The Department of Theory of Region Studies was set up in September 2000 when the MSLU launched the new specialization, “Region Studies”. Initially, the Chair focused on the study of Western Europe, in the first place, of the English- and German-speaking countries. Then, the geography of study considerably expanded to involve the rest of Europe, as well as Japan, Korea, Turkey and China – due to the formation of student groups learning French, Italian, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, and Chinese. Besides, the Chair offers the languages of the member-states of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Kazakh and Kyrgyz.

   Professors and lecturers of the Chair teach a large number of subjects including: Fundamentals of Region Studies and Regionalistics, History, Ethnology, Economics and Economic Geography, Legal, Social and Political System, Literature, Culture and Religion, International Relations and Foreign Policy of the Region, Regional Politics of the CIS, International Integration Processes and International Organizations, Regional Conflicts in Present-Day World, Regional and National Security, Foreign Policy-Making and Diplomacy, Research and Information. Further, the Chair offers courses of lectures in specialist fields concerned with topical problems of the theory and practice of present-day region studies (Federalism and Regionalism, Regional Politics of the European Union, Regional Politics of the Russian Federation). The training programs developed in accordance with the State Educational Standard accumulate the experience of both Russian and foreign universities. The Chair provides academic advising for undergraduate and graduation theses. Students engage themselves in researches within the Student Scientific Community.

   Undergraduate region studies specialists spend months of study placement in foreign educational centres and universities. The training program envisages traineeships in Russian public offices, as well as scientific, educational and non-governmental organizations such as: the Government of the Russian Federation, the state Duma, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Regional Development, “Rossotrudnichestvo”, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Government of Moscow, administrations of the subjects of the Russian Federation, publishing houses and editorial offices of Russian mass media, etc.
Since autumn of 2010, Professors and lecturers of the Chair teach postgraduate students within the framework of the international project “SCO University” in the field of Region Studies.

   Students graduate as “Region Studies Specialists”. The period of study is 5 years (full-time tuition). From 2011/2012 academic year, the Chair also teaches for the following specialisations: “Bachelor of Region Studies” (period of study is 4 years) and “Master of Region Studies” (period of study is 2 years).

   The hair employs experienced educators who specialize in theory and practice of region study: Prof. Zimonin V.P., PhD, Honoured Science Worker of the Russian Federation (member of Expert Board of the State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles), Prof. Babayev L.А., Prof. Kerov V.А., Advisor to Heads of some subjects of the Russian Federation on strategic planning of regional development, Prof. Sagomonyan А.А., PhD, Chairholder (Head of Subdepartment) of Theory and History of International Relations of the Institute of International Relations and Social and Politic Sciences of the MSLU, docents Blischenko V.I., Vladislavleva T.B., Vtorushin Yu.I., lecturer Abramova О.А., graduate of the MSLU (2006), “Region Studies Specialists”. The visiting lecturers are: Prof. Lazutova M.N., PhD, Chief of Staff of the state Duma Committee on the Affairs of the CIS and association with nationals, senior associate Karasova Т.А., PhD, Head of Department in the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, senior associate Logunov A.B., PhD, docent, Deputy Head of Department of the Government of the Moscow region. Vtorushin Yu.I., Karasova Т.А. and Minin Е.М have diplomatic ranks. Other lecturers are: Prof. Golubeva-Manatkina N.I., PhD, Prof. Zuyev A.N., PhD, Prof. Lesnikov G.P., PhD, Prof. Loschilin А.N., PhD, Prof. Melikov T.D., PhD, Prof. Solovyev V.М., PhD, Prof. Titov V.А., PhD, docent Brailovskaya T.V., PhD, and other specialists in region and country studies.