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1880s
10/1889First agronomy courses offered
Agronomy courses were offered when the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts opened.
1900s
circa 1900Division of Agronomy created
1910s
01/01/1910M. E. Sherwin hired as first soil science professor
1920s
1924Department of Agronomy established
The Division of Agronomy became the Department of Agronomy.
5/20/1927Agronomy survey conducted
Students in the Agronomy 135 course, Farm Terracing, spent the day outside doing lab work, including surveying the land in preparation for planning tile drains.
North Carolina State College agricultural students locating terrace on campus, Raleigh, May 20, 1927
1930s
1930Genetics curriculum established
Genetics curriculum was taught as a component of coursework in the agronomy, zoology, and plant pathology departments.
1940s
1947First PhDs in Agronomy with soils major awarded to N. S. Hall and N. C. Brady
1950s
1952Department of Agronomy moved
The Department of Agronomy moved to Williams Hall.
Williams Hall
1956Department of Agronomy divided
The Department of Agronomy was divided into the Department of Field Crops and the Department of Soils.
1956-1974Paul H. Harvey served as head of the Department of Field Crops
Paul H. Harvey portrait
1956-1964J. W. Fitts served as head of the Department of Soils
Dr. James W. Fitts portrait
1960s
1962Department of Field Crops renamed
The Department of Field Crops was renamed the Department of Crop Science.
1962Department of Soils renamed
The Department of Soils was renamed the Department of Soil Science.
1964-1970Ralph J. McCracken served as head of the Department of Soils
Ralph J. McCracken
1970s
1971-1981C. B. McCants served as head of the Department of Soils
Charles B. McCants portrait
1974-1975Philip A. Miller served as head of the Department of Crop Science
1976-1988Billy E. Caldwell served as head of the Department of Crop Science
1980s
1982-1989R. H. Miller served as head of the Department of Soils
1989Soil science history published
Ralph J. McCracken published his book The History of Soil Science at North Carolina State University. An updated version existed on the department's website.
1989-1992Johnny C. Wynne served as head of the Department of Crop Science
1990s
1990Crop science institutional history written
P. H. Harvey wrote Crop Science: A Harvest of 100 Years, an institutional history of the department. A print edition exists in the library.
1990-1996Eugene J. Kampreth served as head of the Department of Soils
1992-1994William K. Collins served as head of the Department of Crop Science
Portrait: William K. Collins, Field Crops
1994-1998David A. Knauft served as head of the Department of Crop Science
Knauft portrait
1999-2007Thomas Stalker served as head of the Department of Crop Science
1999-2003John L. Havlin served as head of the Department of Soil Science
2000s
2004-2005Keith Cassel served as head of the Department of Soil Science
2007-2016M.G. Wagger served as head of the Department of Soil Science
Wagger served as interim head from 2006-2007
2010s
2012John Jeffery Mullahey became head of the Department of Crop Science
07/01/2016Departments of Soil Science and Crop Science merged to form the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
North Carolina State College agricultural students locating terrace on campus, Raleigh, May 20, 1927
Williams Hall
Paul H. Harvey portrait
Dr. James W. Fitts portrait
Ralph J. McCracken
Charles B. McCants portrait
Portrait: William K. Collins, Field Crops
Knauft portrait