New Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Program

Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) programs are combined baccalaureate and master programs  (joint, blended, or 4+1 undergraduate and graduate degree program). These programs must be in compliance with the CSU Coded Memorandum AA-2012-01 and University Policy F19-1 [pdf]. Before you consider proposing a SAGE program, please review the memorandum and University policy. 

Step 1

Consult with the Curriculum Office: Associate Dean Jeffrey Honda and Curriculum and Academic Program Analyst Sarah Schraeder.

Review the Draft SAGE Scholars Application [pdf]. This application is intended to be developed into an online application form. Please only use this form as reference. 

Step 2

Submit a New Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Program Proposal in Curriculog (instructions linked), including a detailed roadmap (Blank SAGE Roadmap Template [docx]).

Deadlines for Fall 2021 Effective Date

All proposals for new SAGE programs should be submitted in Curriculog and receive college level approval no later than December 1, 2020. Exception might be made - contact us to discuss further.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the difference between a SAGE, Blended, Combined and 4+1 Program?

  • They are different names for the same degree objective. Toward the end of his/her undergraduate degree at SJSU, a student can apply to pursue a SAGE Program (this is the correct name to use) in which the student seamlessly transitions from undergraduate (Bachelor’s) to graduate standing (Master’s) without having to apply through Cal State Apply.  PLEASE NOTE: Not all majors on campus are eligible to pursue a paired Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (see Graduate Education website for eligible degree pairings).

• Why might my department want to develop a SAGE program?

  • Your department might want to develop a SAGE program to:

    1. Provide an accelerated route to a graduate degree;

    2. Provide students the opportunity to earn graduate credit during their junior and/or senior year thereby decreasing a program’s total unit requirements for both degrees and decreasing costs to the student (pending approval by the CSU Chancellor’s Office - expected by late Spring or early Summer 2021); 

    3. Provide a seamless process whereby students can progress from undergraduate to graduate status without having to pay additional fees for graduate admission;

    4. Allow students to possibly integrate their senior project with their graduate thesis/project; and/or, 

    5. Develop a stronger mentor/mentee relationship earlier in a student’s academic career.

• What are the application procedures?

  • Departments wanting to propose a new SAGE program should follow steps 1 and 2 above. 

    The student application procedures are currently under development. You can reference the Draft SAGE Scholars Application [pdf]. This application is intended to be developed into an online application form. Please only use this form as reference.  

• Are there any approved SAGE programs?

  • Not yet, but a number of departments are working on proposals. Please check Curriculog (All Proposals tab - using the "Advanced Filter", you can search by Proposal Type: "Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Program Proposal" and then click "Filter Proposal."