The Faculty of Humanities is one of three faculties established when Chiang Mai University was founded in 1964. The other two faculties are the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Social Sciences. The three faculties offer three groups of foundation courses: natural sciences, social science and humanities as educators at that time believed it would result in a perfect graduate who
is equipped with basic knowledge related to things of nature, human society and the mind as well as other qualities of mankind. In the first year of the establishment in 1964, the Faculty of Humanities had 20 full-time academic staff and 2 part-time instructors, 3 administrative staff and 77 students while offering 282 courses.

• 1951 The cabinet of Marshall Sarit Thanarat granted approval to establish Chiang Mai University with a “Faculty of Art” being one of the first three faculties to offer foundation courses as mentioned above.
• 1962 The Sub-committee for Curriculum Drafting chaired by Luang Sawadisarasatputti undertook the drafting of the curricula for subjects in “Humanities Study” adopting the term used in the Education College Act, B.E. 1936.
  
• 1963 The Sub-committee for Curriculum Drafting worked on the details with Prof. Dr. Sarot Buasri as the chairman when they agreed to use the name “Faculty of Humanities”. So, Chiang Mai University was the first institute using this name.
  
• 1964 Four departments were established: Thai, History, Foreign Languages (English and French) and Human Relations.
  
• 1967 The Faculty was accredited by the Office of the Civil Service Commission to confer degrees in 6 disciplines: History, Thai, English, French, Mass Communications and Psychology.
  
• 1968 The National Education Council granted approval to establish the Department of Library Science.
  
• 1969 The Department of Psychology and the Department of Mass Communications were established.
  
• 1971 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science.
  
• 1972 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Bachelor’s Degree in German.
  
• 1977 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy.
  
• 1978 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Bachelor’s Degree in Home and Community.
  
• 1981 The University Bureau approved the establishment of the Department of English.
  
• 1984 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in Philosophy.
  
• 1986 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in Lanna Language and Literature.
  
• 1987 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Bachelor’s Degree in Japanese.
• 1988 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in History. 
• 1988 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in School Psychology
• 1990 Approval was granted to establish the Faculty of Philosophy and Religion.
• 1994 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Graduate Diploma in Tourism.
• 1995 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in Library Science and Information Science.
• 1996 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
• 1996 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in English (Language and Communication).
• 1999 The Civil Service Commission approved the granting of a Master’s Degree in Tourism Industry Management.
• 2001 The Chiang Mai University Council granted approval of a Master’s Degree program in Buddhist Studies.
• 2003 The Chiang Mai University Council granted approval of a Bachelor’s Degree program in Chinese.
• 2003 The Chiang Mai University Council granted approval of a Bachelor’s Degree program in English and Japanese (special terms).
• 2005 The Chiang Mai University Council granted approval of a Master’s Degree program in Thai.

Deans of the Faculty of Humanities :
1. Prof. Dr. M. L. Toi Xumsai (1 December 1964 – 30 September 1969)
2. Thin Rattikanok (1 October 1969 – 30 September 1970)
3. Prof. Maj. Akom Patthiya (1 October 1970 – 9 July 1974)
4. Prof. Saeng Chan-ngam (10 July 1974 – 30 September 1976)
5. Asst. Prof. Rungrueang Boonyarot (1 October 1976 – 18 August 1980)
6. Assoc. Prof. Rawi Ciranukrom (19 August 1980 – 30 September 1983)
7. Dr. Wattana Suksamai (1 October 1983 – 30 September 1999)
8. Assoc. Prof. Aim-on Chitasophon (1 October 1999 – 30 September 2003)
9. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prapa Sukkasem (1 October 2003 – 30 September 2007)
10. Assoc. Prof. Rome Chiranukrom (1 October 2007 – 30 September 2011)
11. Asst. Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sawadirakpong (1 October 2011 – 21 October 2015)
12. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prapa Sukkasem (22 October 2015 – 21 October 2019)
13. Assistant Professor Dr. Rawee Jansong (22 October 2019 – Present)