| Date |
Event |
| 1946 |
Extension Division of the University of North Carolina and Fayetteville
State Teachers College form the College Center in Wilmington with classes
held at New Hanover and Williston High Schools. |
| 1955 |
Wilmington College offers first teacher education courses in pre-professional
programs in elementary and secondary.
|
| 1961 |
Wilmington College moves to present campus consisting of Alderman, Hoggard,
and James Halls with Education housed in Hoggard Hall.
|
| 1963 |
Department of Education and Psychology is formed at Wilmington College
with Dr. Harold Hulon as department chair.
Wilmington College offers first
courses in teacher education degree program in elementary education and licensure
in secondary education. |
| 1964 |
Department of Education begins offering courses for in-service teachers. |
| 1965 |
First graduates of teacher education program. |
| 1969 |
Wilmington College becomes the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Department of Education and Psychology temporarily housed in Kenan Hall. |
| 1970 |
Department of Education and Psychology moves to new Arnold Kimsey King
Hall. |
| 1971 |
Child Study Center opens in King Hall. |
| 1973 |
Psychology becomes a separate department. |
| 1974 |
Curriculum Materials Center established in King Hall, but later moves
to Randall Library. |
| 1976 |
Dr. Roy E. Harkin becomes chair of Department of Education. |
| 1978 |
UNCW initiates graduate study in Elementary Education and Educational
Administration and Supervision.
UNCW adds Special Education and Middle Grades undergraduate programs.
Extension efforts begin in Brunswick County . |
| 1979 |
University reorganizes into the College of Arts and Sciences, School
of Business Administration, and School of Education.
UNCW names Dr. Roy E. Harkin Dean of School of Education.
First graduates of the master’s degree program.
Grant approved to establish the UNCW/Pender County Teacher Corps. |
| 1980 |
UNCW forms Graduate School.
School of Education establishes Departments of Curricular Studies and Educational
Design and Management. |
| 1982 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Building opens and Psychology department
moves from King Hall.
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) gives
approval of UNCW's teacher education unit. |
| 1984 |
School of Education initiates Master’s degree in Special Education.
Computer technology comes to King Hall with the installation of VAX terminals
and microcomputers. |
| 1986 |
School of Education offers Master’s degree in Reading Education.
Department of Curricular Studies establishes Education Lab in King Hall. |
| 1987 |
Teaching Fellows program begins. |
| 1989 |
Master of Arts in Teaching added. |
| 1990 |
Model clinical Project established with Brunswick, Duplin, and New Hanover
County school systems. |
| 1991 |
Dr. Robert E. Tyndall becomes Interim Dean.
Reading Recovery program begins. |
| 1992 |
School of Education initiates first off-campus degree program in connection
with Coastal Carolina Community College and Camp Lejeune with program in
Elementary Education.
Teaching Fellows and School of Education offer first international experience
for students with trip to Australia. |
| 1993 |
UNCW names Dr. Robert E. Tyndall Dean.
Razor Walker Awards established. |
| 1994 |
School of Education renamed Donald R. Watson School of Education.
Watson Distinguished Professorship established.
Distance Education Initiative begins.
School of Education adds M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education. |
| 1995 |
Professional Development System established with signing of district
level agreements with eight school districts in the region.
Classroom Technology Assistance Plan developed. |
| 1996 |
Birth-Kindergarten undergraduate degree program begins. |
| 1997 |
Home Grown Scholarship program for minority recruitment begins. |
| 1998 |
School of Education adds M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a M.S. in Instructional
Technology. |
| 1999 |
Dr. Andrew E. Hayes serves as Interim Dean. |
| 2000 |
Dr. Cathy L. Barlow becomes Dean of Watson School of Education.
School of Education receives the Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to
use Technology (PT3) grant. |
| 2002 |
Ground breaking held for building to house the Watson School of Education,
a regional educational resource center, and the North Carolina Teacher
Legacy Hall.
NC Department of Public Instruction names WSE Teacher Education
program exemplary. |
| 2003 |
WSE initiates Teacher in Residence program.
WSE signs agreement with Osaka
Kyoiku University of Japan to begin administrative, faculty, and student
exchanges; efforts continue in England; expansion sought in South Africa.
Coalition
for Transition to Teaching (CT3) Grant awarded. |
| 2004 |
UNCW anticipates opening of new building.
Principal in Residence and Superintendent in Residence Programs initiated. |
| 2005 |
Grand Opening of new education building and NC Teachers Legacy Hall. |
| 2006 |
Watson School of Education NCATE Re-Accreditation.
Watson School of Education reorganized to include four departments: Early Childhood and Special Education; Educational Leadership; Elementary, Middle Level and Literacy Education; and Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education. |
| 2007 |
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration established. |
| 2009 |
Dr. Cathy Barlow named Interim Provost of UNCW; Dr. Karen Wetherill named Interim Dean of the Watson School of Education. |
| 2010 |
First cohort of Ed.D. students graduate.
WSE celebrates 5 years in the Education Building, 30 years as School of Education, and 55 years of courses at UNCW. |
| 2011 |
Dr. Kenneth Teitelbaum becomes the Dean of the Watson School of Education. |
| 2012 |
Watson School of Education renamed to the Watson College of Education. |
| 2012 |
Watson College of Education reorganizes the Associate Dean Offices: Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Dean for Teacher Education and Outreach.
Watson College of Education signs agreement with Galen University in Belize to establish a Masters of Education in Secondary Education in order to collaborate in the provision of a full time Masters degree with a dual award. |
| 2015 |
Dr. Van O. Dempsey III becomes the Dean of the Watson College of Education. |
