The information in this chapter refers to undergraduate admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), and the Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC).

Transfer students and current Stony Brook students seeking admission to any of the junior-senior level undergraduate programs in the Health Sciences Center should consult the Health Sciences Center section in this Bulletin and the separate Health Sciences Center Bulletin.

Students are encouraged to submit an application for admission by July 10 for fall admission and by December 20 for spring admission.

Freshman Admission

Stony Brook evaluates applicants on an individual basis. There is no automatic cutoff in the admission process, either in grade point average, rank, or test scores. The Admissions Committee seeks to enroll the strongest and most diverse class possible. Successful applicants will typically have earned:

• a high school diploma or equivalent (a Regents diploma is preferred for New York State residents);
• a strong high school academic program that includes:
  • 3 to 4 units of mathematics (4 units required for engineering)
  • 4 units of English
  • 4 units of social studies
  • 3 units of science (4 units required for engineering)
  • 2 or 3 units of a foreign language;
• standardized test scores that indicate the promise of success in a rigorous undergraduate course of study.

Application Procedures for Freshmen

Freshmen are generally admitted to the University rather than to a particular program. Students interested in majors in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences should indicate their interest on the admissions application; qualified students are admitted directly into those programs. Admission to the University does not guarantee acceptance into CEAS programs.

All applicants must submit a completed application for undergraduate admission available either through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or their high school guidance office. To receive an application form, contact the Office of Admissions at (631) 632-6868 or via e-mail admiss@mail.vpsa.sunysb.edu or by visiting the website www.sunysb.edu/admissions.

Early Action for Freshmen

Early Action is a non-binding early application/notification program available at Stony Brook (except for upper-division HSC programs). If you are accepted for Early Action, you need not withdraw your applications at other institutions until May 1.

To apply for Early Action, your application must reach APC by November 15. You will need to indicate your desire to apply for Early Action where indicated on your application. The Office of Ad-missions notifies Early Action applications by January 1. If accepted for Early Action, you will have until May 1 to finalize your enrollment decision.

Early Admission from High School

While the University does not actively seek students who expect to leave high school before completing all requirements for either a Regents or high school diploma before they matriculate at college, such applicants are reviewed and offered admission when other admission requirements are met. Applicants for early admission must submit a letter of support from their high school principal with their applications.

Early admission students who are still included on their high school rosters after enrolling at the University are not eligible for financial aid.

Notification of Freshman Admission

Students are notified of their admission for the fall semester beginning January 15 and on a rolling basis thereafter. Notification for spring admission begins on November 1 and continues on a rolling basis thereafter. Admission to the University is determined approximately two weeks after all credentials are received and evaluated.

Deferred Enrollment

Stony Brook permits admitted freshmen to defer enrollment for a maximum of two semesters. Requests for deferred enrollment must be put in writing and sent to the dean of admissions by May 15 for students accepted for the fall semester and November 15 for those accepted for the spring semester. The request for deferred enrollment must include a justification for the deferment and the length of time for which the deferment is being requested. A deferment is not honored if the student attends another institution.

Transfer Student Admission

Entrance Requirements
Individuals who registered at a regionally accredited college or university after graduating from high school are eligible to transfer to Stony Brook. Applicants are required to have performed well in a strong academic program. If the applicant has earned fewer than 24 credits, high school transcripts must also be submitted.

The University of New York is committed to offering admission to qualified graduates of university-parallel programs, i.e., A.A. and A.S. degree recipients from colleges within the State University of New York and City University of New York systems. Students are not, however, guaranteed admission into the program of their choice. Graduates of career-oriented programs (A.A.S. and A.O.S.) will be considered for admission on an individual basis and in competition with other transfer applicants.

Students interested in majors in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences should indicate their interest on the admissions application; qualified students are admitted directly into those programs. Admission to the University does not guarantee aceptance into CEAS programs. See the alphabetical listing of "Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs" for admission requirements for specific majors.

Offers of admission are conditional, pending receipt of all official records showing successful completion of academic work in progress.

It is the student’s responsibility to see that a final college transcript is sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office prior to registration. Applicants who expect to be degree recipients (A.A. or A.S.) should present evidence of receipt of the degree prior to registration for advising purposes.

Note: Any deliberate falsification or omission of data (including transcripts) may result in denial of admission or
dismissal.

