As early as 1920s, the National Central University, the predecessor of Nanjing University, and Jinling University established sociology, psychology, anthropology, social welfare, social work and other related departments respectively. Among them, the Department of Sociology of National Central University when Professor Sun Benwen was the Dean and the Department of Psychology of National Central University when Professor Pan Wei was the Dean reached the brilliant peak.

Sociology, psychology, anthropology and social work have a long history in the development history of Nanjing University 100 years. Among them, the Department of Sociology originated from the Department of Sociology of Central University established by 1928 and the Department of Sociology of Jinling University established by 1930. The Department of Psychology originated from the Department of Psychology of Nanjing Normal University established in 1920 (192 1 was renamed the Department of Psychology of National Southeast University; 1927 was renamed the Department of Psychology, National Central University); The Institute of Social Anthropology originated from the Department of Anthropology of National Central University established in 1928 and its later Department of Border Politics. The Department of Social Work and Social Policy, like the Department of Sociology, originated from the related disciplines of the Department of Sociology of Central University and the Department of Sociology of Jinling University. After 1949, these departments were cancelled (such as sociology) or relocated (such as psychology) for political and geographical reasons and disappeared in Nanjing University.

In the 1950 s, the sociology department and psychology department of Nanjing University suffered the fate of being cancelled or merged due to many political and academic reasons.

Since 1988, especially since 200 1, the sociology department has taken the reconstruction of neighboring departments such as psychology, anthropology and social work as one of its academic missions. The most important measures include the establishment of the Institute of Social Psychology in 1993, the Institute of Social Anthropology in 2002 and the Institute of Social Policy in 2006. The healthy development of the Department of Sociology during the 20 years from 65438 to 0988 to 2008 and the establishment of the above three adjacent disciplines laid the foundation for the reconstruction or construction of the Department of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy and the establishment of the Institute of Sociology in 2008.

20 12 "He Ren Mansion" with a square meter of 10500 was built with 20 million yuan donated by Shoushan in China and Mr. Cao, the chairman of Fujian Fuyao Group. Located in Xianlin Campus of Nanjing University, it provides convenience for teaching, scientific research and office work of Social College, and also provides material conditions for Social College of Nanjing University to become a first-class department in China.