Table of Contents
- About the Bulletin
- Introduction to Stony Brook
- Student Services
- Admissions
- Financial Information
- Scholarships and Awards
- Degree Requirements
- Academic Policies and Regulations
- Special Academic Programs
- Approved Majors, Minors & Programs
- Supplement
- Courses by Department
- Courses by Designator
Other Useful Links
- Schedule of Classes
Course Web Sites
- Campus Map
- 1999-2001 Bulletin
Site Designed by
Melissa Bishop/DoIT
Last Modified 10/10/2002 11:40:00 AM EDT
Students are responsible for reviewing, understanding and abiding by the University’s regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications including this Bulletin, the Student Handbook, and Class Schedules. The information in this section applies to students on the West Campus (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, W. Averell Harriman School of Policy and Management, and Marine Sciences Research Center) in undergraduate programs and to those planning to apply to programs in the Health Sciences Center.
Registration for Classes
Students should register for classes as soon as they are eligible to do so. With the assistance of an academic advisor, each student selects a group of courses. The student must register for classes each semester in accordance with instructions issued by the Registrar’s Office and published in the semester Class Schedule booklet as a prerequisite to class attendance. It is the student’s responsibility to see that the program conforms with academic regulations and meets degree requirements.
Before registering for the first time at the University, all new students participate in an orientation, which includes an academic advising program. During orientation, students receive academic information and advice from faculty members, professional advisors, and student orientation leaders. Incoming transfer students attend sessions at which they discuss the applicability of their previous coursework to Stony Brook’s graduation requirements, including their planned major department. At the conclusion of orientation, students register for the coming semester.
Continuing students register each semester either via telephone through the University’s automated telephone system or in person at the Registrar’s Office. Advance registration begins in November for the following spring and in April for the following fall. All continuing students should advance register. Final registration takes place during the week before and through the first ten days of classes. Full-time students may enroll for up to nineteen credit hours each semester, but during the period of advance registration are temporarily limited to a maximum of seventeen credits. Registration priority is based on class standing, which is defined by the number of credits completed: freshman, 0-23; sophomore, 24-56; junior, 57-84; senior, 85 or more. Registration instructions are published in the semester Class Schedule booklet each semester and confirmation of students’ course programs is available by telephone, at on-campus SOAR (Student Online Access to Records) sites, or on the Web at http://www.sunysb.edu/www/studinfo.html.
After registering, students are billed and payment is due on the date indicated on the bill. Payment can be made through the University’s automated telephone system, which also provides information to students on their individual accounts and on financial aid.
Note: Nonpayment of tuition by registered students does not constitute official withdrawal from the University. Students must officially withdraw in person through the Academic Advising Center, the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office, or in writing through the Registrar’s Office to avoid financial liability.
Late Registration
Students who have not registered prior to the start of classes are considered to be registering late and are assessed a late registration fee. See the fee information in the Financial Information chapter for full details. The late registration period corresponds to the add/drop period. See the "Add/Drop Period" entry below for additional information on registering for courses after the start of classes.
Add/Drop Period
The add/drop period begins on the first day of classes and ends at the close of business on the tenth day of the semester. Many courses require students to have permission to register after the course has closed or after the start of classes. Permission requirements for individual courses are noted in the semester Class Schedule. All courses require students to have permission to register during the second week of classes.
For courses that require permission, students must obtain the appropriate signature on an Enrollment Adjustment Form, available in the Registrar’s Office, advising offices, and department offices, and take the signed form to the Registrar’s Office or department office for processing. If the course is closed, students may request permission to add from the instructor or department office. Departments have different waitlist procedures and some do not offer waitlists; students should consult the department office for information.
Students may drop most courses using the automated telephone registration system. Some courses require permission to drop; these are noted with the course entry in the semester Class Schedule booklet. In addition, some freshman-level courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics have an extended add/drop period, usually ending after the administration of the first exam, which allows students who perceive they are in a class that is too advanced to drop down to the appropriate level course.
