The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences emerged from Smolny College (officially the Arts and Humanities Program), which was created in 1994 by Saint Petersburg State University in close collaboration with Bard College (U.S.). Bard College's interest in curricular innovation and the reform of international education coincided with the interests of a group of creatively-minded scholars from Saint Petersburg State University. In the fall of 1997 the Smolny Center announced a program of open courses to be attended by students from SPSU and other St. Petersburg universities.
The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences originated from Smolny College (initially known as the Arts and Humanities Program), established in 1994 by Saint Petersburg State University in partnership with Bard College (U.S.). The shared enthusiasm for educational reform and innovative curricula between Bard College and a group of scholars at Saint Petersburg State University led to the creation of an open course program at the Smolny Center, which began in the fall of 1997.