The Pennsylvania College of Technology shall have the authority to conduct educational programs consistent with the mission of The Pennsylvania State University as the Land Grant Institution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, except that the Pennsylvania College of Technology shall not confer baccalaureate degrees in the fine arts, the social sciences, the natural sciences or humanities without approval of the Commonwealth in accordance with regulations of the State Board of Education. Such approval shall be granted upon determination of educational need, provided such programs would not constitute unnecessary duplication of programs offered in the college's service area, which includes Lycoming, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Sullivan, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union and Clinton counties.