See the entries "Course Load and Course Withdrawal" and "Withdrawal from the University" later in this chapter for more information on dropping and withdrawing from individual courses and withdrawing from all courses (withdrawing from the University).
After the tenth day of classes, students may only add a course following procedures, established by the appropriate faculty Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals (CASA), for petitioning for an exception to the deadline, described in "Petitioning for Exceptions" later in this chapter. Students may drop a course by telephone or in person after the first ten class days, but full-time students (those registered for 12 or more credits) must maintain at least 12 registered credits. A "W" (withdrawal) will be recorded on the transcript. (See "Course Load and Course Withdrawal" below.) Students granted permission to make changes in registration after deadlines stated in the academic calendar will be assessed a fee.
First-Week Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes from the first day of the semester on. Those who do not attend, during the first five days of the semester, a class for which they are registered risk losing their right to remain in the course. A faculty member has the prerogative of de-registering students not in attendance, particularly if others are seeking to add the course. To avoid an "NR" (No Record) on the transcript, students must take responsibility for dropping a course by telephone or by submitting a Registration Adjustment form before the end of the ninth week of classes.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status
Full-time enrollment status is an eligibility requirement for most forms of financial aid, health insurance coverage, and intercollegiate athletics, and provides priority status for on-campus housing. Full-time or part-time status is determined on the basis of the number of credits for which a student is enrolled after the tenth day of classes each semester. Students registered for 1 to 11 credits are considered part time; those registered for 12 or more credits, full time. Students are responsible for determining the implications of changing their enrollment status.
Course Load and Course Withdrawal
Full-time matriculated students—that is, those students who seek to earn a degree from the University—normally register for 12 to 19 credit hours per semester. Requests for permission to register for more than 19 credits must be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals.
After the tenth class day in the semester through the ninth week, a full-time student may withdraw from a course providing that full-time status (a minimum of 12 registered credits) is maintained. A mark of "W"’ will appear on the transcript indicating withdrawal. Part-time students may withdraw from a course and will receive a mark of "W."
After the tenth class day, full-time students who wish to drop one or more classes and thereby carry fewer than 12 credits (an "underload") must petition the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals. Approval for an underload, granted for the current semester, is allowed only in emergency situations. Before requesting an underload, the student should determine the consequences of dropping below 12 credits for scholarships, loans, and intercollegiate athletic eligibility. Students with approved underloads will be charged at the full-time tuition rate. Students who have chronic difficulties that make full-time study inappropriate should only register for 11 or fewer credits (part-time status).
After the ninth week of classes, a student who wishes to withdraw from a course may do so only by withdrawing from the University.
Students officially withdraw from a course by using the Automated Telephone System or by submitting a Registration Adjustment form to the Registrar’s Office. Students withdrawing from all their courses (withdrawing from the University) may do so in writing or in person at the Registrar’s Office.
Notes:
Final Examinations
The academic calendar provides five days each semester for a Final Examination Period. The last examination of the course, whether comprehensive or covering only a portion of the material, must be given during the Final Examination Period at the time designated for the course. Exceptions may only be granted by the dean of the faculty member’s college for compelling academic reasons. Unit exams may only be given during the last three class periods if a final examination is also given during the Final Examination Period.
University Graduation Requirements
All candidates for any of the bachelor’s degrees conferred must satisfy all University graduation requirements as detailed in the "Degree Requirements" chapter in this Bulletin.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements
State education guidelines require students to complete a minimum number of credits in the liberal arts and sciences. Stony Brook degree requirements are structured so that students satisfy this requirement by completing the other requirements for the degree.
Non-liberal arts and sciences courses are detailed in the "Limits on Course Credits and Grading Options" section of this chapter.
Grading and the Grading System
Either a letter grade or status report is assigned each semester for every course for which a student is registered after the second week of classes.
