College of Arts and Sciences

1899

Watauga Academy founded “to prepare quality teachers to teach you in the “lost provinces” of Western North Carolina.”

1900

Enrollment 150, 4 students enrolled in high school

1903

Watauga Academy becomes Appalachian Training School 

1909

Four literary societies are founded for male and female students. Male students had the Watauga and the Appalachian Societies, which met in recitation rooms weekly, and women had the Euterpean and Calliopean, which met in Lovill Home. These were the first social organizations on campus. 

1910

Chapell Wilson begins teaching history and government at ATS until 1932.

1911

Science Hall, the first specialized academic campus building is completed; later destroyed by a fire in 1946.
James M. Downum joins Appalachian faculty as professor of Latin.

1920s

Art classes, glee club, literary societies, student publications and team sports flourished for women and men. The academic program targeted teacher preparation in the form of theory and supervised practical application of methods. As the curriculum expanded, the administration added subject majors in the liberal arts to supplement these education courses.

1921

Chapell Wilson supervises teacher training and begins teaching psychology.
A. J. Greene joins faculty as an assistant in Latin and English.
James D. Rankin joins faculty as professor of English.

1929

The school became a four-year, degree granting institution named Appalachian State Teachers' College. Over 1,300 students were enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree programs for primary grades education, physical education, math, english, science and history. 

1933

The Social Science Department is established (faculty includes 1 Ph.D.; 3 M.A.s; 1 B.A.). Dr. D.J. Whitener serves as chair until 1956.
English and History majors are offered.

1934

A major in French is offered.

1940

Smith-Wright Hall is completed, still home to psychology and sociology classes today.

1950

The Fine Arts Building, later called I.G.Greer Hall is completed. I.G. Greer Hall is home to the Dean's office and the Philosophy and Religion Department today. 

1952

F. Ray Derrick joins as the head of the Department of Biology and served until 1973.

1954

Beta Psi Chapter of the National Honorary Biological Society, Beta Beta Beta, is established. Science Club and Beta Beta Beta embark on a program to identify and label all trees on campus.

1957

A change in N.C. Legislation recognized the teaching of liberal arts at Appalachian Teacher College as part of a statewide expansion of higher education. 

1958

The first language lab is opened in the Department of Foreign Languages. It provided mainly Spanish language materials.

1960s

Student enrollment for the entire University soared to above 2,400 in 1958, only to double with baby boomers to over 5,000 by 1968; accordingly, the full-time faculty for the entire University grew to more than 300. 

1960

A new electronic language lab is added for the Department of Foreign Languages in November. It officially opens in 1961 and offers Spanish and French materials. 

1963

Rankin Science Building is completed.  Today this building has been expanded and is home to the departments of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Geography and Planning and Biology. 

1964

In October and November, Rankin Science Hall holds evening open houses on Tuesday and Friday nights to allow students, faculty and staff use of the observatory to view stars, visible planets and the moon. 

1965

The Department of Social Studies separates into the Departments of History, Political Science, Geography and Geology, and Sociology.