Nakhchivan State University was established on the basis of the Nakhchivan State Pedagogical Institute named after Y. Mammadaliyev by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 29, 1990. This institute was a branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute (now APU) in 1967-72, and became an independent institute in 1972. In 1972, the "General Physics" department was established under the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Since 1997, the name of this department has been changed to "General and theoretical physics" department. Currently, there are 3 associate professors, 4 head teachers and 5 teachers working in this department. The teaching assistant staff of the chair includes 1 laboratory manager, 1 chief laboratory technician, 1 laboratory technician and 1 preparator.

By the order of the Rector of Nakhchivan State University, Hajiyeva Billure Tavakkül gizi, Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, was appointed as the head of the "General and Theoretical Physics" department from September 2021 and currently heads the chair.

The taught subjects are taught by highly qualified specialists. In order to increase the quality of the teaching of subjects, to increase the efficiency of the educational process, various technical means (ICT) and methods of modern education are widely used. In the "General and theoretical physics" department, personnel training is carried out in the following specialties of the bachelor's and master's level of higher education:

On the bachelor's level

1.     Physics - taught in Azerbaijani language (formal department);

2.     Physics teaching - teaching in the Azerbaijani language (formal department);  Nanoelectronics – taught in Azerbaijani language;

2.  Semiconductors, physics – taught in Azerbaijani language;

3. Nanophysics and nanotechnologies – taught in Azerbaijani language