The term "letter grade" refers to A through F and in certain circumstances to S grades.
| A | (superior work) |
| A- |  |
| B+ | |
| B | (good work) |
| B- | |
| C+ | |
| C | (satisfactory work) |
| C- | |
| D+ | |
| D | (minimum passing work) |
| F | (failing work) |
| I | (incomplete) |
| NC | (no credit) |
| NR | (no record) |
| P | (pass) |
| Q | (academic dishonesty) |
| R | (pending completion of second semester of a year-long course) |
| S | (satisfactory work) |
| U | (unsatisfactory work) |
| W | (withdrawal) |
All courses used to meet Diversified Education Curriculum requirements and courses used to meet major requirements, including, in engineering majors, the technical electives, must be taken for a letter grade. Students should consult the "Requirements for the Major" section of their major for any exceptions to this policy.
Final grades appearing on a student’s academic record cannot be changed after one calendar year from the start of the term in which the grade was assigned. Exceptions may be made if the instructor is on leave in the term following the one in which the grade is assigned or if the student is on leave because of disabling illness in that term. A final grade cannot be changed on the basis of work completed after a term has ended. Final grades appearing on a student’s academic record at the time of graduation cannot be changed to any other grade subsequent to receiving a degree.
Incomplete (I)
If circumstances beyond the student’s control inhibit the student’s ability to complete the work for a course on time, the student is responsible for informing the instructor of the circumstances immediately. At the discretion of the instructor, a temporary report of I (Incomplete) may be assigned, signifying that the student has been granted additional time to complete the requirements for the course. After granting an I, the instructor will set a date for completion of the requirements. That date will be no later than November 1 for courses begun the preceding spring semester or summer session and no later than March 15 for courses begun the preceding fall semester.
Students may not complete coursework for which an Incomplete was assigned by auditing or registering again for a subsequent offering of the course. If the instructor determines that circumstances merit it, the instructor may request an extension of the original Incomplete by written notification to the Registrar. This extended deadline will be no later than the last day of classes of the semester following the one in which the course was taken. Longer extensions for extraordinary reasons must be approved by the appropriate dean. If the work is not satisfactorily completed by the applicable or extended deadline, the final grade of I/F, U, or NC, as appropriate, will be assigned. The grade of I/F will be averaged as F when computing the grade point average (g.p.a.) or determining other measures of the student’s academic standing.
Pass/No Credit Option (P/NC)
Within the specific limits noted below, a student may elect to have the final grade in any course recorded on the official academic record either as P (Pass) if the reported letter grade is A through D, or as NC (No Credit) if the reported letter grade is F. Neither P nor NC is calculated into the grade point average (g.p.a.). Students may elect this option through the ninth week of classes.
The following provisions reflect the intent of this option, which is to encourage students to explore other and sometimes less familiar areas of study.
- Courses graded P may not be used to satisfy general education requirements.
- At least 100 credits of the 120 credits required for the B.A. or B.S. or of the 128 credits required for the B.E. degree must be passed with a letter grade (A through D or S).
- Election of the P/NC option is limited to the end of the ninth week of the semester as specified in the academic calendar in the Class Schedule each semester. After the date specified in the academic calendar, no changes either to or from the P/NC option may be made.
- The P/NC option may be elected only once for a given course.
- Full-time students (those registered for 12 or more credits) may not take more than two courses per semester under the P/NC option. Part-time students (those registered for 11 or fewer credits) may not take more than one course per semester under the P/NC option.
- The Registrar does not communicate to the instructor of a course the names of students who elect the P/NC option.
- Majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences have specific restrictions on the use of the P/NC option to satisfy their requirements. Refer to the specific major or minor requirements in the "
Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs" chapter of this Bulletin for details. Students in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences may not take any courses in the major, including technical electives, under the P/NC option. Only Open Electives may be taken under the P/NC option. - Courses for which the grade of P is recorded are not considered among the minimum of 12 credits required for a student to be on the Dean’s List.
- If a student re-takes a course with a grade recorded as P, the student will not receive credit for the re-taken course and the grade will not count toward the student’s credit load, semester g.p.a., or cumulative g.p.a., unless the grade assigned by the instructor for the course taken as P/NC was C- or lower.
- Students may not petition to change a course to letter-graded after the deadline for changing courses to or from the P/NC option has passed.
