In 1973, several health practitioners began to feel the urgent need for public health workers. It was then responded to by the leadership of the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, by exploring the possibility of developing the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department. This assessment aims to manage and educate personnel in the public health sector.

On November 5 1982, with the establishment of Decree Number 0154/O/1982, The Faculty of Public Health, Unhas was officially established by the Minister of Education and Culture, represented by the Directorate General of Higher Education (Prof. Dr. Dodi Tisna Amidjaja), and was also attended by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.

At the beginning of its establishment, from 1982 to 1986, The Faculty only accepted collaboration classes (study for health institution staffs who graduatde from vocational health institutions) for two years of education. In 1983, based on the Minister of Education and Culture Decree No. 0568/1983, the public health study program was opened with five sections: 1). Health Policy Administration/Public Health Nutrition, 2). Biostatistics/Population & Family Planning, 3). Epidemiology, 4). Environmental Health/Occupational Health, and 5). Health Education & Behavioral Sciences. In 1999, from 5 sections, it was developed into seven sections, namely: 1). Health Policy Administration, 2). Family Planning Biostatistics/Population, 3). Epidemiology, 4). Public Health Nutrition, 5). Occupational Health & Safety, 6). Environmental Health, and 7). Health Education and Behavioral Sciences. Then, in 1987 The Faculty began accepting regular classes (4 years of study duration),

In 2006, based on the proposal of the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health regarding the opening of specialization in Hospital Administration, the Chancellor of Hasanuddin University, through Decree No. 1595/J.04/O/2007, ratified the establishment of the Hasanuddin University Hospital Administration Concentration, which carries out academic activities and teaching and learning processes under the coordination of the AKK Section. This policy was taken based on the decision of the Senate of the Faculty of Public Health.

In 2009, the Chancellor of Hasanuddin University, through Decree No. 1880/H4/O/2009, authorized Hasanuddin University Hospital Administration to become a Division. Furthermore, the Chancellor of Hasanuddin University, through Decree No. 610/H4/P/2009, legalized the establishment of the Reproductive and Family Health Specialization, which carries out academic activities and teaching and learning processes under the coordination of the Biostatistics and Family Planning concentration.

In 2015, the Bachelor of Public Health Study Programme opened an English language class, then in 2016, it opened an International Class.