On December 11, 1960, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) officially opened the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy based on Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 102248/UU/03 December 1960. This faculty was born from the great ideas of Makassar intellectuals and cultural figures such as Mattulada, a prominent anthropologist, and the writer and statesman, J. E. Tatengkeng. Both played a central role in pioneering and championing the establishment of this faculty since 1959. The establishment of this faculty was also supported by the “merger” of several English language course units from the Makassar Higher Education Foundation into Unhas, under the coordination of Syamsuddin Daeng Mangawing and Prof. G. J. Wolhoff.

The faculty was first led by Prof. Dr. Ph. O. L. Tobing, an anthropologist who graduated from Utrecht University, the Netherlands, previously taught at Padjadjaran University in Bandung before being appointed Professor at Hasanuddin University in 1958. Tobing served until 1964, assisted by his first secretary, S. N. Turangan, who was later replaced by Drs. Achmad Dahlan.

When it was first established, the faculty had three departments: the Indonesian Language Department, also known as the Eastern Literature Department, led by J. E. Tatengkeng; the English Language Department, also known as the Western Literature Department, led by Dra. Ny. Moeliono; and the Educational Sciences Department, also known as the Pedagogical Department, led by Prof. Dr. Med. S. J. Warouw. Lectures initially took place at the Hasanuddin University campus on Jalan Sunu, Baraya, Makassar.

Over the years, the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy has undergone several changes in name and organizational structure. In 1964, the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy changed its name to the Faculty of Letters, adding the Department of Arabic Literature and Islamic Culture, as well as the Department of History. In 1977, the Faculty of Letters merged with the Faculty of Social, Political, and Economic Sciences to form the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences. However, in 1983, the faculty became independent again under the name Faculty of Letters, remaining so until 2015. The Faculty of Letters then changed its name to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences in accordance with Government Regulation No. 53 of 2015 concerning the Statutes of Hasanuddin University.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences was the fourth faculty established at Hasanuddin University, following the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Medicine. The faculty relocated from the Baraya Campus on Jalan Sunu to the New Tamalanrea Campus. The new Faculty of Social Sciences (FIS) building, constructed in the 1980s, marked significant development and growth in terms of academics and facilities.

Throughout its history, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Hasanuddin University has been led by various renowned academic figures. After Prof. Tobing, the position of dean was held by Prof. Mattulada (1966-1970 and 1975-1977), Prof. Husen Abbas, M.A. (1970-1975, 1977-1984, and 1984-1988), Drs. Ambo Gani (1988-1989), Drs. Ibnu Nandar (1989-1991) (Plt. Dean), Prof. Najamuddin, M.Sc. (1991-1995, 1995-1998), Drs. Mustafa Makka, M.S. (1998-2002), Drs. Aminunddin Ram, M.Ed. (2002-2006), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Darwis, M.S. (2006-2010), Prof. Drs. Burhanuddin Arafah, M.Hum., Ph.D. (2010-2014, 2014-2018), Prof. Dr. Akin Duli, M.A. (2018-2021, 2021-2025). Now, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences is led by Prof. Dr. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, S.S., M.Hum.