- Certain courses may not be taken under the P/NC option, such as developmental courses, and are so noted in the Bulletin course descriptions.
[Added Fall 2001] Note: Most graduate and professional schools require that prerequisite courses be taken for a letter grade and many can interpret NC grades as being equivalent to a grade of F. Students should consult the appropriate pre-professional or departmental advisors regarding the implications of electing the P/NC option. See also "Limits on Course Credits and Grading Options" later in this chapter.
No Record (NR)
Students are responsible either for completing the required work in or withdrawing from every course for which they have been registered. If an instructor finds that a student appears on the final grade roster for a course but has no record of that student’s ever having attended, the instructor will assign a report of NR (No Record). An NR may not be assigned for any other reason. If the student was actually in the class, the student must ask the instructor to correct the record by submitting a grade to replace the NR to the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals. If the student was not actually in the class and receives a report of NR, the student must petition the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals for a retroactive withdrawal from the course.
Grades of NR which have not been replaced by a final grade or by a W by the end of the ninth week of the fall semester (for spring NR grades) or by the end of the ninth week of the spring semester (for fall NR grades) will be converted to one of the following grades: N/F for letter-graded courses, N/U for courses graded A-C/U or S/U, or N/C for courses taken under the Pass/No Credit option. The grade of N/F will be treated as a failure for the purposes of academic standing and will be averaged as an F when the student’s g.p.a. is computed.
Q Grade
A grade of Q is assigned to a student found guilty of academic dishonesty. The Q remains on the transcript and is computed in the g.p.a. as a grade of F. Students who have a single finding of dishonesty may have the Q replaced by a letter grade determined by the instructor after satisfactory completion of a non-credit seminar addressing issues of academic dishonesty unless the applicable academic judiciary committee determines otherwise. Rescinded Q grades may be reinstated if there is a new finding of academic dishonesty.
Registered (R)
Some courses, chiefly senior honors projects numbered 495-496, are designated year-long courses. The final grade and credits for the course are assigned only after completion of both semesters. Instructors submit a report of R (Registered) at the end of the first semester. A final grade and credits for the combined semesters’ work are recorded at the end of the second semester. An R will also be given in certain courses where the final grade will be delayed because the coursework was done at a location remote from the campus. For the purposes of academic standing an R is treated as if it were a P.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
Some courses are designated as S/U grading and students will not receive a letter grade (A through F) for them. Students may not elect to take such courses under the Pass/No Credit option. S/U grading is not calculated into the grade point average (g.p.a.). Courses with S/U grading are counted among the 100 credits required for the degree that must be taken for a letter grade. They also apply to the criteria for Dean’s List.
Withdrawal (W)
A mark of W is recorded when the student withdraws from a course after the first ten days of classes. The W is used to indicate that the student withdrew after the end of the add/drop period. The W is not calculated into the grade point average (g.p.a.).
Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)
For the purpose of determining grade point average, grades are assigned point values as follows:
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The following grade reports are not calculated into the g.p.a.: P, NC, N/C, NR, R, S, U, W
Grades for courses transferred from other institutions do not affect the grade point average. Grades earned in developmental courses are not calculated in the cumulative g.p.a. Following is an example of a grade point average calculated for one semester:
1. Calculate the quality points for each course by multiplying the Point Value of the grade by the total number of credits for the course.
| Grade | Point Value | Course Credits | Quality Points |
| A | 4.00 | 3 | 12 |
| B | 3.00 | 4 | 12 |
| C+ | 2.33 | 3 | 6.99 |
| D | 1.00 | 3 | 3 |
| F | 0.00 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | | 16 | 39 |
- 2. Next, calculate the g.p.a. by dividing the total Quality Points by the total number of Credits Attempted (including F grades).
33.99 / 16 = 2.12
Semester g.p.a. = 2.12
Semester Grade Reports
Grade reports are prepared shortly after the conclusion of each semester and are accessible by telephone.
Note: Although credit for repeated courses is included in the total semester credits, only credit for approved repeated courses will ultimately count toward graduation. See the entries "Retaking Courses" and "Repeatable Courses" later in this chapter for more information.
