Year Name and Levels[18] 1889 Semi-private school 1891 Cullowhee High School 1893 First state appropriation; Normal Department established; First graduating class 1905 Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School 1912 Junior College rank established; Secondary school discontinued 1913 First college-level (one-year) degree awarded 1925 Cullowhee State Normal School 1929 Western Carolina Teachers College; Senior College rank established 1931 First Baccalaureate degree awarded 1951 Graduate degree established 1952 First master's degree awarded 1953 Western Carolina College 1967 Western Carolina University 1972 A constituent institution of the University of North Carolina