Child and Adolescent Development & Early Childhood Special Education Credential & Special Education, MA

This Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE)  program provides a pathway for students to earn a bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development  with a focus on early childhood and a master's degree in Special Education  with a teaching credential in Early Childhood Special Education . Undergraduates enrolled in the program begin their graduate studies while completing undergraduate requirements. Students who complete this program will have developed a deep understanding of child development, including how to apply this knowledge in the instruction of young children with and without disabilities. Students completing this program will be eligible for endorsement for both the CTC Child Development Permit and the Education Specialist Credential in Early Childhood. 

For more information, contact the Child & Adolescent Development Department at [email protected].

Admissions Requirements

Most frosh 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 their Spring semester of Year 3. As per AA 2012-01, students will not need to apply formally for graduate admission if accepted into this program. To be eligible: 

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 entry;
2. Students must be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CHAD 100W ) with a C or better;
3. Students must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA;
4. Students must complete the Basic Skills Requirements, in the form of coursework in reading, writing, and math completed with a grade of B- or better, or an equivalent standardized test (e.g., CBEST) by the time of program entry;
5. Students must complete the Subject Matter Competency Requirement (9 units of coursework related to child development and early childhood education) by the time of program entry.

After completing those steps, students will submit a SAGE application to the Department of Special Education . Applications will be processed by the Special Education Department and not through CalState Apply. They are processed without an application fee. With the exception of the letters of recommendation (see below), all application documents should be collated into a single pdf and sent to the Special Education Department via [email protected]. This application includes the following components:

1. SJSU SAGE application and tracking form;
2. SPED departmental application form;
3. A Statement of Purpose that explains how they arrived at their decision to become an early childhood special educator and their commitment to complete the requirements for the SAGE program (one to two pages in length, double spaced, 10-12 font type);
4. Transcripts for any coursework completed at other colleges or universities not showing in the students' MySJSU account;
5. Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant's qualifications and potential for success in the SAGE program (all letters must be written within the past 2 years and must include the date the letter was written, the signature of the recommender, and contact information of the recommender);
6. A Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Graduate Standing Requirements

Requirements for program continuation and advancement to candidacy 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.
• The proposed graduate Course of Study Plan must be approved by the graduate coordinator before the student may be considered a candidate for the MA degree.
• To convert to graduate status, students must have completed their 45 hours of pre-professional service and all lower division requirements.
• To enter student teaching, students must have completed Subject Matter Competency requirements (in the form of 9 units of coursework related to child development and early childhood education).
• Students must also 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
• 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.
• 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 B4 and E, and.SJSU Studies (S and V). 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.

Note that SAGE students must meet the same undergraduate graduation requirements  as all Child and Adolescent Development majors, including University and GE requirements, to be conferred the BA. As graduate students, SAGE students 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.

• U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized, accredited, and approved institution from a country outside of the U.S. 
• A 2.5 institutional or college cumulative GPA (from the 0.0 - 4.0 U.S. grading scale) in the last degree completed, or a 2.5 GPA in the last two years of full time study. Please note that individual program requirements may have a higher GPA requirement. 
• Good academic standing at the last institution attended.
• English Language Proficiency Exam, if necessary.