The State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors has approved a new master of science degree program in middle level education certification to be offered by Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

The program will help train teachers with the special skills needed to work with students in the middle grades, usually ages 11 to 14. Specific emphasis will be placed on the training of current teachers and non-teaching professionals in the areas of mathematics, science and literacy.

The program is intended to serve as the cornerstone of the Regional Center for Middle Level Education, proposed as a long-term goal by Cheyney University. It will serve teachers and prospective teachers in the Delaware Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as in the adjoining states of Delaware, New York and New Jersey.

The program is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Students enrolled in the program will take six existing courses in middle-level education, and will have access to the university’s remaining graduate courses in literacy, mathematics and science, instructional technology, citizenship and diversity, family involvement, classroom management, evaluation and assessment and research. The degree will require students to complete a minimum of 36 credits to be offered over eight semesters, including summer sessions

Cheyney University currently offers graduate teacher education programs leading to the master of arts in teaching degree through the Urban Learning Academy; masters of education degrees in elementary education, special education and educational administration and supervision; and masters of science degrees in adult and continuing education and special education. The university also offers programs leading to supervisory, secondary and/or intern certification in biology, chemistry, communication arts (English), early childhood, elementary education, foreign languages, general science, mathematics, social studies, special education and administrative I—elementary and secondary principal.

With more than 98,600 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.