Degrees Offered at San Jose State University
San Jose State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable MPH Online Programs.
San Jose State University is a founding school of the California State University system and the oldest public university in California. It offers a complete range of associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to students from all over the world. The campus in San Jose provides personal instruction and learning resources for residential students as well as students enrolled in the online university. At SJSU, students can choose from 145 bachelor’s and master’s programs with 108 degree concentrations. Academic departments are administered by the following colleges and schools:
- Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
- Connie L. Lurie College of Education
- Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Health and Human Sciences
- College of Humanities and the Arts
- College of Professional and Global Education
- College of Science
- College of Social Sciences
Undergraduate business majors have a wide selection of degree programs to choose from. Degree concentrations include accounting and finance, global innovation and leadership, information systems and technology, management, marketing, and business analytics. The Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business degree paths require 60 credit-hours of courses related to the major of choice. All undergraduate business programs have residency requirements, so students must live in the San Jose area to attend classes in person throughout the semester. The accounting and finance programs are some of the most popular choices for business majors. Accounting students can add an extra year to their degree path to prepare for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.
The Connie L. Lurie College of Education offers many choices of undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs for education majors. Some of the master’s programs in education focus on degree topics such as child and adolescent development, speech pathology, counseling and student personnel, administration and supervision, education leadership, and special education. Master’s programs in education require about 48 credit-hours to complete and usually take three to four semesters of full-time enrollment. With a Master of Arts in Education degree, graduates can pursue leadership positions in administrations of K-12 schools. All of these programs have residency requirements and must be completed in person.
The School of Information offers a Gateway Ph.D. program for students who already have a master’s degree in a research-focused discipline. Applicants must have first- or second-class graduation standing, with a 3.5-or-better overall GPA in their completed master’s program. The Gateway Ph.D. program at SJSU is conducted mostly online, but it does have some residency requirements. Students are expected to complete the program in four to eight years, so research for the program can generally be conducted at the student’s own pace. With a Ph.D. in library and information science, graduates can pursue job opportunities in academia, government and private industry.
Fully online degrees available at SJSU include the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Library and Information Science, Master of Archives and Records Administration and Master of Science in Criminology. Several hybrid programs are also available for online students who can occasionally travel to the campus. The Master of Science in Medical Product Development Management, Master of Arts in Music Education and Master of Public Health all contain online and campus-based components.
About San Jose State University
SJSU was founded in San Francisco, Calif., in 1857 as Minns Evening Normal School, a teacher preparation academy. Over the years, the school evolved into a fully accredited public research institution and liberal arts college, and in 1974, its name was changed to San Jose State University. With an endowment of $150.1 million and an annual budget of $372 million, SJSU provides excellent learning opportunities and resources to students of all backgrounds and education levels. SJSU has 2,037 faculty members and a student body of 27,834 undergraduates and 5,448 postgraduates, so students can expect small class sizes and personal attention from professors.
San Jose State University Accreditation Details
SJSU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission. The WSCUC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to provide accreditation to universities throughout the western region. Institutional accreditation covers all the programs offered by SJSU, and because the WSCUC is a regional agency, credits earned at SJSU can easily be transferred to other institutions. Many programs at SJSU are independently accredited by specialized agencies, such as:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
- Council on Education for Public Health
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
This list is by no means exhaustive, and many other specialized agencies have accredited programs at SJSU. Programmatic accreditation ensures that students enrolled in specialized programs will graduate with credentials recognized by professional institutions throughout the world.
San Jose State University Application Requirements
Freshman applicants must submit high school transcripts with information about their cumulative GPA, course schedule, class size and graduation ranking. Graduate school applicants must submit an official transcript showing proof of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. Undergraduates should include SAT or ACT scores with their applications while graduate students may be asked for GRE test scores for admission to some master’s programs. Applicants of all program types can begin the process with the same online application. August 1 is the deadline for fall enrollment, and December 1 is the deadline for spring enrollment.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For California residents, the cost of tuition at SJSU is around $7,418 per year. Non-residents can expect to pay around $18,578 per year for tuition. The cost of books, supplies and living expenses can increase the total amount by around $10,000 or more per year. Financial aid is available through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program for students with financial need. By submitting a FAFSA form, students can apply for low-interest public loans and Pell Grants at the time of enrollment.
San Jose State University is a great choice for students looking for a convenient and economical state school for their college education.