Date: January 9, 2009
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director,
Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu
PNC Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education
Westville – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) and the Indiana Department of Education's Office of Teacher Certification have granted approval to the Purdue University North Central Education Department to offer a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. This is the 17th baccalaureate degree offered by PNC.
A Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education will enable graduates to teach middle school and high school students in the math and science disciplines, said Dr. Cynthia Fontaine, chair of the PNC Education Department. PNC students will have the opportunity to enroll in the Secondary Education bachelor's degree classes in the fall of 2009.
“Local high school principals and area superintendents have long asked PNC to offer a secondary education degree,” said PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin. “Students have also indicated interest in pursuing degrees in secondary education at PNC. There is a definite need for secondary education teachers, particularly in the subjects of math and science.”
Currently Indiana and the nation are preparing too few teachers of mathematics and the sciences for middle and high schools. The secondary education degree program will focus on the high needs subject areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science and Mathematics. The program is a collaboration between the faculty of the PNC College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science .
The PNC Education Department currently offers Bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, professional licensure in Reading and Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Elementary Education.
“We look forward to offering this degree option. This degree will open many new career opportunities for our students,” said Fontaine.
PNC has offered its Elementary Education degree since 1984 and added the Early Childhood Education degree last year.
Further information on the PNC Elementary Education program and the Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education can be obtained by contacting (219) 785-5485.
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