Brief Information about SSU

Saratov State University is one of the oldest Higher Educational Institutions in Russia with rich history.

It was founded on December 6, 1909 as the Imperial Saratov University & has been developing dynamically ever since that day. New departments were set up & new buildings were constructed which added to the SSU growth and development.

Currently SSU is one of the biggest educational, scientific and cultural centers in Russia.

As a result of 1998 integration process several new institutions became a part of SSU structure. Those institutions are:

1. Saratov Pedagogical Institute with its 6 departments: Foreign Languages, Russian Philology, Music and Pedagogy, Correction Pedagogy & Special Psychology, Elementary Education, Exercise & Sport Science;
2. Balashov affiliation of SSU with its departments: Physics & Mathematics, Philology, Psychology & Social Sciences, Ecology & Biology, Pedagogy, Economics, Foreign Languages;
3. Yablochkov College of Radioelectronics including its departments: Machine Building, Radioelectronics and Technology Department.
4. Geology College with its 3 departments: Economics & Law, Topography, Oil Industry Management; and
5. College of Administration and Service

 

New consolidated university has 28 departments offering specializations in more than 90 fields. It provides a broad variety of learning experiences. Classical University includes 13 departments: Physics, Nonlinear Processes, Mathematics & Mechanics, Computer Sciences & Information Technologies, Geology, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, History, Philology, Social & Humanitarian Sciences, Philosophy and Sociology. There is also Preparatory department at the Classical university that provides special preparation for those entering the university and/or its affiliations. Preparatory department is also providing Russian language and literature classes for international students.

The total number of students currently studying at SSU is more than 28000.

SSU integrates 4 scientific research institutes: Institute of Mechanics & Physics, Institute of Chemistry, Institute of Geology, Physics of Nonlinear Systems Institute. SSU also incorporates in its structure Volga Region Center for New Innovative Technologies, Institute of Additional Professional Education, Botanic Garden, Regional Scientific Library, Language and Culture Center "Slovo" Center of Public Relations, Publishing and Poligraphy department, Testing Center, School of Young Journalists, Student club.

Regional Scientific Library named after V.A. Artisevich is the special pride of the university. It was founded at the same time as the university, in 1909. It is one of the largest libraries in Russia. At present there are about 3 million books and other printed materials, including more than 50,000 samples of rare books with collections of manuscripts, West European inculabuli and paleotypes, the first publications in Slavic languages, 18th century publications & books autographed by outstanding writers. a wide choice of new computer technologies/computer classes are available in the library providing full-text access to electronic printed resources, catalogs of books and periodics, including broad access to specialized scientific and technical journals.

At present there more than 2000 faculty members at Saratov State University including almost 250 Doctors of Sciences and more than 1000 of those who hold PhD degrees in different areas. About 40 university scholars are academics & correspondent members of various state academies (RAN, RAEN, RAMN and RAO).

The names of outstanding scientists such as biologist & geneticist N.I.Vavilov, worldknown mathematicians I.G.Petrovsky, A.Y. Hinchina, A.G.Kurosh, V.V.Vagner, philologists V.M.Zhirmunsky, A.P.Skaftimov, J.G.Oksman, V.N.Shevchik, chemists V.V. Chelintsev, I.C.Mustafin, N.A.Shlezinger, A.A.Ponomarev, H.V.Mertslin, biologists A.A.Rihter, N.A.Maksimov, D.K.Zernov, geologists B.A.Mozharovsky and A.I.Olli are closely interconnected both with our city & Saratov State University.

University science continues to develop successfully. The priorities of scientific study conducted by its researchers are the following:

       Biophysics, Biochemistry & Physiology of Man & Animals, Genetics, Cytogenetics, Microbiology, Plant & Animal Ecology, Zoology,

       Engineering Psychology, Economics;

       Landscape Geography, Meteorology, Geodesy, Paleonthology, Petrophysics, Mineralogy, Geophysical Methods of Exploration, Hydrogeology & Geological Engineering, Archeological Excavations in Saratov & the Volga Area;

       History of the Independence Movement in Russia, History of Russian, Soviet & Foreign Literature, Problems of Verbal & Literary Communication, History & Theory of Literary Criticism, Russian Folklore, Modern Russian, Theoretical Problems of Language Studies;

       Theoretical & Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Cybernetics, Computing Experiment in Mechanics;

       Nonlinear Dynamics, Science of Waves, Radiophysics, Electronics, Nuclear Physics, Solids-state Physics, Semiconductor Physics, Optics, Astronomy & Space Science, Spectroscopy;

       Solids-state Chemistry, Chemical Resources of Current, Wastewater Treatment, Organic Semiconductors, Composites, High-temperature Superconductivity.

