The history of the Faculty of Economics began in 1977, when the speciality ‘Economics and Sociology of Labour’ was opened at the Faculty of History and Philology. In 1980, the Faculty of Economics became an independent unit, and its first dean was Candidate of Sciences (in History), Associate Professor Salyev Robert Valeevich.
Three departments were established within the Faculty:
- Economic and Social Planning - under the guidance of Doctor of Sciences (in Economics), Professor A.A. Golikov;
- Economics and Sociology of Labour - under the guidance of Associate Professor L.A. Kuznetsova;
- Political Economy - under the guidance of Associate Professor V.N. Belkin.
Soon V.N. Belkin became the head of the first-ever postgraduate programme in economics at CSU.
Aleksandr Arsentevich Golikov was the chairman of the first dissertation council for economic specialities, and in 1995 he became the organiser and director of the first institute in the structure of Chelyabinsk State University - the Institute of Economics. Golikov was awarded the title (Honorary Professor of Chelyabinsk State University), and a personal scholarship named after A.A. Golikov was established, which is awarded to students with achievements in studies, science and social activities. In addition, he was an Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation and an academician of the International Academy of Science and Practice of Industrial Organisation.
Today the Faculty of Economics combines academic traditions and innovation, develops a higher education level system: it prepares bachelors, specialists, masters and postgraduates.
