Along with economic development and rapid advances in science and technology, the growth of employment opportunities in the current era of globalization requires a workforce that has a high level of expertise. The increasing labor market interest in quality and competent human resources with a high level of expertise is a challenge for universities to produce professional scholars and have the potential and competence of high expertise, sensitive, and responsive to changes and developments in science and technology so as to be able to fill the available job opportunities.
Brawijaya University through the Social Science Program (now Faculty of Social Sciences) tried to answer this challenge. Starting with the desire of the Head of the Social Science Program to open the S1 Psychology Study Program as a new study program in the Social Science Program, a team was formed to prepare the establishment proposal which began working in July 2005. In October 2005, the proposal could be completed and submitted to the Assistant Rector I by the Head of the Social Science Program to be forwarded to the Rector and sent to DIKTI to obtain a decree approving the establishment of the S1 Psychology Study Program. However, it turned out that the Rector was not yet pleased to open this on the grounds that there was no room for lectures.
With the change of the old Rector to the new Rector, the Head of the Social Science Program wanted to continue the opening of the S1 Psychology Study Program. In May 2006, the establishment proposal was signed and sent by the Rector to DIKTI. This proposal was then considered for approval by DIKTI with Decree No. 1755/D2.2/2006 dated August 22, 2006 with a note of improvement of the proposal in accordance with DIKTI provisions.
After the proposal was revised by the drafting team, in September 2006 the proposal was sent back to DIKTI. Furthermore, on November 4, 2006, DIKTI requested that the proposal be completed with information on the qualifications of lecturers with a master's degree and an explanation of graduate competencies. After the proposal was revised and sent back to DIKTI with Decree No. 2440/D2.2/ 2006 dated November 30, 2006, DIKTI recommended to complete the letter of permission to open the S1 Psychology Study Program by the psychology professional organization HIMPSI.
The recommendation letter from HIMPSI No. 001/PP-HIMPSI/2007 marked that the S1 Psychology Study Program was feasible to be opened at UB so that the implementation permit was then issued based on the Higher Education Decree Number. 1504/D/T/2007 dated June 22, 2007. June 22 is commemorated as the “Birth” day of Psychology UB.
Throughout its journey, UB Psychology has experienced several changes in management. Consecutively, the Head and Secretary of the S1 Psychology Study Program were Period I: Drs. Amir Hasan Ramli, M.Si and Ari Pratiwi, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist, Period 2: (Alm.) Yoyon Supriyono, S.Psi., M.Psi. and Ilhamudin, S.Psi., M.A., and PJS Period 2: Ilhamudin, S.Psi., M.A. and Nur Hasanah, S.Psi., M.Si. In March 2017, the status of the S1 Psychology Study Program increased to the Department of Psychology. As the manager of the Department of Psychology are Cleoputri Al Yusainy, S.Psi., M.Psi., Ph.D., Psychologist (Head of the Department concurrently Head of the S1 Psychology Study Program) and Ika Herani, S.Psi., M.Si., Psychologist (Secretary of the Department).
The next managers in the Department of Psychology consist of Faizah, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist as Head of the Department of Psychology, Ika Herani, S.Psi., M.Si., Psychologist as Secretary of the Department of Psychology and Ali Mashuri, S.Psi., M.Sc., Ph.D as Head of the Psychology Study Program. Currently the S1 Psychology Program has 3 professors (GB) and 7 lecturers with the functional position of Head Lecturer (LK) and DTPS S1 Psychology who have doctoral qualifications are 17 people. Overall the Department has 38 lecturers, seven of whom have doctoral degrees. In addition, there are 4 education staff and 1 laboratory staff.