The Faculty of Social Sciences was one of the first three faculties of Chiang Mai University. Since then, it has expanded substantially in terms of its teaching, research, community services and other academic activities. At present, the faculty has 34 faculty members, approximately half of whom hold a doctorate degree. The faculty offers a wide range of more than 200 undergraduate and graduate courses under various programs with an annual enrollment of around 1,100 students; more than three-quarters of whom are undergraduates. Undergraduate students are required to complete at least 138 semester hours. In most of the programs, students are allowed to take courses in other disciplines outside the faculty as electives or minor subjects. Graduate students must complete at least 36-42 semester hours depending on the programs in which they are enrolled. More information.

The Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development was created in 1998 with an endowment from the Ford Foundation. It aims to act as a center for the development of social science in countries located in the Mekong sub-region. The main activities currently undertaken by RCSD include running of the international master's programme in Social Science and Sustainable Development, non-degree training programmes, research and setting of a data base project. In the year 2001, RCSD offers a Ph.D. programme in Social Science. RCSD programmes have drawn students not only from several Asian countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, China and Japan, but also from western countries such as USA, Canada, Germany and Australia. The center has also become a focal point for networking and collaboration within international scholars in social science around the world. More information.