Apr 25, 2024  
MyRoadmaps Catalog 
    
MyRoadmaps Catalog

Justice Studies, BS + MS (2023-2024)


Admissions Requirements

Most students will become eligible to apply for the SAGE program in the Fall semester of their Year 3 and enter the pathway during the Spring semester of Year 4. To be eligible, students must: 

  1. Successfully complete a minimum of 60 undergraduate degree applicable units and not more than 120 undergraduate degree applicable units at the time of admission into the SAGE program;
  2. Have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (Writing in the Disciplines/100W/GWAR) prior to admission into the SAGE program;
  3. Completion of JS 10 JS 12 , and JS 25 ;
  4. Completion of JS 15  or STAT 95 ;
  5. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, or GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester units;
  6. Completed all lower division GE requirements; 
  7. Must not be declared in another major;
  8. 2 academic letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s qualifications and potential for success in the combined SAGE program;
  9. A 1,250 word, double-spaced essay responding to the following prompt: Describe and discuss a justice-related issue you see as important to our society and/or particularly relevant to contemporary times. In your essay, you may want to focus on one or more of the following questions: What are the social causes of this issue? What are its historical origins? What explains its persistence? How does it impact the human rights of individuals involved? How is this issue being addressed by our society? Could it be addressed differently? What policy changes would be needed? (Students should cite and reference any sources used.)

Graduate Standing Requirements

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, with no individual grade below a C. Students not maintaining these standards will be placed on probation initially, followed by disqualification if the grades are not improved within two semesters. To advance to candidacy in the graduate program, students must have completed 9 units of graduate coursework in the MS Justice Studies program and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework. 

SAGE students must meet the same undergraduate graduation requirements as BS Justice Studies majors, including University and GE requirements, to be conferred the BS. As graduate students, SAGE students must meet all current graduate program requirements including having a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in their graduate work.

Advising Roadmap

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

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

Year 1


Spring Semester (14 units)


Year 2


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (16 units)


  • GE Area C1 or C2  3 unit(s)
  • GE Area D  + US123  3 unit(s)
  • University Elective 3 unit(s)
  • University Elective 3 unit(s)
  • University Elective 3 unit(s)
  • Physical Education 1 unit(s)

Year 3


Fall Semester (15 units)


Students become eligible to apply to the SAGE Scholars Program.

Spring Semester (15 units)



Apply or admitted to SAGE program.

Year 4


Fall Semester (15 units)


Admitted to SAGE program.

Spring Semester (15 units)


Year 5


Fall Semester (12 units)


BS degree posted.

Spring Semester (9 units)


Roadmap Notes


The standalone Justice Studies, BS program requires completion of JS 141 JS 142 , or JS 181 . Students satisfy this requirement in this SAGE Scholars Program by completing JS 220 .  Additionally, students will satisfy 9 units of Area major electives in this SAGE Scholars Program by completing JS 201 JS 202 ,and JS 211  in the Justice Studies, MS program. These 12 credits are considered to count toward both the graduate and undergraduate degrees, thus allowing SAGE students to meet the minimum unit requirements for both degrees.