Class Standing
A student’s class standing is based on the number of credits earned before the beginning of each semester, as follows:
| U1 Freshman | 0-23 credits |
| U2 Sophomore | 24-56 credits |
| U3 Junior | 57-84 credits |
| U4 Senior | 85 credits or more |
Academic Standing, Support, and Retention
All students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 to remain in good academic standing. Academic standing is reviewed at the end of each semester.
Stony Brook is committed to helping students who are at risk academically. The following retention system is designed to identify and provide academic support for these students.
Academic Warning Level 1
Students who are in good academic standing but whose semester g.p.a. falls below 2.00 will receive a letter of warning and will be encouraged to contact an academic advisor.
Academic Warning Level 2
First semester students
First semester students whose g.p.a. is below 2.00 will receive a letter of warning and will be required to contact an academic advisor who must approve the student’s schedule for the following semester. Students who fail to consult an academic advisor will be blocked from making changes to their schedules.
Continuing Students
Continuing students in good academic standing whose semester g.p.a. is below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters will receive a letter of warning and will be required to contact an academic advisor who must approve the student’s schedule for the following semester. Students who fail to consult an academic advisor will be blocked from making changes to their schedules.
Probation
Students whose cumulative g.p.a. falls below 2.00 will be placed on probation and will be required to contact an academic advisor who must approve the student’s schedule for the following semester. Students who fail to consult an academic advisor or who fail to register for the approved schedule will be de-registered. Students who are validly registered at Stony Brook and whose current academic standing remark is "academic probation" are considered to be in good standing for purposes of enrollment certification and participation in athletic and other co-curricular activities. [Effective Fall 2001]
Suspension
Students on probation who fail to achieve good academic standing the following semester will be suspended. Students may petition for reinstatement by completing a petition form and submitting it to the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals.
First Reinstatement
Students who have been suspended and have had their petition for reinstatement approved will have their reinstatement noted on their academic records. Reinstated students may be asked to sign a contract agreeing to conditions for reinstatement.
Second Reinstatement
Students who fail to achieve good standing in the semester following their reinstatement will have this noted and will be required to contact an academic advisor who must approve the student’s schedule for the following semester. Students who fail to consult an academic advisor or who fail to register for the approved schedule will be deregistered.
Dismissal
All reinstated students remain on probation. Conditions may be attached to the student’s reinstatement. Students who fail to meet the conditions for reinstatement or who fail to achieve a 2.00 cumulative g.p.a. within two semesters of reinstatement will be dismissed.
Academic Standing Levels and Actions
| Grade Point Average | Academic Standing Notice | Action Recommended or Required |
| | |
| 2.00 or higher | None | None |
| Warning Level 1 | Advising recommended |
| Warning Level 2 | Advising required |
| Probation | Advising required |
| below 2.00 | Suspension | Advising/Petition required |
| 1st Reinstatement | Contract required |
| 2nd Reinstatement | Advising required |
| Dismissal | Appeal to Dean |
Advanced Standing by Examination
Stony Brook accepts up to 30 credits by examination in partial fulfillment of the bachelor’s degree. Included in this total may be credit based on standardized external examinations such as AP, CLEP, Regents College Examinations, and Stony Brook’s own "Challenge Program." (See below for details.) Credit by examination may not be used to satisfy most Diversified Education Curriculum requirements; however, they may be used to satisfy one course in each of categories E, F, and G, and AP credit may be used to satisfy the first course of category A and category C. Credit by examination does not count toward the University’s residence requirement.
Credit requested for examinations or programs (e.g., military) not specifically mentioned below must be substantiated by the appropriate documentation. Requests for reviews of students’ qualifications must be submitted in writing to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Advanced Placement Credit
Advanced placement credit may be awarded to students who have completed advanced placement courses in secondary school and who have taken the appropriate CEEB advanced placement examination. Students must request that their test scores be forwarded to Stony Brook. Students who score at least a 3 on a subject area examination will receive three general elective credits; however, each academic department determines the minimum test score required for academic credit in a particular subject. For advanced placement credit equivalency, see "University at Stony Brook Advanced Placement Credit" below.
