The Department of General Education Disciplines is a structural subdivision of SMU, NCJSC, which carries out the educational process in the disciplines of the compulsory component of the General Education Disciplines block in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in all educational programs of the university: History of Kazakhstan, Philosophy, Kazakh (Russian) language, Foreign language, Information and Communication Technologies (in English), Fundamentals of anti-corruption culture, the Module of Socio-Political Knowledge (Political science, Sociology, Cultural studies, psychology).
The mission of the department is the formation of a socially active personality with a philosophical outlook, high political consciousness and culture, fostering a sense of patriotism, developing elements of critical thinking, personal and professional culture among students.
The purpose of the department is to train highly qualified, competitive specialists based on the achievements of modern science and practice, through continuous improvement of competence and development of creative initiative.
The tasks of the department are the formation of the ideological, civil and moral positions of the future specialist, competitive on the basis of knowledge of information and communication technologies, building communication programs in Kazakh, Russian and foreign languages, orientation to a healthy lifestyle, self-improvement and professional success; the formation of a system of general competencies that ensure the socio-cultural development of the personality of the future specialist on the basis of his ideological, civic and moral positions; development of the ability to interpersonal social and professional communication in Kazakh, Russian and foreign languages; promote the development of information literacy through the acquisition and use of modern information and communication technologies in all spheres of their lives and activities; formation of skills of self-development and education throughout life; formation of a personality capable of mobility in the modern world, critical thinking and physical self-improvement within the framework of the department’s activities in the main areas.
The history of the Department of General Education disciplines is connected with the activities of the Departments of Social Sciences (Philosophy, Political Economy, History of the CPSU), which were established on the basis of the Department of Fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism headed by c.f.sc. Fomin.
In different years, the departments of Social Sciences were headed by Associate Professor G.E. Gaidukov, c.philos.sc. L.F. Talalaeva, c.philos.sc. A.V. Shchepkin, c.h.sc. Topshinoev, c.e.sc. I.Z. Khairaliev, c.ph.sc. U.K. Alzhanova, c.h.sc. L.N. Koroleva, Associate Professor B.Ya. Buzov, Doctor of h.sc. V.P. Gnoevyh, Candidate of h.sc. G.R. Musinova.
In 1999, the Departments of Social Sciences were merged into the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines, which was headed by Associate Professor, c.f.sc. U.K. Alzhanova. Associate professors worked at the department during this period: c.philos.sc. T.O. Urankhaev, V.D. Laptukhov, A.L. Ptushchenko, M.H. Aidarkhanov, senior teachers: V.F. Tugunbaeva, V.N. Babkin, N.K. Imanalinova, S.T. Tusupov, S.M. Yurin, N.M. Yakovleva, G.D. Suesinova, R.N. Abylkalikova, N.M. Kusainova, T.A. Muzdybayeva, G.Zh. Bazarbekov.
From 2001-2004, the head of the department was Dr. K.K. Begalinova. From 2004-2007, the department was headed by G.M. Sergazina. In March 2007, the SRS department was divided into two departments: “Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Psychology” – Head of the Department U.K. Alzhanova and “History of Kazakhstan and Political Science” – Head of the Department, G.M. Sergazina. After the merger of the above departments, the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines was formed, which was headed by Sergazina Gulzhan Maksutovna (2009-2019).
In 2014, the Department of History of Kazakhstan and SRS was merged with the course of Computer Science, Biophysics and renamed the Department of Modern History of Kazakhstan and General Education Disciplines, in September 2018 with the Department of Physical Culture.
The Department of Russian and Foreign Languages has been functioning since the first days of the university’s existence. The history of the department begins in 1953 and has a glorious tradition. Russians Russian and Foreign Languages Department was one of the first to be formed when the Semipalatinsk Medical Institute was opened, where work was carried out in five sections: Russian, English, German, French and Latin. It was founded by the first heads of the department: Senior lecturer R.F. Zaitseva (1953-1977), Associate Professor O.A. Palgov (1977-1979), Associate Professor L.T. Bazhenov (1979-1992), O.A. Adilkhanov (1980-2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor B.T. Akzhalov (1992-2013), Ph.D. G.M. Alina (2013-2018), who made a huge contribution to the formation and development of the department. Each of them was a bright, original personality, possessing the highest professionalism and pedagogical skills.
