About

Faculty of Cultural Science

The Faculty of Cultural Science at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) was formerly known as the Faculty of Literature. Established in 1965, the Faculty of Literature then changed its name to the Faculty of Cultural Science on April 5, 2011, based on the issuance of the Decree of the Rector of USU No. 981/H5.1.R/SK/PRS/2011.

History

1965

The establishment of the Faculty of Cultural Science resulted from the separation of the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge. Initially, one of the departments that the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge had was the Indonesian Literature Department. The opening of the Indonesian Literature Department at the faculty was based on Presidential Decree No. D/508/O/Upend/K dated March 23, 1965. A few months after the department was opened, some of the faculty’s lecturers began to think that it would be difficult for the Department of Indonesian Literature to develop if it continued to be managed by the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge. The idea to separate the Indonesian Literature Department from the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge was increasingly discussed on various occasions, especially by Mr. Mahadi. This idea was welcomed by the faculty members and external lecturers from Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (IKIP) Medan. In order to realize the idea of opening a Faculty of Literature through the division of the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge, a committee for the opening of the Faculty of Literature was established consisting of 12 lecturers with the following composition: Head: Prof. Mahadi, S.H. Secretary: Dr. Septy Ruzui Members: Drs. Sabaruddin Ahmad T. Mahmuddin Drs. Rustam Amir Effendi, M.A. Drs. Burhanuddin Ch. Usman Prof. A. Hamid Hasan Lubis Drs. Chairuddin Rahman Drs. Danil Ahmad, DPFE Drs. Syahddan Manurung, DPFE Drs. Abubakar Drs. Tasrir Ismail The committee then effectively made explorations to the central government, especially to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, to consider the opening of the faculty based on the inputs provided by the committee. The committee's hard work yielded real results. Without waiting long, the Minister of Higher Education expressed their approval for the establishment of the Faculty of Literature by issuing decree No. 190/1965 on August 25, 1965, regarding the opening of the Faculty of Literature at Universitas Sumatera Utara. The decree explained that only one department was opened, namely the Department of Indonesian Language and Literature. Furthermore, the inauguration was carried out by the Minister of Higher Education and Science, Brigadier General Dr. Syarif Thayeb, at the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge. Considering that there was no building for the new faculty yet, administrative activities were conducted at the USU Presidium Bureau Building, while academic activities (lectures and others) were planned to be held at the Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge, which has been the location for the Indonesian Literature Department's lectures to date.

1966

At the beginning of the transition from the Department of Indonesian Language and Literature to the Faculty of Literature, the number of students increased. It started with 40 students when it was still a department and later increased to 45 students when it became a faculty. One year after the establishment of the Faculty of Literature, the number of departments increased with permission to open the English Literature Department in 1966 and the History Department in 1968. However, the History Department, the third department, could not operate for two years because no prospective students applied. In 1970, some students registered, and all three departments were operating academically. The subsequent development was marked by the availability of a permanent building for the faculty. Several significant advances were then recorded, including the opening of the Department of Regional Literature for Malay Literature and the Department of Regional Literature for Batak Literature departments for Regional Literature in 1979. In the same year, the Ethnomusicology Department was also opened, which was the only traditional ethnic music department in Indonesia until 1989. The uniqueness of this department led USU to receive a lot of assistance from abroad, especially from Ford Foundation Jakarta, both in the form of scholarships for students and teaching staff as well as consultants. In 1980, several other departments were opened, namely Arabic Language, Anthropology, and Library Science. In the same year, the Anthropology Department was transferred from the Faculty of Literature to the Faculty of Social Science and Political Science based on the Decree of the Rector of USU No. 163/PT05/SK/86 dated May 4, 1986.

1984

1984, Opening of the Diploma (D-3) Program in Library Science In 1987, the Faculty of Literature at USU simultaneously opened four Diploma (D-3) study programs in Japanese Language, Library, English Language, and Tourism based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture in accordance with the Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number: - 23/Dikti/Kep/1987, dated June 13, 1987, for the Diploma (D-3) Program in Japanese Language - 25/Dikti/Kep/1987, dated June 13, 1987, for the Diploma (D-3) Program in Tourism - 26/Dikti/Kep/1987 tanggal 13 Juni 1987 untuk Program Studi D-3 Bahasa Inggris In 2000, the Faculty of Literature once again opened the Undergraduate (S-1) Program in Japanese Literature and the extension program, followed by the Undergraduate (S-1) Program in Library Science and the extension program in 2002, in accordance with the Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number: - 295/Dikti/Kep/2000 for regular and extension classes.