Transfer Credit Policies

1. Transfer credit is entered on the official University transcript with the understanding that neither previous grades nor their cumulative averages are shown.
2. Graduates of SUNY or CUNY colleges who earned an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree prior to matriculation at Stony Brook receive transfer credit for all credits completed as part of their associate degree requirements. Official proof of an A.A. or A.S. degree must be submitted by October 1 after fall semester entry or February 15 after spring semester entry.
3. Credits for students transferring from SUNY or CUNY colleges without a degree, or with any degree other than the A.A. or A.S., or from colleges that are not part of SUNY or CUNY are handled differently. All credits passed with a letter grade of C or higher earned at regionally accredited institutions or programs recognized by New York State’s Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction and recorded on official transcripts are accepted for transfer credit and evaluated for applicability to specific Stony Brook degree requirements. Successfully completed courses from these institutions for which a grade equivalent to P or S was assigned are also accepted for transfer credit.
4. Almost all credits earned at community colleges are considered to be lower-division credit.
5. Transferred courses are reviewed individually by the Undergraduate Transfer Office for their applicability toward fulfillment of general education requirements. They must carry at least 3 semester hours of credit to be applicable to any category in the Diversified Education Curriculum (D.E.C.). Applicants who have completed college-level study at an institution outside of the United States will have their credits evaluated for application to the University’s general education requirements by the Undergraduate Admissions counselor for international students.
6. Courses satisfactorily completed elsewhere for the intended major or needed to fulfill the 39 upper-division credits requirement must be evaluated by the appropriate academic department for specific applicability. No transferred course with a grade lower than C may be counted among the 39 upper-division credits required for graduation. Forms for requesting the evaluation of specific courses for major and upper-division credit are available in the Undergraduate Transfer Office and in the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office. Students may begin the evaluation process as soon as they accept the offer of admission. Note: courses taken at other universities and colleges in a technology curriculum will normally not be transferred as equivalents to engineering or applied sciences courses.
7. Credit may be given for courses taken in foreign secondary schools having a thirteenth year equivalent to the first year of college. Students who have studied in such schools should consult the Undergraduate Admissions’ counselor for international students before seeking a departmental course evaluation.

Dual Degree/Joint Admissions

Stony Brook participates in a Joint Admissions Program with the College of Technology at Farmingdale, Nassau Community College, and Suffolk County Community College. Through this program, students are jointly admitted to one of the participating colleges and to Stony Brook. Participating students must remain in good academic standing prior to commencing their studies at Stony Brook.

Further information and details on this program are available from an admissions counselor at Stony Brook or from the admissions office at one of the participating colleges.

Returning Students

The University welcomes applications from motivated individuals of all ages. Previously earned grades are evaluated differently for adults who have not been enrolled in school for five or more years. All applicants are required to submit high school and/or college transcripts. If SAT scores or additional documentation is required, the Undergraduate Admissions Office will contact the applicant. An admissions interview before or soon after filing an application has proved helpful for returning students, providing a chance for them to discuss what they have done since attending school and to learn about the University’s programs and services.

Admission for Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students who previously earned a bachelor’s degree, either at Stony Brook or another institution, may be eligible for the Second Bachelor’s Degree Program.

All applicants must file an application for undergraduate admission, submit an official transcript indicating previous degree earned, and normally have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50.

Students who earned a degree from either a foreign university or an institution that is not regionally accredited are reviewed individually to determine eligibility for the Second Bachelor’s Degree Program.

Admission of International Students

International students interested in applying to the University should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office directly (or visit the website at www.stonybrook.edu/admissions) for appropriate application materials and information, as these differ from forms filed by United States citizens and permanent residents. Completed applications must be returned to the Stony Brook campus.

Original certified transcripts with grades from secondary school and college courses are required. These transcripts must be in the original language and accompanied by an English translation with an explanation of the marking system. Secondary school records must reflect academic achievement equivalent to the minimum for admission when converted to the American grading scale. A 2.50 grade point average is required of international students who wish to transfer from other colleges in the United States. A minimum of one full year of study in a parallel program reflecting a grade point average of 2.50 or higher is required of transfer applicants whose secondary school achievement fell below the standard required for freshman admission. (see "Transfer Credit Policies")

All persons whose native language is not English are required to take the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test, or to demonstrate English proficiency by one of the following methods: SAT verbal score of 430 or higher or proof of attendance at an Intensive English Language Institute in the United States with completion of a program at the advanced level.

It is also necessary to provide financial documentation which indicates that the applicant has sufficient funding to pay for all educational and personal expenses while in the United States. The amount considered as sufficient funding may vary from year to year. Forms and details are included in the Application Packet for International Undergraduate Students.
Early completion of the application is crucial. Applicants should keep in mind the following deadlines for completed applications: for the fall semester the deadline is April 1; for the spring semester, it is October 1.

It is assumed that all international students require on-campus housing unless documented evidence of alternate living arrangements is filed with the application.

Admission of Students with Disabilities

The academic admission procedures for students with a disability are the same as for all other applicants. Students with a disability, including students with a learning disability, are evaluated on the basis of high school transcript and grade point average, standard or untimed SAT scores, and letters of recommendation. An interview is strongly recommended.

Admission for Part-Time Matriculation

Students who are unable to attend Stony Brook full time may wish to apply for study as part-time matriculated students. Part-time students may enroll for up to 11 credits per semester and are subject to all academic rules and regulations appropriate to that status. First-time matriculants at Stony Brook should follow the application procedures
described elsewhere in this chapter. (Freshmen see "Freshman Admission" above; Transfer students see "Transfer Student Admission" above)

Admission for Non-Degree Study

General Information

Non-matriculated study is available at Stony Brook for individuals who are not ready to study for a degree or who are not interested in studying for a degree. Non-matriculated students cannot graduate from the University in this status; however, courses and grades earned may be applied toward a degree program at Stony Brook and used to fulfill the Uni-versity’s residence requirements should a student subsequently matriculate. Generally, students who did not initially qualify for matriculation and who wish to do so must successfully complete either 15 credits at Stony Brook with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50, or 12 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher. As with matriculated students, a permanent record is kept by the University’s Office of Records.

