The Chicana and Chicano Studies and Teaching Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Program  provides students the opportunity to earn their Chicana and Chicano Studies, BA  and Single Subject Credential - Social Science  and Teaching, MAT  (with an optional Spanish bilingual authorization) 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. This 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 that trains undergraduate students in Social Science-based methodologies and critical pedagogies of the Humanities and Arts to foster comprehensive knowledge of the diversity and multiculturalism intrinsic to American society. 

To add a Spanish Bilingual Authorization to this pathway, students simultaneously apply to the Critical Bilingual Authorization program (CBAP). This requires an additional personal essay in their SAGE Scholars application and an interview in Spanish. CBAP students take one credential course in Spanish (EDTE 208B  instead of EDTE 208 ) and take specified sections of several other credential courses. They also complete their student teaching in bilingual classrooms and are required to register for 2 seminars of EDTE 297B - Advanced Issues in Bilingual Education  (2 units) during their student teaching semesters, for an additional 4 units.

Total SAGE Program Units (BA + Credential + MAT) 151

For more information, contact the CCS Department’s undergraduate advisor.

Admissions Requirements

Most students who started their undergraduate education at SJSU, as well as transfer students, 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 Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies 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.

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:

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

2. Maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher;

3. 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;

4. 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;

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

6. 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;

7. 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, 

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

9. 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 4 and 6. 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 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.

Culminating Experience

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 EDTE 299 .

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: EDTE 298 .