The Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ekonomi/FISE) of Yogyakarta State University (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta/UNY) is a development of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial/FIS) of Yogyakarta State University (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta/UNY). FIS is a development of the Faculty of Social Sciences Education (Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial/FPIPS) of the Teacher Training and Education Institute (Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan/IKIP) Yogyakarta. IKIP Yogyakarta was established based on the Decree of the Minister of Higher Education and Science No. 55 Year 1963, dated May 22, 1963. One of its faculties is the Faculty of Social Sciences (Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial/FKIS) which was inaugurated by the Minister of PTIP on May 21, 1964. This decision was confirmed with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 268 of 1965, dated September 14, 1965. In order to strengthen the position of education in the field of Social Sciences, the Rector of IKIP Yogyakarta issued Decree Number 05 of 1965 which, among other things, contained the change of FKPS into the Faculty of Social Sciences.

To emphasise the characteristics of education, according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 54 of 1982 on September 7, 1982, regarding the organisational structure of IKIP Yogyakarta, FKIS changed to the Faculty of Social Sciences Education.

In line with the development of Science, Technology and Arts and the demands of the world of work, IKIP Yogyakarta was developed into Yogyakarta State University (UNY) based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 93 of 1999, dated August 4, 1999. This was followed by a change in the name of the faculty at UNY, FPIPS changed to FIS, which was ratified based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 274/0/1999 about the Organisation and Work Procedure of UNY. With the change of name, FIS has the authority to organise study programs in the field of education and non-education.

The efforts and changes continue to be made to meet the demands of the community. Therefore, the name FIS was changed to the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences. Based on the Regulation of the Minister of National Education of the Republic of Indonesia Number 12 of 2006 concerning the Organisation and Work Procedure of Yogyakarta State University, FIS was changed to the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (FISE).

Based on the history of its establishment, the Senate of FIS UNY on September 14th, 1965 as the birthday of FISE UNY. The determination of this date was taken from the formal legal basis of the decision of the President of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the strengthening and ratification of the establishment of the Yogyakarta IKIP, dated September 14, 1965.