In different years, the department has worked: Besheva G.I., Voronina L.P., Brysina I.M., Kortunov Ya.K., Zharikova V.V., Oralbayeva P.S., Smagulova Zh., Adilkhanov O.A., Kazarina N.I., Vasilenko M., Ivashina T.F., Koshkimbayeva R.Zh., Basheeva U.A., Makarova T.V., Kosareva T. G., Bakshetskaya T.V., Mustafinova O.A., Zhangulova R.Zh., Ismagulova G.Zh., Smagulova G.K., Elenova A.K., Lopatina T.Ya., Raisova R.A., Babzhanova G.Zh., Berikkhanova A.E., Toleubaeva K.S. (foreign languages course), Kutyakova A.D., Plotnikova G.G., Ivashina T.F, Bakshetskaya T.V., Mustafinova O.A., Nurgazina M.S. (Latin language course), Entina R.B., Ultarakova G.K., Komissarchuk L.L., Kasenova Zh.Zh., Batyrkhanova S.E., Iskakbayeva Sh.O., Kudaibergenova Zh.M. (Russian language course).
In September 2018, as a result of the reorganization of the departments, the Department of Philological Disciplines was formed, which included the Department of Russian and Foreign Languages and the Department of Kazakh and Latin languages. In September 2019, the Departments of Philological disciplines and History of Kazakhstan and SRS were united. The newly created department was named the Department of General Education Disciplines, which until 2022 was headed by Zhorokpaeva M.D.
In 1990, the Department of the Kazakh language was opened. The first head was Associate Professor M. Imash, in 2002-2008 the course was headed by senior lecturer Zh.Zh. Kasenova. From 2008 to 2018 – Head of the Department of M.D. Zhorokpaeva.
The Department of “IT in Medicine” was founded as the Department of Physics in 1953. The heads of the department in different years were: Karpov B.A., Kolbin N.M., Kozintsev V.G., Dikhambekov Zh. K., Konshin Yu.N., Bartash L.P., Bekturova A.Sh., Iksymbaeva Zh.S., Bazarbek Zh.B., Hismetova Z.A.
From 2009 to 2015, the department was part of the Department “Public Health and Informatics”, from 2015 to 2018 – part of the department “Modern History of Kazakhstan and GED”. In September 2018, the department was recreated as the Department of “IT Technologies in Medicine”. Jungul Sulzhanovna Musatayeva, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, was elected to the position of head of the department by competition.
In September 2022, by the decision of the Academic Council of SMU, NCJSC, the departments of general education and “IT technologies in Medicine” were merged, which was headed by Professor, Doctor of Political Sciences Uranhaeva Gulmira Telmanovna.
In October 2025, Meyramgul Dosanovna Zhorakpaeva, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, was appointed head of the Department of General Education Disciplines.
Today the department of general education disciplines is the largest department in the university, the teaching staff – 35 people, including doctors of Sciences, candidates of Sciences, PhD doctors, masters, as well as teaching staff – 3 laboratory assistants with higher professional education.
From the day of its foundation to the present, it is a team of highly qualified, creative, talented teachers, who have been repeatedly awarded by the management of the educational institution, mayor of the city, region, MES RK and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan with various awards for educational, educational, scientific and methodological work.
The work of the teachers of the department uses new teaching methods, modern audiovisual means, new information technologies (computer testing, working with computer programs, etc.). Conducting classes such as a problem seminar, thematic discussion, round tables, trainings allow to intensify the educational process and reveal the creative abilities of students.
Teachers of the department conduct research and scientific and methodological work, take part in scientific conferences and seminars, competitions and grants, have publications in scientific collections of the University and in publications recommended by the KKSON of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, rating publications.
The department conducts systematic educational work of students in the following areas: prevention of antisocial phenomena, deviant behavior; education of cultural and moral values; development of citizenship and patriotism; education of legal culture; formation of ecological culture. The Institute of Curatorship works.
Faculties of the department supervise university-wide projects such as “University of the Third Age”, “Level up”, “Kyz Zhibek”, “Sanaly Urpak”.
