Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching, BA + Education Specialist Credential + Special Education, MA

Admissions Requirements
Graduate Standing Requirements
Program Requirements (152 units)
Advising Roadmap

The Liberal Studies and Special Education Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program provides students the opportunity to earn their Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching, BA and Education Specialist Credential (Mild/Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs) and Special Education, MA degrees simultaneously, completing both degrees in five years, rather than the usual six years when completing them individually.The SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator works closely with the students to ensure a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate status, without students having to file a formal application for admission to the graduate program. Graduates of this program develop the knowledge and skills necessary to creatively meet the learning needs of students from Kindergarten through age 22 who have disabilities requiring mild, moderate, or extensive support. They most often work in school and/or residential settings.

Total SAGE Program Units (BA + Credential + MA) 152

For more information, contact the Program Coordinator: Dr. Erica Colmenares.

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. To be eligible:

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 admission;
Students must 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 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; and,
Students must meet all Special Education, MA and Education Specialist 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.

Graduate Standing Requirements

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:

Complete successfully 9 units of graduate coursework in the Special Education program;
Maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher;
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 MA degree-approved programs are individually designed to meet specific student objectives;
To enter student teaching, students must have completed the Elementary Subject Matter requirements (CSETs or ESM waiver requirements);
To convert to graduate status, students must have completed their 45 hours of pre-professional service;
To convert to graduate status, students must have completed all lower-division (including lower-division general education courses and American Institutions courses) and GE UD Areas requirements; 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 Institutions and GE Areas 1A, 1B, 3, 4, 5 and GE UD Areas (2/5, 3 and 4). Alternate courses that may satisfy these requirements are not counted in the calculation of the 120 SAGE program-applicable units.

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

Culminating Experience

Plan A (Thesis)
Students selecting the Plan A option will 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. Thesis proposals must be approved by the graduate committee made up of two department faculty and a third faculty member from outside the department. Students enroll in EDSE 299 .

Plan B (Project)
Students selecting the Plan B option will complete a master’s project or research paper. This a significant undertaking that evidences originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and a rationale. The final paper includes the significance, objectives, methodology and a conclusion or recommendation. Students enroll in EDSE 220 .

Program Requirements (152 units)

Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching, BA (104 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 Note Abbreviations ).

Field Study Courses with Pre-Professional Experience: 45 hours included in LSTP 185, and 10 hours included in each LSTP 85A/LSTP 85B/LSTP 85C course.

University Requirements (11 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 HUM 100W with a grade of “C” or better (“C-” not accepted).

GE Areas 1C, 3A, and 6 9 unit(s)
Physical Education 2 unit(s)

Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

ART 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World (3 units)
DSGN 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World (3 units)
ENGL 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World (3 units)
HUM 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World (3 units)
PHIL 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World (3 units)

Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

Complete a course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

Major Requirements (93 units)

Lower Division Requirements (33 units)
AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2 + US1)
AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D + US23)
BIOL 21 - Human Biology
OR ENVS 10 - Life on a Changing Planet 3 unit(s) (GE Area 5B / Formerly Area B2)
CHAD 60 - Child Development
OR CHAD 70 - Lifespan Development in a Global Context 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
CHEM 30A - Introductory Chemistry 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
ENGL 1A - First Year Writing 3 unit(s) (GE Area 1A / Formerly Area A2)
ENGL 2 - Critical Thinking and Writing 3 unit(s) (GE Area 1B / Formerly Area A3)
LSTP 10 - Chronicles of Education 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2)
LSTP 85A - Fieldwork in Humanities A 1 unit(s)
LSTP 85B - Fieldwork in Humanities B 1 unit(s)
LSTP 85C - Fieldwork in Humanities C 1 unit(s)
MATH 12 - Number Systems 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PHYS 1 - Elementary Physics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
Upper Division Requirements (60 units)
CA 177 - Interdisciplinary Arts for Teaching 3 unit(s)
CHAD 149 - Child Health and Activity 3 unit(s)
ENGL 112A - Children’s Literature 3 unit(s)
ENVS 158 - Environmental Education 3 unit(s)
GEOL 103 - Earth Systems and the Environment 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)
LING 107 - Patterns of English 3 unit(s)
LSTP 139 - Education and (In)Equality 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
LSTP 185 - Field Experience in Humanities 3 unit(s)
MATH 105 - Concepts in Mathematics, Probability, Statistics 3 unit(s)
MATH 106 - Intuitive Geometry 3 unit(s)
SOCS 137 - California History for Teachers 3 unit(s)
SOCS 138 - US History for Teachers 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
SOCS 139 - World History for Teachers 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
Art Disciplines 6 unit(s)
Area of Specialization 9 unit(s) (at least 3 units must be upper division)
Capstone: HUM 190 - Senior Seminar in Humanities 3 unit(s)
HUM 100W - Writing in the Humanities & Interdisciplinary Arts 3 unit(s) (WID)

Special Education, MA + Education Specialist Credential (48 units)

Master’s Requirements (30 units)

Core Courses (24 units)

EDSE 102 - Intro to Language Development and Disability 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
EDSE 215 - Assessing Students with Disabilities 3 unit(s)
EDSE 218D - Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 unit(s)
EDSE 224 - Methods for Emergent Bilinguals with Disabilities 1-3 unit(s)
EDSE 228A - Topics in Collaboration and Transition 3 unit(s)
EDSE 241 - Applying Assistive & Instructional Technology 3 unit(s)
EDSE 279 - Positive Behavior Support 3 unit(s)
Complete One From:
Extensive Support Needs: EDSE 213A - Methods for Students with Extensive Support Needs 3 unit(s)
OR Mild/Moderate Support Needs: EDSE 230A - Inclusive Pedagogy for Students with M/MSN 3 unit(s)

Research Course (3 units)

EDSE 285 - Intro to Action Research in Special Education 3 unit(s)

Culminating Experience (3 units)

Program departments are required to certify when Plan A or Plan B has been completed satisfactorily via the Verification of Culminating Experience form.

Complete One Option:

Plan A (Thesis)
- EDSE 299 - Master’s Thesis 3 unit(s)
Plan B (Project):
- EDSE 220 - Advanced Research Projects in Special Education 3 unit(s)

Credential Units (18 units)

EDEL 108D - Curriculum: Mathematics 3 unit(s)
EDSE 192B - All Learners: An Introduction to Disabilities 1 unit(s)
EDSE 192C - Inclusive Strategies for Educating Students with Disabilities 1 unit(s)
EDSE 192D - Introduction to Special Education Policy and Law 1 unit(s)
EDSE 216A - Literacy Instruction: Students with Disabilities 3 unit(s)
EDSE 234 - Early Field Experiences in Special Education 1-3 unit(s)
Complete One From:
Option 1- Mild/Moderate Support Needs: EDSE 217A - Advanced Fieldwork in Mild Moderate Support Needs 6 unit(s)
OR Option 2- Extensive Support Needs: EDSE 154 - Advanced Fieldwork in ESN and ECSE 6 unit(s)

Total Units Required (152 units)

Note: The following Education Specialist Credential Courses are shared with the Masters: EDSE 102 , EDSE 215 , EDSE 218D (or EDSE 218B ), EDSE 224 , EDSE 228A , EDSE 230A or EDSE 213A , EDSE 241 , and EDSE 279 .

The Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching, BA requires the completion of CHAD 135 . Students satisfy this course in this SAGE Scholars Program by completing EDSE 216A . 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, 10 units of the credential count towards the bachelor’s degree and remaining units of the credential count towards the master’s degree.