The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences was established in 1977 as part of a larger realignment of the academic units of the university which created not only the college, but also many new departments. The founding departments of the college were: Earth Science, Economics (although it was formally part of the College of Business until 1996), Geography, International Relations, Law Enforcement, Minority Groups Study Center, Political Science, PreLaw, Psychology, Social Studies, Sociology (including Anthropology and Social Work, which became separate departments in 1987 and 1988 respectively). Urban and Regional Studies, and Women's Studies (became Gender and Women's Studies in 2009). At present, the college has expanded and reorganized to include American Indian Studies (2008), Applied Organizational Studies (2012), Corrections (2012), Ethnic Studies (1991), Gerontology (1980), History (1994), and Nonprofit Leadership (2011).

As of January 2013, the college grants bachelor's degrees at the undergraduate level, as well as graduate certificates, master's degrees, and a Doctor of Psychology degree qualification. The college includes the Center for Aging, Center for Economic Education, Kessel Peace Institute, and Organizational Effectiveness Research Group as areas of advanced specialization within the college.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences merged with the College of Arts and Humanities in 2022 to form the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.