Majors & Minors

To view a list of major and minor programs and requirements, click here

Declaration of a major program begins with the Admission application. A major is defined as sequential study in a subject or field of at least 30 semester hours that provides knowledge of breadth and depth in that subject or field. Courses are completed in accordance with a plan devised by the department, also known as, suggested program of study.

  • Students must complete at least one half of the major program in residence as Sage institutional credits.
  • Students must achieve a major GPA of 2.200 (minimum) in order to graduate. *Note: some academic programs have higher GPA requirements. See GPA chart below.
  • 120 total credits are required for a bachelor's degree (minimum). See Graduation Requirements for additional information.
  • Double major or dual major: is a program of study in which a student meets the requirements of two distinct majors in a single bachelor’s degree.
  • Linked & Accelerated Programs - UG to GR
Major Change Requests

Students wishing to change their major program or add/change/drop a minor program may do so by sending an email message from their Sage email account to [email protected]. In the email, students should indicate the new major or minor they wish to declare. Please see the Major Program Admission Criteria chart for the academic programs that have distinct admission criteria and/or limited space availability

  • All academic program changes require the approval of the Advising Office.
Minors

A minor is a cohesive group of courses that allows students to explore, in a structured way, an area of interest outside the major. Each minor is defined by one or several academic departments and consists of at least six courses usually totaling 18 to 24 credits. Minors are commonly declared at the end of the sophomore year. Upon declaration of a minor, students are assigned to a faculty advisor in that program. 

  • Successful completion of at least one course in the discipline is a prerequisite to such declaration.
  • Minors may be declared any time before the completion of the drop/add period in the first term of the senior year or before completion of 87 credit hours, whichever comes later.
  • Only two of the required minor courses may also count toward major or another minor’s requirements.
  • At least one-half of the required credits for the minor must be completed at Sage.
  • Minors are designated on student transcripts if all requirements are met, including a GPA in the minor of at least 2.200.
Chart of UG Major Programs
Major ProgramsMajor 
GPA
Cumulative 
GPA
# of Credits 
Required
in Major
# of Credits Needed 
in Gen. Educ.*
(FF)
Campus
Albany or Troy
Academic Exploration (AEX)nananana(A)(T)
Art + Extended Media (B.F.A.)2.2002.00087 cr.33 cr.(A)
Biology (B.A.)2.2002.00054-56 cr.30 cr.(T)
Biology (B.S.)2.2002.00078-88 cr.30 cr.(T)
Business Administration (B.B.A. or B.S.)2.2002.00060 cr.30 cr.(A)
Criminal Justice, Law, & Behavioral Science (B.S.)2.2002.0054 cr.30 cr.(A)
Early/Childhood Educ - English (B.S.)3.0003.000102-103 cr.21 cr.(T)
Early/Childhood Educ - Foreign Lang (B.S.)3.00o3.000  (T)
Early/Childhood Educ - History (B.S.)3.0003.00098-99 cr.21 cr.(T)
Early/Childhood Educ - Life Science (B.S.)3.0003.00097-98 cr.21 cr.(T)
English, Writing, and Culture (B.A.)2.2002.00043 cr.33 cr.(T)
Expressive Arts in Mental Health (B.S.)2.2002.00054-55 cr.27 cr.(A)
Forensic Psychology (B.S.)2.2002.00063 cr.27 cr.(A)
Graphic + Media Design (B.F.A.)2.2002.00078 cr.33 cr.(A)
Health Sciences (B.S.)2.7502.00064-65 cr.21 cr.(T)
History (B.A.)2.2002.00046 cr.30 cr.(T)
Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A. or B.S.)2.2002.00036+ cr.tbd(A)(T)
Interior + Spatial Design (B.F.A.)2.2002.00084 cr.33 cr.(A)
Musical Theatre (B.S.)2.2002.00075 cr.30 cr.(T)
Nursing (B.S.)3.0002.00085-86 cr.27 cr.(T)
Nursing RN-BS (B.S.)3.0002.00054-55 cr.27 cr.(T)
Nutrition Science (B.S.)2.2002.00082 cr.24 cr.(T)
Organizational Studies (B.P.S.)2.7502.00045-46 cr.30 cr.(A)
Physical Education (B.S.)2.7503.00095 cr.27 cr.(A)
Psychology (B.S.)2.2002.00043 cr.30 cr.(T)
Sociology (B.A.)2.2002.00035-37 cr.30 cr.(T)
Special Education (B.S.)3.0003.000 21 cr.(T)
Speech-Language Pathology (B.S.)2.2002.0084 cr.24 cr.(A)
Sport & Recreation Management (B.S.)2.2002.00058 cr.27 cr.(A)
Theatre (B.A.)2.2002.00042 cr.33 cr.(T)

*Courses required in general education may also fulfill a requirement in the major program except where noted. The course credits are only counted once in your overall credit total.

Academic Exploration

Freshman students who are undecided or do not wish to declare a major at the time of matriculation (undeclared) may enter the Academic Exploration program (AEX) and will be assigned an advisor who specialize in academic and career counseling. Students in the Academic Exploration program will take a combination of courses in satisfaction of General Education requirements and in areas of potential academic interest. Students may stay in the Academic Exploration program up to the completion of 45 credit hours or first year of study, at which point, they will be expected to declare a major program. Because many programs at Sage are dedicated to preparing students to enter professions that have specific course requirements and prerequisites, Academic Exploration students work closely with the Office of Academic Advising to select courses in a potential major that will allow them to integrate seamlessly into a particular discipline. In addition to academic advisement, students are encouraged to speak with faulty, career planning staff and alumni. Students may also benefit in completing the Focus 2 Career Assessment program. Important Note: Diplomas are not granted for academic exploration. In order to earn a bachelor’s degree, students must successfully complete a major program.