2001

2001, Opening of Undergraduate Program in Library Science for Regular and Extension Classes To meet the needs of society, the USU Faculty of Literature opened the Undergraduate Program in Chinese Literature for both regular and independent programs in 2007. The opening of the program was the result of a collaboration between Universitas Sumatera Utara and Jinan University Guangzhou, China, on September 12, 2001. The cooperation agreement was established on November 18, 2008, marked by the signing by the Rector of Universitas of Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. H. Chairuddin P. Lubis, and the Rector of Jinan University, Prof. Hu Jun. This cooperation agreement was reviewed and renewed after five years by both parties. Continuing in 2009, the Faculty of Cultural Science opened a new program, the Master's Program in Arts Creation and Studies. This program is the only one in Indonesia developed in line with the era of development in ethnomusicology. The student admission process for this master's program began in July until August 2009 and accepted a total of 18 students. The Master's Program in Creation and Study of Art was approved by the Rector of USU on May 11, 2009, based on the Decree of the Rector No. 924/H5.1.R/SK/PRS 2009. Here are some important things that underlie the opening of the Master's Program in Arts Creation and Studies at Universitas Sumatera Utara. 1. The desire to pursue further master’s studies in the field of ethnomusicology at USU as the first pioneer in Indonesia. 2. The desire to study arts studies with high quality in the most effective time possible in this region. 3. The requirement of certain jobs in the fields of arts, culture, and tourism that now require a master's degree (S-2). 4. The need for human resources with a master's qualification in arts studies for the implementation of development in the fields of arts, culture, and tourism in the world of work that demands human resources in the fields of arts, culture, and tourism who are more innovative, creative, and capable of responding to the rapidly changing challenges of globalization. 5. The high demand from society can be seen from the number of applicants for this program, which can be predicted from the number of applicants for the Undergraduate Program in Ethnomusicology at the Universitas Sumatera Utara Faculty of Cultural Science in the last 3 years. 6. PP No. 60 of 1999, PP No. 57 of 1998, and KPPTJP 1996-2005 on domestic postgraduate programs. 7. USU has had considerable experience in organizing 29 master's (S-2) programs in various fields and 7 doctoral (S-3) programs as well as has been successful due to the support of adequate facilities and infrastructure. 8. The 29 master's programs at USU consist of 24 programs in the natural sciences and only 5 programs in social and humanities. This is tailored to the job market and the development of science. 9. It is part of the achievement of the vision, implementation of the strategic plan's mission, and the target for the development of Universitas Sumatera Utara. 10. These considerations are also the driving factors for the opening of the Master's Program in Arts Creation and Studies at USU.

2011

In the academic year of 2010/2011, the Universitas Sumatera Utara Faculty of Cultural Science had 2,217 students, 164 permanent teaching staff, 32 permanent staff, 20 contract employees, and had produced 9,856 alumni. The programs offered at that time were 2 (two) master's programs, 10 (ten) regular undergraduate programs, 3 (three) extension undergraduate programs, 4 (four) independent regular undergraduate programs, and 4 (four) diploma (D-3) programs. Furthermore, on April 5, 2011, the Faculty of Literature changed its name to the Faculty of Cultural Science in accordance with the Decree of the Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara No. 981/H5.1.R/SK/PRS/2011.

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Faculty Leaders

Prof. Drs. Mauly Purba, MA, Ph.D

Dean of Faculty of Cultural Science

The Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Studies at Universitas Sumatera Utara (2021 - 2026) possesses extensive academic and professional experience in language and literature. Previously, they served as the Secretary of the Master’s Program in English Language Studies (2017 - 2021), Head of the Undergraduate Program in Chinese Language (2008 - 2017), and Head of the Diploma Program in English Language (1999 - 2005). The Dean holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Universitas Sumatera Utara, a Master’s in Comparative Literature from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and a Doctorate in Linguistics from Universitas Sumatera Utara. Their professional competencies include certification as an Academic Workload Assessor by Kemdikbudristek, certified scientific article author and reviewer by BNSP, and accredited translator with the Indonesian Translators Association (HPI). They actively contribute as a thesis advisor, reviewer, and editorial board member for various academic journals, including the Academic Journal PERSPECTIVE: Education, Language and Literature, Malay Literature, and the International Journal of Cultural and Arts Studies, as well as Chief in Editor of LINGTERSA. In addition to lecturing and facilitating courses in the Faculty of Languages and Communication at Universitas Harapan Medan, they serve as an examiner for the Ph.D. program in Literary Studies at Universitas Padjajaran and the Postgraduate School of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Their experience underscores their expertise and dedication to advancing the fields of literature and linguistics.

Dra. Heristina Dewi, M.Pd Vice Dean for Administration, Finance, Human, Resources and Assets of theFaculty of Cultural Science Faculty of Cultural Science

Mhd. Pujiono, SS., M.Hum., Ph.D Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Information of the Faculty of Cultural Science Faculty of Cultural Science

Vision and Mission

Vision

By 2026, the USU Faculty of Cultural Science at Universitas of Sumatera Utara will become an excellent and internationally recognized education, research, and community service institution in the field of culture characterized by local excellence.

Mission

To implement and manage education management in a planned, integrated, and dynamic manner, oriented towards improving the quantity and quality of graduates with excellent competence in their field, who have competitiveness at the local, national, and international levels.
To implement research based on local wisdom and ethnicity, with the results published in nationally accredited journals and internationally reputable journals as well as disseminated widely to stakeholders.
To implement community service in a planned, institutionalized, measurable, dynamic, and quantity and quality-oriented manner, especially in the development and documentation of community cultural values.
To make the USU Faculty of Cultural Science a center for documenting cultural knowledge and a house of creative work to develop the intellectual capacity of graduates with personality and strengthen the pluralistic cultural values of the nation.

Human Resources