College-Level Examination Programs
The University awards credit for the Regents College examinations and for the CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) subject examinations only. Credit is not awarded for the CLEP general examinations. The scores received must be equivalent to a grade of C.
Challenge Program for Advanced Credit
The University’s Challenge Program permits undergraduates to earn advanced placement and academic credit by taking examinations in place of regular courses. (For further information about the Challenge Program, see "Challenge Program for Credit by Examination" below.)
Transfer Credit Policies
- Transfer credit is entered on the official University transcript. Grades received for transferred courses are not shown nor are they included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative grade point average at Stony Brook.
- 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 credit completed as part of their associate degree requirements. Official proof of an A.A. or A.S. degree must be submitted by October 1 if the student enters the University in the fall semester or by February 15 if the student enters the University in the spring semester.
- 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 evaluated individually. Credits for all courses passed with a letter grade of C or higher at regionally accredited institutions or recognized by the Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction of the State of New York and recorded on official transcripts are accepted and evaluated for applicability to specific Stony Brook degree requirements. Credits for successfully completed courses from these institutions for which a grade equivalent to P or S was assigned are also accepted.
- Almost all credits earned at community and technical colleges are considered to be lower-division credit.
- Transfer courses are reviewed individually by the Undergraduate Transfer Office for their applicability toward fulfillment of general education requirements. 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.
- Courses satisfactorily completed elsewhere toward 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.
- Courses taken at other universities and colleges in a technology curriculum will normally not be transferred as equivalents to engineering or applied sciences courses.
- 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.
- Courses offered by regionally accredited colleges in the high school and completed while the student was in high school will be evaluated for general elective credit upon receipt of an official college transcript.
- Courses offered by regionally accredited colleges on the college campus and completed while the student was in high school will be evaluated for transfer credit according to the guidelines in the "Application of Transfer Credits to General Education Requirements” section below.
Application of Transfer Credits to General Education Requirements
Transferred courses must carry at least 3 semester hours of credit to be applicable to any Entry Skill or D.E.C. category.
College of Arts and Sciences, Marine Sciences Research Center, and W. Averell Harriman School of Policy and Management
- All Entry Skills requirements may be met either through a specified examination, through courses taken at Stony Brook, or through transfer of equivalent courses. Satisfaction of these requirements will be evaluated at the time of matriculation.
- All students may satisfy D.E.C. categories A through K by transferring from regionally accredited colleges and universities coursework that meets the criteria of the category. Survey and introductory courses will not satisfy categories I, J, and K.
- Categories I and J may also be satisfied by transfer of six credits of college-level study abroad in a geographic area appropriate to the category.
- A course evaluated to be equivalent to a Stony Brook course will satisfy the category of the Stony Brook course.
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- All Entry Skills requirements may be met either through a specified examination, through courses taken at Stony Brook, or through transfer of equivalent courses. Satisfaction of these requirements will be evaluated at the time of matriculation.
- All students may satisfy D.E.C. categories A through G and I through K by transferring from regionally accredited colleges and universities coursework that meets the criteria of the category. Survey and introductory courses will not satisfy categories I, J, and K. (Candidates for the B.E. degree are not required to complete D.E.C. category K.)
- All students must satisfy D.E.C. category H at Stony Brook.
- Categories I and J may also be satisfied by transfer of six credits of college-level study abroad in a geographic area appropriate to the category.
- A course evaluated to be equivalent to a Stony Brook course will satisfy the category of the Stony Brook course.
- Once matriculated at Stony Brook, students may not satisfy D.E.C. category A by transfer.
- To satisfy D.E.C. categories I and J, one course must be in the humanities disciplines and one course must be in the social and behavioral sciences disciplines.
