About
Brief History of English Language Studies (GP-ELS)
Universitas Sanata Dharma (USD) Yogyakarta used to be Teachers’ Training Institute, Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (IKIP) Sanata Dharma until 1993. Initially it was Teacher Education College, Perguruan Tinggi Pendidikan Guru (PTPG) Sanata Dharma, established on December 17, 1955. In November 1958 PTPG Sanata Dharma was transformed into Faculty of Teachers’ Training and Education, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (FKIP) Sanata Dharma. On September 1, 1965, following government regulations, FKIP Sanata Dharma was transformed into IKIP Sanata Dharma.
After 28 years of service, IKIP Sanata Dharma transformed into Universitas Sanata Dharma (USD), based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, No. 46/D/O/1993 (dated April 20, 1993). In this university, all departments during the IKIP period were integrated into FKIP (Faculty of Teachers’ Training and Education). In addition to FKIP, seven new faculties/schools and one Graduate Program were established: Faculty of Teachers’ Training and Education, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Graduate Program.
The founding of the Graduate Program in English Language Studies began in 1998 when the Rector of USD, Prof. Dr. Michael Sastrapratedja, S.J., initiated a plan to set up a master’s program in English literature in addition to two existing master programs in theology and religious and cultural studies. The option for a master in English literature and not in English education was because while many Indonesian universities already offered master programs in English education, none of them had a master degree program in English literature. The original plan was to set up a joint program with a renowned literature department of a Jesuit university in the Philippines but despite visits and meetings that had been done, it could not be realized.
Considering the available human resources at the time, the next available option would be to set up a distinct master’s program accommodating the study of English literature, linguistics and education that was not yet offered by other universities. Supported by two undergraduate programs, English Education and English Letters departments, the option became workable while maintaining a unique program identity. The government permit to administer the Graduate Program in English Language Studies (Magister Kajian Bahasa Inggris – KBI) No 2348/D/T/2001 was granted on July 6th 2001. The program was accredited A by the National Board of Accreditation (BAN-PT) on November 15th 2014 in a decree No: 448/SK/BANPT/Akred/M/XI/2014 and re-accredited A on September 24th 2019 in another decree 3562/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/M/IX/2019. Automatic renewal of accreditation will be issued on September 25th 2024 after the program was evaluated and monitored by the BAN-PT whose result was that it passed the PEPA monitoring (Pemantauan dan Evaluasi Peringkat Akreditasi) as stated in a letter No: 8698/BAN-PT/PMT1/2023