POTSDAM — SUNY Potsdam is launching a new Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science education, leading to initial K-12 certification in the in-demand field.

The program was developed to help meet the expected demand for certified computer science teachers in New York State, which recently added a computer science teacher certification.

It is expected that many schools will be requiring computer science courses and be seeking certified teachers in the field, especially since New York City announced an initiative to offer computer science education in all public schools at every grade level by 2025, and since New York State announced a Smart Start program to expand computer science education.

According to Code.org, computing occupations are the top source of new wages in the United States, but only 45 percent of high schools offer courses in computer science.

To help close the gap in encouraging more people from underrepresented backgrounds to enter computing, studies also show the importance of opening up access by teaching foundational skills in high school and earlier.

Students will study appropriate computer science content, particularly in the key areas of the New York State K-12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards adopted by the Board of Regents in 2020.

These standards focus on five key concepts: impacts of computing, computational thinking, networks and systems design, cybersecurity, and digital literacy.

Students will also complete a parallel program in teacher preparation, including teaching methods courses and field experiences and student teaching in K-12 classrooms.