This Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program  prepares students to teach History, Social Science, and Ethnic Studies in California public high schools. The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies  provides an interdisciplinary curriculum and comprehensive liberal arts education by training students to appreciate diversity and multicultural American society. As juniors, Chicana and Chicano Studies, BA majors are eligible to apply for a SAGE Scholars program that allows them to be concurrently enrolled in the Social Sciences Single Subject Credential and Teaching, MAT programs (with an optional Spanish bilingual authorization) as an undergraduate. This combined degree pathway, with an optional United States History Minor, can be completed in five years. 

To add a Spanish Bilingual Authorization to this pathway, students simultaneously apply to the Critical Bilingual Authorization (CBA) program. This requires an additional personal essay in their SAGE Scholars application and an interview in Spanish. CBA students also take three credential courses in Spanish, do their student teaching in bilingual classrooms, and attend an extra seminar during their student teaching courses.

For more information, contact the Program Advisor Maria Alaniz.

Admissions Requirements

Most native and transfer students will become eligible to apply for the SAGE program in the Spring semester of Year 3 and enter the pathway during their Fall semester of Year 4. Applications will be processed by the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department and without an application fee. Students will not need to apply formally for graduate admission if accepted into this program.

1. Students must have successfully completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate degree applicable units and not more than 120 undergraduate degree applicable units at the time of program; 
2. Students must be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) prior to admission into the program; 

3. Students must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA at the time of admission. GPA is calculated by the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units taken or a student’s cumulative GPA, whichever is higher Note that this is a higher GPA standard than other SAGE Scholars programs;

4. Students must meet the Teaching, MAT and Single Subject Credential admissions requirements.

Academic Standing

Continuation requirements: SAGE Scholars must meet the same requirements to remain in the undergraduate and graduate programs as students in traditional pathways. Requirements for program continuation and advancement to candidacy in the graduate program, include:

1. Successfully complete 9 units of graduate coursework in the Secondary Education program;

2. Demonstrate aptitude for advanced work in professional education as measured by instructor appraisals, evaluation of previous academic work, recommendation by qualified professionals, or other assessments;

3. Meet with a graduate advisor to plan a formal course of study. The MAT degree approved programs are individually designed to meet specific student objectives;

4. To enter student teaching, students must have completed the Subject Matter Competency requirements (CSETs or Subject Matter Competency waiver, if applicable);

5. To convert to graduate status, students must have completed their 45 hours of pre-professional service in a public school setting: 25(+) in the secondary subject area and up to 20 hours any work with youth;

6. To convert to graduate status, students must have completed all lower-division work (including lower and upper-division general education courses and American Institutions courses); and, 

7. The proposed graduate program must be approved by the graduate coordinator before the student may be considered a candidate for the MA degree.

Graduation requirements: SAGE Scholars must meet the same undergraduate graduation requirements as Chicana and Chicano Studies majors, including University and GE requirements, to be conferred the BA. As graduate students, SAGE Scholars must meet all current graduate program requirements. Upon completion of the credential requirements, students must have achieved a SJSU cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their graduate work order to be recommended for a credential.

Advising Roadmap

Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5

The following roadmap is a sample advising map to complete the SAGE Scholars program in 5 years. Please consult your MyPlanner and major advisor as you develop your individualized academic plan. Students must have completed 60+ units in order to enroll in SJSU Studies courses.