The new degree program demonstrates the State System’s commitment to addressing the specific needs of schools and school districts in Pennsylvania, said Mary W. Burger, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs.

“Our universities are working to refocus programs away from areas that are over prescribed and toward areas where great needs are indicated,” Burger said. “Those areas certainly include mathematics, science and technology.”

The MAT degree program proposes to prepare experienced engineers, scientists, and mathematicians to become effective classroom teachers. The program is unique to the State System of Higher Education and to the immediate area served by California University.

National data indicates that while public school teachers are well educated, generally, many secondary school students are being taught a subject by a teacher who was not trained in that subject area. This is particularly true for classes in mathematics and science and in low-income secondary schools, which most often are situated in urban or rural districts.

Professionals who seek certification as teachers now sit in the same classes with undergraduate secondary education majors, although they often may already have earned their baccaleaurate degree and bring with them the problem-solving and thought processes they may have gained from years of experience as scientists and mathematicians. Accordingly, the format of the MAT degree program is unique, as students will be expected to master competencies rather than simply complete courses.

This new degree will allow California University to take full advantage of its new facility, the Eberly Science and Technology Center, assuring there will be a strong emphasis on technology throughout the program.

With more than 95,000 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. Nearly 350,000 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.