The history of research and education in psychology at Batumi State University dates back in 1940ies, when it still functioned as a katedra of Psychology at the Teacher's Training Institute.

During 1954-55 the major research focus was on school-age child's temperament, correspondence between the types of fixed mood and temperament types. In addition to the traditional four types of temperament made the fifth, i.e. Central (harmonic) temperament type.

Over the years the generations of scholars made it possible to establish the Katedra of Psychology in 1990-9, administered by Professor Nodar Baramidze for 15 years, who received honorary awards of the Supreme Council and the Ministry of Education for fruitful scientific, pedagogical and social activities.  

Publications by Prof. Baramidze include the volumes of works: ‘Distant Motivational Behavior and Learning’, Batumi, 1995; ‘Psychological Essays, Letters, Articles’, Batumi, 1999; ‘Acceleration and Distant Motivational Behavior’, Batumi, 2008.

In 2006 the Pedagogy-Psychology Department was awarded the Anniversary Medal of Dimitri Uznadze, outstanding Georgian psychologist and author of the theory of Attitude and Set.

Presently, the Department is administered by Prof. Guram Chaganava, who authored the volumes of works: ‘Appropriation Psychology Issues’, ‘The attitude of the Urgent Problems of Psychology’, Batumi, 2001; ‘Experimental Basics of Appropriation Psychology ", Batumi, 2009.

The scholarly activities involve topics of social and psychological phenomena, such as gender psychology issues (Assoc. Prof. Rusudan Kecheqmadze) conflicts and ways to overcome them (Assist. Prof. Rusudan Beridze), psychological problems of training and education (Assist.  Prof.) Shorena Meskhi), school children and psychological problems of reading activities (Assoc. Prof. Ketevan Beridze), psychosomatic problems (Assist. Prof. Eter  Varshanidze) cross-cultural psychology problems (PHD student Anna Chachua).

In 2006 the Department launched the first postgraduate program in Psychology developed by the Prof. G. Chaganava and Prof. N. Baramidze). Since 2010 the BA program is also offered to the applicants.

This is hoped to further increase the psychologists activity at the University and beyond, in such areas as psychology of rehabilitation, intervention, counseling work, and psychological services.  

The BA degree program in International Relations was established in 2006 and in 2008 the launched the postgraduate (MA) program, developed by the Assoc. Prof.. Irakli Manvelidze, author  of the monograph: ‘Politics and Economics of Transnational Companies in the South Caucasus Countries: Problems, Trends, Prospects’; Other program contributors were: Candidate of Historical Sciences Revaz Diasamidze, Assoc. Professor of Irakli Gorgiladze, Assist. Professors: Natalia Lazba, Zaza Burkadze, Lasha Bazhunaishvili.

The academic personnel have brought much benefits to the Departmental development upon return from the long-term internships: Assoc. Prof. Irakli Gorgiladze at the University of Coimbra in 2008, Lasha Bazhunaishvili at the Hellenic International University in 2009; The scholars keep intensive contacts with the host universities.

The Department actively cooperates with leading universities and research institutions. Tbilisi Javakhishvili State University and the Georgian Institute of Political Science. BSU and the Georgian Institute of Political Science signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which provides a legal basis for joint training, research and other activities. The HEIs jointly prepared the doctoral program.

Conferences:

Georgia - Democratic Transitions and Challenges, 2006;

South Caucasus is a geopolitical contours, 2009;

Batumi - 1921, 2010. 

Publications:

Social Sciences Department issued scholarly works in volume I 2009 (edited by I. Sanikidze); 

Volumes of scholarly papers: I (2009), II (2010) III (2011), IV (2012) V (2013) (edited by. Assoc. Prof. I. Manvelidze).

Volume of works in psychology, III,  2010 (edited  by Prof. N. Baramidze and G. Chaganava).

European Studies is the youngest study direction at the Department of Social Sciences, as the first BA educational program launched in 2012, which offer courses in  international economics, law, political science etc.

The vision for the introduction of European Studies foresees spread of European values ​​in Georgia, as well as the popularization of Georgian values ​​into the European Union countries.

It also sets its priority to support European research efforts in Georgia and Georgian studies development in EU. The program should support Georgian integration in EU and advancement of European values ​​in Georgia.