Students who wish to transfer credit from other institutions after matriculation at Stony Brook must study at a regionally accredited institution and earn a grade of C or higher in any course taken. In addition, if the student plans to transfer courses from an institution for which printed transfer equivalencies are not available (i.e. published Transfer Credit Guides and printed transfer equivalency sheets), the student must secure prior formal approval from the University. The Undergraduate Transfer Office maintains Transfer Credit Guides to selected schools with course equivalencies to Stony Brook offerings. These Guides are available at the Transfer Office or on their Admissions website at http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/CAS/ubinfo2.nsf/pages/admissions. Forms for securing prior approval are also available in the UndergraduateTransfer Office. Students must arrange to have official transcripts sent to the University upon completion of courses taken.
Currently enrolled students in the College of Arts and Sciences should consult with the Undergraduate Transfer Office before taking general education or elective courses elsewhere. Students who plan to transfer courses toward major requirements should get prior approval from the major department. Engineering and Applied Sciences students must receive a departmental advisor’s approval before taking a course elsewhere.
Summer Study Elsewhere
To ensure that courses will be fully acceptable for transfer credit, students planning to take summer courses elsewhere should discuss their plans in advance with both the appropriate departmental academic advisor and Stony Brook’s Undergraduate Transfer Office. If the student plans to transfer courses from an institution for which printed transfer equivalencies are not available, the student should secure prior approval for courses toward major requirements from the major department, and for courses toward general education requirements and elective credit from the Transfer Office. After the University receives an official transcript indicating that the student has completed the courses with grades of C or higher, appropriate transfer credit will be noted on the student’s academic record.
Undergraduate Course and Curricular Numbering System
| 100-199 | Introductory courses; appropriate for and generally taken by freshmen (U1 standing). |
| 200-299 | Intermediate courses; appropriate for and generally taken by sophomores (U2 standing). |
| 300-399 | Upper-division courses; appropriate for and generally taken by juniors and seniors (U3 and U4 standing). |
| 400-499 | Upper-division major courses, seminars, directed readings and research, and teaching practica; appropriate for and generally taken by juniors and seniors. A few 400-level courses for seniors only are so noted. |
Courses with hyphenated numbers (e.g., HIS 495-496) are year-long courses. Students will not be awarded credit for either course unless they complete both semesters.
Renumbered Courses
The notation ("formerly ABC ###") after a course number and title indicates that the course designator or number has been changed. Courses renumbered from lower-division (100-200) to upper-division (300-400) level may not be used retroactively to satisfy the 39 upper-division credit requirement of the University unless specifically noted in the course description.
The newly renumbered or designated courses may not be repeated for credit.
Enrichment Courses
These courses are restricted to specific groups of students. AIM 102 and 104 are open to students in the EOP/AIM program only. LBR 150 is available to freshmen or sophomore or transfer students with fewer than 30 credits, and provides advanced training in using the library. USB 101 and its equivalents (e.g., EAS 101), one-credit courses for first-semester freshmen and transfer students, introduce students to the Stony Brook academic environment. See the descriptions of each of these courses in the Course Descriptions chapter of this Bulletin.
Multiple Registrations for the Same Course
Repeatable Courses
Certain courses note in their descriptions that they “may be repeated once” or “may be repeated as the topic changes.” Students may repeat such courses within those restrictions and receive credit each time. All grades for such repeatable courses are computed in the student’s grade point average. Only courses stating in the description that they may repeated may be taken more than once for credit.
Retaking Courses
This policy has changed, effective Fall 2002. The new policy is stated in red text below.
A student may register again in a course for which C- or lower or a non-passing grade (e.g., Unsatisfactory or No Credit) has been previously recorded. Each grade appears on the student’s academic transcript and is included in the computation of the grade point average and the semester credit load, but credit for the re-taken course will not count toward satisfaction of graduation requirements, whether the course was first taken at Stony Brook or elsewhere.
A student may register again in a course for which a grade of C or higher has been previously recorded, but the student will not receive credit for the re-taken course and the grade will not count toward the student’s credit load, semester g.p.a. or cumulative g.p.a. This regulation also applies if the student had elected the P/NC option and the grade assigned by the instructor was a C or higher.
