College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Historical Background

The College of Social Sciences and humanities was launched in 2011 G.C. with the establishment of Wachemo University by the Regulation No. 222/2011 of the Council of Ministers of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In the first year, two departments were launched in the college such as ELL and Geography and Environmental studies.


The first launched department in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities is English Language and Literature. It has been launched since 2011 G. C and started its task by enrolling 31 students and within 16 instructors in the academic year 2011 G.C. It has now 36 instructors and one administrative staff in the department. Among 36 instructors, 19 instructors are at work where as 17 instructors are attending their PhD program at different universities in Ethiopia and abroad. Currently, in the department there are 552 students who are attending their study in different programs. Among these, 113 students in regular program and 439 students in extension program both in weekend and summer. There is also a plan for launching Masters Program in TEFL and Literature. Courses have been developed and some are in the process, and the program awaits approval.


The college has also one additional department which has been launched in the same year with English language and Literature is called Geography and Environmental studies which has been started its function in 2012 G. C with 31 students and 6 academic staffs. Currently, the department has enrolled nearly 628 students in regular and continuing education program. The department has now 16 academic staffs, 2 lab assistants and 1 administrative staff. Among 16 academic staffs, three instructors are attending their PhD program. The department has planned to launch MSc in Geography and Environmental Studies with specialization of “Sustainable Natural Resources and Environmental Management”. The broad sub-fields in the department are Human Geography, Physical Geography, GIS and Remote Sensing and Map Reading and Cartography.


The other department in the college is also sociology which has been launched since 2004 G.C with 03 (three) instructors and 50 students. In this department; about 5 batches were graduated from 2006/7 -2018/19 G.C. Currently, in the department there are about 15 instructors, among them 3 are attending their PhD program and 1 is attending his MA program. Finally, there are 189 students who are attending regular program in the department with 11 instructors.


Furthermore, Psychology department is one of the departments in the college. It has been launched since 2014 G.C. currently, the department has 13 academic staffs, and among them three of them are attending their PhD program in Ethiopian Universities and abroad. In the department there are 144 students in regular program who are attending their study. The department is engaging its task by improving the quality of education for the university as well as for the country in general.


I am thrilled to represent this forthcoming college which is dedicated to provide quality education, produce qualified manpower, conduct problem solving researches and community services. I hope you will browse our website and explore our departments.


In addition to the above listed departments, Department of Hadiya Language and Literature is also another department in the college. It has been launched since 2007 E.C/2014 G.C with 03 (three) instructors and 50 advanced standing students. Currently, in the department there are 160 students in regular, 115 students in weekend and 503 students in summer program; totally 778 students have been perusing their BA degree in Hadiya Language and Literature and 11 instructors are offering the courses. From the eleven instructors, one instructor is attending his PhD program at Addis Ababa University and the other one instructor is MA candidate at Hawassa University. This helps to open MA program in linguistics field of specialization.


Hadiya language and literature department is one of the indigenous languages in East Africa. It is a language which existed for centuries in oral forms containing the culture and the history of its speakers. Even though it has been studied in research form in different universities, it is one the emerging languages to be studied in higher education particularly in its written form.


Moreover, Civic and Ethical Studies department is one of the departments in the college. It has been launched since 2008 E.C with 40 students and 14 instructors. Currently, the department has 13 instructors; among them one is perusing his PhD program and now there are 159 regular students in the department, 136 extension students and 177 summer students both in Main Campus and Shone center.


The last but not the least, Department of History and Heritage Management is also one of the departments in the college. It has been launched since 2009 E.C. by two instructors and 40 students. Now (2011) the department has 116 students in three batches and 11 instructors. Among them one instructor is attending his PhD program at Addis Ababa University, Department of History.


In general, the College has four coordinators namely Educational Quality Enhancement and Assurance, Research and Community Service Office, Reform Works and Educational Development Host and Continuous Education Program Coordinating Office which are performing their task by involving actively ensuring the quality of education and by providing additional services to the development of the university as well as the college.