The history of the Department Philosophy and Social Sciences is inseparable from the history of the University, and therefore from the history of society. It has undergone significant influence and the dominant ideology of totalitarianism of 1930’s-1940’s, Khrushchev’s Reformation, stagnant state and perestroika hopes for the better. By taking an active citizenship teachers differently perceived the realities of social life. In that time it was humble praise of the Marxist-Leninist theory and ideology, party leaders, but also honest and principled attitude to what was happening in society, the desire to critically reflect on the laws of social development and tragic pages of the history, to inculcate to students a sense of patriotism, justice and social optimism.

The Department has come a long and difficult way of development and various reorganizations. In the Soviet period ideological factors in the organizational structure and content were prevailing.

Since its inception in 1944, the Department was headed by V. H. Pypko (1944-1949), P. S. Kryvko (1949-1975), S. K. Zhuravlyov (1975-1976), V. D. Holichenko (1976-1979), S. I. Rudavka (1979-1981), A. T. Davydiuk (1981-2002), N. B. Shust (2002-2005), V. P. Latsyba (2005-2008).

It is pertinent to mention teachers who by their tireless work helped shape the department’s staff, its best traditions. In the first decades P. V. Shostak, P. A. Polishchuk, L.H.Budonna, A. I. Kadysheva, N. Ya. Zhelieznaia, D. S Tretiak and others worked on the department.

In the postwar years among teachers stood out for their intelligence, skills, sensitivity to colleagues and students V. N. Orlov, Yu. P. Morohovsky, V. M. Mazylo, Y. H. Telman, V. Yu. Derezyuk, V. S. Bieliakova, L. B. Olshevsky, V. Yu. Vasyliev.

The Department of Philosophy was established in 1963. Before this time, the teaching of philosophy was conducted by teachers who were members of the history of Communist Party of Soviet Union and Political Economy Department (associate prof. Laptev. P. M, associate prof. Odnorohov V. U., senior lecturer Ivanov E. M., associate prof. Nihalchuk L. M.). Head of the Department associate prof Danylenko I. M was appointed during the 1930’s. In 1980, associate prof. Danylenko I. M. has defended his doctoral thesis.

Since 1993 the Department of History and Economics and the Department of Philosophy have been united into the Department of Social Sciences headed by prof. Davydiuk A. T.

After new reorganization in 2003 it has become the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Social Sciences, and they functioned as separate administrative and research teaching departments of the University (headed by prof. Cherkasov S. V. and prof. Shust N. B., associate prof. Latsyba V. P.)

Since 2008 previously mentioned departments were again united into the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences. Over the years, it was led by V. P. Shevchuk, V. K. Vasylenko, Ye. P. Kysilevsky, H. P. Mamonov, O. P. Tymofieiev. Since 2006 the educational and methodical office has been headed by V. O. Horina.

One of the positive features of the department is a constant concern for high professional training of teachers. It is usually carried out through doctoral and postgraduate studies in the leading university centers of Kyiv, Moscow and Odessa. These dissertations of lecturers devoted to the most topical issues of historical and political experience of society, methodology of scientific cognition, and on economic life. Lecturers of the department have prepared and published a dozen monographs and reference books, developed many complex scientific issues, and published many scientific articles, reports and theses. The vast majority of them received rave reviews from the research and teaching community. Currently, in the Department harmonious blend of professional skills and aspirations of young teachers to research work is very popular. The department has an important role in improving teaching methods, especially in the context of the Bologna process. In the 2005-2006 academic years the implementation of the credit-modular system determined the basic forms and principles of teaching experiment.

Section of philosophy provides teaching of Philosophy and elective courses on ethical problems of medicine, ethics and deontology in medicine, logic and formal logic to students of all faculties.

Section of social sciences provides teaching of such disciplines as History of Ukraine, Political Science, History of Ukrainian culture, the basics of economic theory, Sociology.

The first experience of organizational methodical securing of study humanities confirms the benefits concerning intensification of the educational process; the systemization of learning of materials; increasing students’ motivation and responsibility over the results of the study; study of program material by its clear distinction in meaning and in time.

The significant achievement is renewal of courses in History of Ukraine and Political Science, History of Ukrainian culture, and the central to which is given to the study of the history of Ukrainian statehood at different stages and in different conditions of civilizing process, the formation of modern political institutions.

The department is full of aspirations in continuation to maintain persistent search for highly efficient forms and methods of educational work, to fill it with modern didactic and informative materials, to promote civil coming-to-be of young doctors, increase the glory of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia.