The Faculty of the Social Sciences is the oldest Faculty of the Social Sciences in Nigeria. The Faculty started with the inception of the University with the Department of Economics, Political Science, Religion and Sociology and Anthropology. Other Departments included to the Faculty were Geography in 1961, Psychology in 1964, Philosophy in 1974, Local Government and Public Administration in 1979 and Social Work in 2001.

Seven Departments (Economics, Political Science, Geography, Psychology, Philosophy, Local Government and Public Administration and Social Work) in the Faculty of the Social Sciences run the Bachelor of Sciences (B. Sc.), single honours degree progammes in addition to Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Public Administration (D.P.A). While Department of Religion and Philosophy run the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) single honours degree progamme, as well as the Master of Arts (M. A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) progamme.