The Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Program

Overview

The Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) program provides undergraduate students an accelerated path towards a graduate degree. SAGE scholars will pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously by allowing scholars to earn graduate credit during their undergraduate career. Additionally, SAGE scholars will have the added benefits of 1) reducing the number of semesters required to earn a master’s degree, 2) paying undergraduate fees for some graduate-level courses, 3) a seamless application process when applying to the graduate career, and 4) working with a research mentor earlier in a program of study. 

Read about the SAGE Program in SJSU news

Eligibility

• Students must 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.
• Students must be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (usually 100W) prior to admission into the SAGE program.
• Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of admission into the SAGE program. There may be SAGE programs that require a higher GPA admission standard.

Note: Students must have completed all lower division courses (designated as 001-099) BEFORE transitioning into the SAGE graduate degree objective status.

Current SAGE Programs 

Please visit here to see the updated list of SAGE programs

Application Information

Interested students should first determine their eligibility for a given SAGE program in consultation with a SAGE Program Coordinator. Complete the SAGE Program Application with your coordinator who will forward you application for processing and approval to the Office of the Registrar (for Step 1) or GAPE (for Step 2). Keep in mind two important points:

1. You must meet with your advisor every semester to review and complete the SAGE Academic Career Planner
2. The semester before you reach 120 degree eligible units, you must file a second application to ensure that you will be transferred into the graduate career the following semester.

Documents for Viewing or Download 

SAGE Program Application 

SAGE Program Academic Career Planner 

SAGE Advisors and Student Handbook [pdf]

You can find more information by visiting the SJSU catalog.

View the SAGE Brochure [pdf]

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will I be able to complete all degree requirements for a SAGE program in 5 years?
  • Not necessarily. There is no guaranteed 4+1 time-frame. Consult with your Graduate Coordinator and develop a Working Formal Study Plan. You will receive your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees when you have completed all degree requirements for both degrees. This often takes longer than 5 years to accomplish, particularly if your program requires a thesis.
• Can I apply for any SAGE program on campus?
  • No. Only certain majors on campus are eligible to pursue a paired Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. To determine if your undergraduate program is paired with a corresponding approved Master’s degree, view the "Current SAGE Programs" section above.
• Can I be conditionally admitted into a SAGE program?
  • No. There are no conditional admittances into any SAGE programs. Students who are accepted into SAGE programs should not be required to complete any additional courses other than those identified as required for the Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degrees in the catalog.
• Will transitioning to graduate standing impact my tuition rate?
  • Yes. Transitioning to graduate status will increase your tuition. PLEASE NOTE: Transitioning to graduate standing may also impact your financial aid status. Speak directly with the Financial Aid Office for more information.
• I was accepted as a SAGE scholar, but I had to leave SJSU and was discontinued as a student. I would like to return to SJSU to complete my degree. What should I do?
  • Returning to SJSU as a SAGE scholar can be extremely challenging. The first step is to reapply to the university. If you were disqualified from the University, you will also have to apply for reinstatement. Please check with Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) for more information. Once you have received a response from GAPE, contact your program to determine what your options are for continuing in the SAGE program.
• I have other questions. Who should I contact?
  • Please contact College of Graduate Studies Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Jeff Honda for more information.