I took 201 (after doing 101 and 102 on my own) with Dr. R. White at YU, who uses Coakley. I used Noldeke as a reference grammar. For reading material, I would recommend using the chrestomathy in Muraoka's Classical Syriac, (which uses Estrangela, which, having first learned Serta, is a little annoying. Kind of like learning Hebrew using modern script, and then shifting to square print. But I guess a little variety is good) if you can get a copy, or any of CAL's texts (which are quite numerous). Peshitta is good practice, but (IMHO) won't prepare you well for reading the likes of Aphrem (as would using the Vulgate to prepare you for Cicero. Not entirely analogous, but hey).
I don't really know about Syriac programs elsewhere. I know that here at YU a large portion of the Bible faculty is very competent in Syriac, but Syriac courses are only offered once every five years or so.
Best of luck to you.
What is your standing plan of action to learn Syriac?