SSU is activelly involved in scientific research costing about 100 million rubles yearly. A considerable amount of money is received through grants from Russian & International Funds. During the last 5 years University professors received about 200 grants for scientific research. University scholars actively participate in different scientific programs including federal programs.

There are 15 specialized dissertation councils including 12 specialized councils for defending doctoral degrees and 3 specialized councils for defending candidate’s degrees. In the recent 5 years university teachers received more than 500 candidate’s & doctoral degrees & published 316 monographs. A large number of University teachers & students were honored with the titles of Soros Professor, Soros Associate Professor & Soros Student.

Leading experts from Russian & Foreign academic & university centers Saratov University actively participate in organizing international & All-Russia conferences devoted to the topics of various areas of fundamental research & scientifically advanced technologies.

Nowadays information technologies have become an integral part of Saratov University research and activities. Significant achievements in incorporating information technologies allowed SSU occupy one of the highest ranks among the leading universities in Russia.

The Volga Region Center for New Information Technologies was set up in 1991. Its main objective is to follow and conduct the state informatization policy all over Russia, and arrange and support information data interchange between various educational institutions & regional organizations.

In 1998 the Institute “Open Society” of the Soros Foundation supported the establishment of the university INTERNET Center. It functions as a unified structure open to all the public giving access to domestic and foreign information resources.

In 1991 the University founded the scientific-and-technical park “Volga” which ranks the 3d in our country and unites 23 educational, scientific & industrial organizations in Saratov & its area.

In 1998 Saratov International Center for Perspective Research started functioning under Soros Program “Intellectual Bridge West-East for Russian regions”.

College of Applied Sciences was established in 1992. It is a two-level structure which combines both secondary & higher levels of education and having a unified teaching and methodology system. This college admits talented young people.

The State Publishing Center “College” has its own editing and publishing complex which gives researchers the opportunity to publish their research works, teaching and methodology brochures and manuals. The Center publishes All-Russia scientific-and-technical journal “Bulletin of Higher Educational Institutions. Applied nonlinear dynamics”.

In November 2001 Saratov Inter-Regional Institute of Social Sciences (MION) was founded a SSU scientific center in the framework of the “Inter-Regional Studies in Social Sciences “ program. The main purposes of the Saratov branch are to support individual researchers / research groups, to stimulate participation in research projects launched by MION, to build professional and research community partnerships in provincial cities and towns of Russia. MION is a new form of organization of fundamental & applied humanities studies conducted by SSU scholars as well as scholars from other universities of Russia within the framework of the project “Phenomenology of power: state, society & personal destiny (Russia & International experience)”.

SSU botanic garden is a complex, which is unique not only for the Low Volga area but also for the whole South-East areas of Russia. Its uniqueness is based on the fact that it borders on 3 botanic-and -geographic zones: semi desert, steppe & forest-steppe zones, which are characterized by dynamic development processes. The main objective of research conducted by its faculty is to improve plant growth and plant bearing. The genofund of the garden numbers 2200 species of plants.

On obtaining professional and practical skills in various areas SSU graduates find employment in higher educational institutions, research centers, big industrial companies, computer centers, laboratories & design bureaus, participate in various expeditions, meteorology stations, banks, etc. The most talented SSU graduates are given the opportunity to take postgraduate courses and receive Master’s or Doctor’s degrees.

In spite of all present-day difficulties university education is still very prestigious. It offers younger generation a kind of social protection & support. Saratov University graduation certificate is a kind of a pass into challenging though exciting life of modern Russia.