Department of Electric drive was established on September 1, 1966. It was separated from department of Electrification of mining and industrial enterprises, where since 1963 till 1966 carried out training of the specialty 0628 "Electric drive and automation of industrial installations" in Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute. The first issue of experts was held in 1966.

In 1986 in the specialty "Electric drive and automation of industrial installations" department started training of two specializations: "Electric drive and automation of industrial installations" and "Software control systems of industrial installations and robotic systems".

Since September 1996 the Department moved to the multi-level training of experts and new training programs of specialty 8.092203. The first issue of bachelors was held in 2000 (48 people), masters (7 people) - in 2001. Over the years the department issued more than 1.700 electrician engineers, including 21 master of electrician.

Department, since its foundation, was headed by:

	Nikolay N. Kazachkovsky (born 1951), Doctor of Philosophy, professor, graduating student of Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute (head since 2016);
	Alexander S. Beshta (born 1957), Doctor of technical science,professor, graduating student of Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute (years of superintendence 2002–2016);
	Alexander A. Vorobyov (1937-2002), Doctor of Philosophy, professor, graduating student of Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute (years of superintendence 1989-2002);
	Dmitry K. Kryukov (1924-1989),Doctor of technical science, professor, graduating student of Novocherkassk Polytechnic Institute (years of superintendence 1974-1989);
	Leonid I. Poltava (1907-1977), Doctor of Philosophy, lecturer, a graduate of Leningrad Industrial Institute (years of superintendence 1966-1974).