Non-matriculated students pay the same tuition and other fees as matriculated students. (High school students admitted through the Young Scholars Program described below, however, pay only a small administrative fee.) In addition, non-matriculated students are not eligible to receive most kinds of financial aid. Students from other institutions who plan to study at Stony Brook as visiting students should see a financial aid counselor on their home campus about continuing to receive financial aid.

Applications for non-matriculated study are available in the Undergraduate Ad-missions Office. They should be completed and returned with transcripts from all previous institutions. Applicants for full-time non-matriculated study (FTNM) must have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.50 for a minimum of 15 credit hours at their previous institutions. Applicants for part-time non-matriculated study (PTNM) must have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.30 for a minimum of 15 credit hours. Adults returning to school after an absence of five or more years may request special consideration if they do not meet these standards.

Non-matriculated students’ academic performance is reviewed at the conclusion of each semester. Students earning less than a 2.00 semester grade point average are not permitted to continue.

High School Students: Young Scholars Program

The Young Scholars Program offers academically talented high school students who live within commuting distance of Stony Brook the opportunity to complement their high school study with part-time coursework at Stony Brook. The courses are scheduled in the late afternoon, early evening, and on Saturday. In past semesters, course offerings have included Calculus III: Differential Equations, Spanish Composition and Conversation, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Psychology, and Logical and Critical Reasoning, to name only a few.

For each course the title, credits, and grade will be recorded on an official Stony Brook transcript. The student may later use these courses toward a degree at Stony Brook or offer them as transfer credit at another college or university.

Applicants should have junior or senior standing with an average of 90 or above, should have taken honors and advanced placement courses when available, and have Regents scores in the high 80’s or 90’s. Participants must have the approval of their parents and guidance counselor or principal before acceptance into the program.

To request an application and description of course offerings, write or phone:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
118 Administration Building
University at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-1901
(631) 632-6867

Acceptance to the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Programs

Qualified freshman and transfer applicants to the University may be accepted directly into the applied mathematics and statistics, business management, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering science, information systems, or mechanical engineering majors; however, they must specify their interest at the time they apply. Admission to the University does not guarantee acceptance into any of these eight programs. See the alphabetical listing of "Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs" for admission requirements for specific majors.

Visiting the Campus

Visits to the campus are strongly recommended. During the academic year, knowledgeable students conduct campus tours that leave from the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Prospective students are invited to tour the campus with guides who are informative about Stony Brook and responsive to questions. Tours are scheduled throughout the year and leave from the Undergraduate Admissions Office. It is advisable to call (631) 632-6868 for the schedule when planning a visit to the campus.

Orientation/Academic Advising Program

Each semester prior to the start of classes, all new freshmen and transfer students are required to attend a one-day orientation session during which they may confer with faculty members about academic programs and potential careers, learn about campus life from student leaders, and register for classes.

Separate freshman and transfer student orientation programs are conducted during the summer for fall entrants, and in January for spring entrants. Detailed information concerning the content, costs, and dates of orientation is sent shortly after the offer of admission.

Pre-Enrollment Deposit and Refund Policy

Each new student is required to pay an advance tuition deposit of $100 and an additional $200 deposit when housing is requested. Fall deposits, which are applied against charges incurred by the student in the first semester, are due either May 1 or 30 days after admission is offered, whichever is later. Housing deposits are fully refundable until July 1; thereafter, they are refundable according to a prorated schedule. Tuition deposits paid before April 1 are refundable until May 1. Spring deposits are due 30 days after admission is offered. Requests for refunds should be sent to Student Services Center, University at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1351, and must be received by the University not later than the due date. To ensure timeliness and receipt of the deposit refund request, the University suggests letters be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Summer Session Admission

Each year the University offers a wide range of courses, from lower division (100- and 200- level) to upper division (300- and 400- level) during the Summer Sessions, which usually consists of two consecutive sessions, each equivalent to a semester. These classes are the same as those offered during the academic year and offer the same number of credits. During the summer most classes meet two or three times per week, although some may meet as often as five times per week. Day and evening classes are available in both sessions.

The University has an open enrollment policy during the summer. All graduates of accredited high schools or equivalency programs may attend Summer Sessions classes at Stony Brook. In addition, high school students who have completed their junior year by the end of June may take selected introductory-level summer courses if their grade point average is 85 or higher.

Admission to summer classes is for the Summer Sessions only. Those students who wish to continue studying at Stony Brook during the academic year, either toward a degree at Stony Brook or as non-degree students, must apply for admission following the procedures outlined in this Bulletin. Upon acceptance as students at Stony Brook they may use Summer Sessions credits taken at Stony Brook toward fulfillment of their academic requirements.

To request information about Summer Sessions, write or phone:

Summer Sessions Office
Humanities Building, Room 102
University at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5370
(631) 632-7070

or e-mail at summerschool@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.
The website is www.sunysb.edu/summer.