The Liberal Studies and Teaching Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program  provides students the opportunity to earn their Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching, BA  and Multiple Subject Credential  and Teaching, Critical Bilingual Education (Spanish) Concentration, MAT  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. There are numerous benefits to this combined pathway. First and foremost, early exposure to graduate courses productively enhances and integrates students’ professional development. Undergraduates will be allowed to enroll in educational theory and practice courses during the years when they are developing competency in the subjects taught in K-8 classrooms. A combined pathway of theory, practice, and K-8 subject matter allows students to integrate these three legs of teaching early and often, and gives them ample time to assimilate the linkages prior to when they are required to demonstrate understanding and skills in all three areas - student teaching.

Critical Bilingual Education (Spanish) Concentration requirements include 3 of the teacher credential courses (EDTE 262B , EDTE 297B  and EDTE 208B ) will be taught in Spanish, and student teaching (EDEL 143A /EDEL 143B ) will be completed in Spanish bilingual classrooms. Students additionally complete two, 2-unit Spanish seminars (EDTE 297B ) to support student teaching during the final year.

Total SAGE Program Units (BA + Credential + MAT) 156

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 be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) prior to admission into the program. For Liberal Studies students, this means HUM 100W ; 
• 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 Teaching, MAT and Multiple 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.

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 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 a GPA of 3.0 or higher;
• Successfully completing 9 units of graduate coursework in the Multiple Subject Education program;
• Demonstrating aptitude for advanced work in professional education as measured by instructor appraisals, evaluation of previous academic work, recommendation by qualified professionals, or other assessments;
• Passage of the CSET LOTE (subtest III) must occur prior to the second phase of student teaching; and
• The proposed graduate program must be approved by the graduate coordinator before the student may be considered a candidate for the MAT degree.
• Students are converted to graduate status when they have completed 120 SAGE program-applicable units. The following University Requirements are waived or satisfied with required courses in the major: GE Areas 1A, 1B, 5A, 5B, 5C, 2, 3B, 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 Liberal Studies, Preparation for Teaching 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 A (Thesis) or 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 .