Целью of this article is the consideration of the main stages of the formation of the system of professional geographical education and socio-geographic research in Transnistria. The article analyses the peculiarities of creation of geographical departments in the first university of Transnistria and Moldova — Tiraspol Pedagogical Institute (now Transnistrian State University named after T.G. Shevchenko). A significant place is occupied by the consideration of the history and functioning of the specialised research laboratory “Regional Research”. Basic material. Attention is paid to the educational, educational-methodical and organizational-methodical activities of the staff of the Department of Socio-Economic Geography and Regional Studies of the Pridnestrovian State University named after T.G. Shevchenko. The contribution of the department to the development and implementation of the concept of geographical education, programs on geography, textbooks and teaching aids on social geography for educational institutions of Transnistria, as well as to the training and professional development of personnel in the areas of “Geography” and “Tourism”. The main directions of scientific research, which are carried out by the staff of the research laboratory “Regional research”: factors of socio-economic development, the structure of the economy and macroeconomic dynamics, features of the natural and ecological situation, demographic situation and features of the labor market, foreign economic relations and their features in conditions of external restrictions and high turbulence of the environment. Conclusions and further research. In the final part, the main directions of theoretical and applied socio-geographic research aimed at developing a model of sustainable development of the region, optimisation of management, territorial organisation of the economy and settlement system are considered. Prospective researches aimed at creating didactic materials (textbooks and teaching aids on public geography for students, students and teachers) and representative publications (“Geographic Atlas of Transnistria”, “Historical Atlas of Transnistria”, “Encyclopedia of Transnistria”) are also indicated.