This Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) program provides a pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development  with a focus working in community organizations that serve the needs of diverse children, youth, and families. Undergraduates enrolled in the program begin their graduate studies while completing undergraduate requirements. Students who complete this program will have developed a deep understanding of child and adolescent development, the contexts that shape their development, advocacy and collaborative leadership, and how to apply these skills to work in community organizations serving diverse children, youth, and families.

Total SAGE Program Units (BA + MA) 141

For more information, contact the Child & Adolescent Development Department at childdev@sjsu.edu.

Admissions Requirements

Most frosh 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 their Spring semester of Year 3. Applications will be processed by the Department of Child and Adolescent Development  and without an application fee. Students will not need to apply formally for graduate admission if accepted into this program. To be eligible: 

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 entry;
2. Students must have successfully completed all lower division GE requirements;
3. Students must be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CHAD 100W ) with a C or better prior to admission into the program;
4. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in major coursework at time of admission.

Prior to applying to the program, prospective SAGE candidates will:

1. Meet with the ChAD SAGE advisor.
2. Meet with their ChAD Academic Advisor, who must sign the SAGE Application Form and the Course of Study Plan. The form and plan should be routed to the Registrar’s Office and a copy should be included in the student application to the department.

After completing those steps, students will submit a Departmental Application. With the exception of the letters of recommendation (see below), all SAGE MA application documents should be collated into a single pdf and sent to the Department of Child and Adolescent Development (childdev@sjsu.edu). This application includes the following components:

1. Departmental application form;
2. A 1-2 page Statement of Purpose that explains their passion and career interests in community organizations, how this program will help them meet their career goals, and their commitment to complete the requirements for the SAGE program (one to two pages in length, double spaced, 10-12 font type);
3. Transcripts for any coursework completed at other colleges or universities not showing in the students’ MySJSU account;
4. Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s qualifications and potential for success in the SAGE program (all letters must be written within the past 2 years and must include the date the letter was written, the signature of the recommender, and contact information of the recommender).

Applications will be processed by the Department of Child and Adolescent Development and not through CalState Apply. They are processed without an application fee.

Graduate Standing Requirements

Requirements for program continuation and advancement to candidacy in the graduate program, include:

• Meeting every semester with an academic advisor to plan and track coursework and graduate status. Once the BA is conferred, students meet every semester with their graduate advisor to plan a formal course of study.
• Maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• To convert to graduate status, students must have completed all lower division requirements.
• 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:  GE Areas B4 and E. 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.

SAGE students must meet the same undergraduate graduation requirements as all Child and Adolescent Development majors, including University and GE requirements, to be conferred the BA. As graduate students, SAGE students must meet all current graduate program requirements.