Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

African American Studies BA + Minor in U.S. History + Single Subject Credential in Social Science + Teaching MAT


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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 African American Studies  provides an interdisciplinary curriculum and comprehensive liberal arts education by training students to appreciate diversity and multicultural American society. As juniors, African American 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.

Summary of Degree Units

African American Studies, BA 103
Teaching, MAT + Single Subject Credential 47
Total 150

For more information, contact the Program Director Susan Verducci Sandford.

Admissions Requirements

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

  • 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.
  • Students must be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) prior to admission into the program.
  • 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.
  • Students must meet the Teaching, MAT and Single Subject Credential admissions requirements.

Students who have reached up to their first semester as classified seniors will remain eligible for entry into the SAGE program. Second semester, senior-level students enrolled in the term they expect to graduate from their baccalaureate degree are not eligible to enter into the SAGE program as these students will not gain the accelerated graduate-level benefit offered through the SAGE blended program option.

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:

  • Successfully complete 9 units of graduate coursework in the Secondary Education program;
  • 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;
  • 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;
  • To enter student teaching, students must have completed the Subject Matter Competency requirements (CSETs or Subject Matter Competency waiver, if applicable);
  • 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;
  • 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, 
  • The proposed graduate program must be approved by the graduate coordinator before the student may be considered a candidate for the MA degree.
  • Students are converted to graduate status when they have completed 120 SAGE program-applicable units. The following University Requirements are satisfied with required courses in the major: American Institusions and GE Areas D and F. Alternate courses that may satisfy these requirements are not counted in the calculation of the 120 SAGE program-applicable units unless they are listed in the University Electives section of the major.

Graduation requirements: SAGE Scholars must meet the same undergraduate graduation requirements as African American 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.

Program Requirements (150 units)


African American Studies, BA (103 units)


Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

University Requirements (45 units)


The Lower and Upper Division General Education  requirements may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. To satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) , students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and 100W with a grade of “C” or better (“C-” not accepted).

Minor in U.S. History or University Electives (16 units)


There is currently no CSET waiver program for the African American Studies BA. SAGE students will need to pass the Social Science CSETs (+optional CSET LOTE for the bilingual authorization) by the beginning of student teaching. It is strongly suggested that students earn the minor in U.S. History. These suggested courses for the minor cover the content taught in California high school classes and help students prepare for the CSETs.

University Graduation Requirements

To be awarded a minor, at least 12 units of coursework must be completely distinct and separate from the coursework in the major, and coursework for the minor must include a minimum of 6 upper-division units (University Policy S16-4). Minor preparation or support courses do not count toward the 12 distinct units. Of the coursework for the minor, at least 6 units must be completed in residence at SJSU. The minimum aggregate GPA for all coursework required for the minor must be at least 2.0.

Minor in U.S. History (Optional) (16 units)

Teaching, MAT + Single Subject Credential in Social Science (47 units)


Upon completion of the MAT and credential requirements, students must have achieved a SJSU cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to be recommended for a credential. Completion of the MAT also requires a minimum grade of “C” in all courses taken and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. 

Spanish Bilingual Authorization: Complete student teaching (EDSC 184X /SCED 184Y /SCED 184Z ) in Spanish bilingual classrooms and attend an extra seminar session in these student teaching classes; and take the following courses in Spanish: CCS 185 EDTE 208 , and EDTE 262 .

Culminating Experience (6 units)


Students must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by completing Plan B (Project), and a presentation on the same at the department’s colloquium, which is held near the end of each fall and spring semester.

Plan A (Thesis): Write a master’s thesis. The thesis will include original research on a topic approved by the thesis committee, and must meet university requirements as stipulated in this catalog and in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. The thesis identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. Thesis proposals must be approved by the graduate committee, which is made up of two department faculty and a third faculty member from outside the department. Students enroll in: 

Plan B (Project): Complete a master’s project report. A project is a significant undertaking that evidences originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and a rationale. It is described and summarized in a report that includes the project’s significance, objectives, methodology and a conclusion or recommendation. Students enroll in: 

Total Units Required (150 units)


Students must complete a minimum of 120 units to satisfy the bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 30 units to satisfy the master’s degree. In order to satisfy these requirements, 17 units of the credential count towards the bachelor’s degree and 24 units of the credential count towards the master’s degree.  

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