches in different regions of Armenia which are the following.

• Gyumri Distance Learning Regional Center,
• Vanadzor Distance Learning Regional Center,
• Ijevan Distance Learning Regional Center.

The main objective of the laboratory of Distance Learning is provision of open, flexible and high quality learning for students both inside and outside of the country. Generally the laboratory’s activities are aimed at stimulation and enhancement of all aspects of democratization and renewal of higher education system in Armenia. It implements Distance Learning courses in the field of Sociology, Social Work and Public Relations both for Armenian and foreign students.