The history of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences can be traced back to the beginning of the establishment of HIT in 1920, when the university adopted Russian first and later Japanese as the teaching languages.  The Russian Language Teaching and Research Office was set up and followed by English, Japanese, German, and French Teaching and Research Offices, helping HIT become a model university for learning Soviet educational experience in China. In 1952, the Political Course Teaching and Research Office was established, and the first national undergraduate teacher training class for the major of Dialectics of Nature was launched, providing strong talent support for the research of Dialectics of Nature nationwide. In August 2023, in order to better coordinate academic resources, promote discipline construction, and serve the development of Chinese society, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences was established on the basis of the original School of International Studies and School of Social Sciences. The development and growth of the faculty have made important contributions to shaping the campus cultural atmosphere and improving students' humanistic literacy.

History of the School of International Studies

Since establishment of HIT in 1920, the school has successively adopted Russian and Japanese as the teaching languages.

In 1952, the Russian Language Teaching and Research Office was established, with an English Language Teaching and Research Group under it.

From 1960 to 1980, the Second Foreign Language Teaching and Research Office was established, including Japanese, German, French and other languages.

In 1982, the Foreign Language Division of Harbin Institute of Technology was established.

In 1988, the Foreign Language Division was renamed as the Foreign Language Department and began to recruit undergraduate students majoring in English.

In 1989, undergraduate students majoring in Russian were enrolled.

In 2001, Japanese Language Major was established and recruited undergraduates.

In 2006, the School of International Studies was established. In 2022, the major of International Organizations and Global Governance was established.

History of the School of Social Sciences

In 1952, the Political Course Teaching and Research Office was established, and the first national undergraduate teacher training program in Dialectics of Nature was launched.

In 1993, the major of International Economics and Trade was established.

In 1995, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences was established.

In 1999, the major of Sociology was established.

In 2000, the major of Law was added.

In 2007, the major of Chinese as a Foreign Language was established.

In 2009, the major of Economics was established.