The Justice Studies Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program provides students the opportunity to earn their Justice Studies, BS  and Justice Studies, MS  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. 

Total SAGE Program Units (BS + MS) 141

For more information, contact the SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator​ Ericka Adams.

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  or JS 12  or 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.
• 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 2 and GE UD Areas (2/5 and 3). 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.

Culminating Experience

Students select one of the following options for their culminating experience. Students should choose the option that best suits their particular interests and goals.

Plan A (with Thesis)

Plan A provides an advanced program of study for those who are primarily interested in conducting research, and pursuing advanced study toward the doctorate. The Plan A is a 6-unit thesis option designed to provide opportunities for in-depth investigation in the student’s area of emphasis. 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 student and the thesis committee chair, with approval by the graduate coordinator, determine the thesis requirements and timelines. Approval by the graduate coordinator and thesis committee and a “B” average in the core coursework is required before a student can register for JS 299 . Students interested in this option must also submit a brief written statement to the graduate coordinator describing their research interests and expertise, and receive permission from the graduate coordinator.

Plan B (Project)

The Plan B option provides an advanced program of study for professionals and those who want to pursue careers in justice studies fields. It requires a 3-unit research project that is conducted with the rigor appropriate to graduate work. Its culminating experience is a substantial, original paper on a specific research topic and an associated poster presentation evaluated by a faculty panel comprised of all members of the Justice Studies graduate committee. Individual projects are agreed to by the graduate student and JS 297  academic advisor and require the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. Students choosing this option must take an additional 3-unit elective and enroll in JS 297  during their final semester.