Universitas Negeri Makassar cannot be separated from the history of the establishment of IKIP Ujung Pandang as an Educational Personnel Education Institution (LPTK). Initially IKIP Ujung Pandang as the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar, based on the Decree of the Minister of Higher Education and Science (PTIP) August 1, 1961 to August 31, 1964, based on the Decree of the Minister of PTIP No. 30 of 1964 August 1, 1961. September 1964 – January 1965 the status of IKIP Yogyakarta Makassar branch, based on the Decree of the Minister of PTIP No. 154 of 1965 Dated September 1, 1965. On January 5 s.d. August 3, 1999, independent status under the name IKIP Makassar, based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 272 of 1965 dated January 5, 1965.
In that phase, since April 1, 1972, the Makassar IKIP changed to Ujungpandang IKIP following the change in the name of Makassar Municipality to Ujungpandang Municipality. Then on August 4, 1999 until now the status of the University with the name Makassar State University (UNM) based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 93 of 1999 dated August 4, 1999.
At the beginning, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of UNM was called the Teaching Faculty of Exacta Sciences (FKIE), hereinafter referred to as the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Education (FPMIPA). This faculty was established in 1963 through the Decree (SK) for the Establishment of Institutions: Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 1 of 1963 and the Decree of the Establishment of the Faculty from the Minister of Higher Education and Science No. 9977/SEKRET/BUP/65, 1965. Initially, the authority of this faculty was to develop four departments (departments) to produce teaching staff for Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. The internal dynamics of the organization and the external environment continue to develop, thus demanding FMIPA to meet the demands of the community’s needs. In 1997, IKIP Ujung Pandang received an expanded mandate to foster non-educational students. Since then, FPMIPA has adapted itself to become FMIPA through Presidential Decree No. 93/1999 dated August 4, 1999 and the Decree of the Minister of National Education No. 025/O/2002 dated August 4, 1999.
The Department of Biology, FMIPA UNM currently fosters two Study Programs: Biology Study Program and Biology Education. Since 2007 the Biology Education Study Program has organized a bilingual program which later became the International Class Program (ICP) with a Coordinator at the Faculty level. So that now the Department of Biology, FMIPA UNM has carried out undergraduate education with a total of 2 study programs and 1 bilingual program which is under Education Program.
The Biology Study Program was established on November 30, 1965 based on a Certificate of Establishment with the number 9977/SEKRET/BUP/65 and began accepting students in 1997. Currently (2020-2025) the Biology Study Program is accredited A from BAN-PT.