The Temasek Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) School, the newest academic school in Temasek Polytechnic, has its beginnings in the Interdisciplinary & General Studies Department (IGS).

IGS was established in 2001 as an academic department with a mission to create and deliver learning experiences for students to explore beyond their chosen disciplines and prepare them for an interdisciplinary world. Through its broad spectrum of Cross-Disciplinary Subjects (CDS) in the arts, humanities and social sciences, IGS successfully established itself as the key provider of CDS in the polytechnic.

In October 2007, IGS became a full-fledged academic school in the humanities and social sciences - the Temasek Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) School.