The article deals with the genesis of the issues of theory of intercultural communication as a strategic guideline for development of higher education. The "portrait" of a graduate of a higher educational institution today is presented as a person not only having specific knowledge, but also able to cooperate, interact with different people and cultures. A thorough consideration of the essence of this pedagogical phenomenon is impossible without an understanding of its genesis. That is why this study consideres the problem of preparing students of non-language faculties for intercultural interaction in the context of subject-language integrated environment in a historical aspect.