The following text replaces the text above, effective Fall 2002:
Students may repeat any course not designated as repeatable only once; i.e. it may be taken at most twice. Students are considered to have taken a course if they remain in the course past the add/drop deadline, regardless of the grade assigned in the course (passing, failing or withdrawal). Credits for repeated courses will count once toward cumulative credits, but will count each time toward semester load. Each grade received in the course will be averaged into the cumulative grade point average. A student who wishes to take a course more than twice must submit a petition for approval by the acaemic standing committee of the student's college and for endorsement by the department offering the course.
Mutually Exclusive Courses
Mutually exclusive courses are courses whose content is so similar that students who have taken one will be repeating the material if they take the other. Such courses are identified in their Under-graduate Bulletin descriptions with the notation “not for credit in addition to ABC ###.” Students risk losing both credits and grade for registration in the second of two courses that are designated mutually exclusive.
Crosslisted Courses
Crosslisted courses are courses offered under the auspices of two or more departments and are identified by the notation “crosslisted with ABC ###” in the Undergraduate Bulletin and in the Class Schedule. Crosslisted courses may also be indicated with a slash, such as AFH/PHI 379 or HIS 334/WST 336. The title, course description, prerequisite(s), and credit hours for crosslisted courses are identical. A crosslisted course is taught by the same instructor and meets in the same location and at the same time as the course with which it is crosslisted. Students may register under either designator but may not repeat the course by enrolling a second time under the other designator.
Coscheduled Courses
Coscheduled courses are upper-division undergraduate courses that are taught at the same time and in the same location as graduate courses. The undergraduate and graduate versions of the course must have separate requirements asdescribed in the syllabi for the courses and separate grading policies for undergraduate and graduate students.
Auditing
Auditing refers to the practice of attending a course for informational instruction only. The privilege of auditing courses is limited to matriculated students and senior citizens. Matriculated students who wish to audit a course must first obtain permission from the instructor. Senior citizens must arrange to audit courses through the School of Professional Development and Continuing Studies. An auditor does not receive academic credit for the course, nor does the University maintain any record of the auditor’s attendance in the course.
Individual instructors may establish policies for auditors in their courses. In general, auditors are expected to refrain from participating in class discussions and from turning in or asking for grading of homework, term papers, or examinations. After the end of the add/drop period, the student may not change status in a course from auditor to registered.
Course Prerequisites
Students should meet the prerequisites to a course before taking the course. Prerequisites indicate the type of knowledge through specific course work that a student should have acquired or the level of academic maturity or acceptance to a specific program that a student should have achieved before taking a course. Completion of the prerequisites may be in progress at the time the student advance registers for the following semester. Faculty members have the option to de-register any student not meeting the prerequisites to a course. Students who believe they have satisfied the prerequisites to a course through transfer work or through other study or experience should seek permission of the instructor before registering.Permission of the instructor supercedes stated prerequisites. Certain courses may be taken only with the permission of the instructor or of the department; this is listed as a prerequisite to the course.
Advisory prerequisites indicate the type of knowledge a student should have in order to do better in a course than would be expected without that knowledge. Students electing to take a course without satisfying the advisory prerequisite should expect to have to work harder and not do as well as students who have completed the advisory prerequisite.
Limits on Course Credits and Grading Options
There are limits on the number of credits from certain courses that can be applied toward the 120 required for the B.A. or B.S. degree or the 128 required for the B.E. degree. Listed below are the maximum number of credits that can be applied toward the total number of credits required for a degree:
| Independent study | 30 credits |
| |
| Internships | 12 credits |
| Change in PEC credit policy effective retroactively. New policy in red below. | |
| PEC (physical education) | 10 credits |
| |
| 100-level PEC courses [Students may apply 200-level and higher PEC courses toward the degree.] | 4 credits |
| Activity-related courses | 9 credits |
| |
| Undergraduate teaching practica | |
CEAS students | 6 credits 7 credits |
| Maximum number of credits earned in non-liberal arts and sciences courses | |
B.S. candidates B.E. candidates | 30 credits 60 credits 90 credits |
BUS 210, 214, 348 MUS individual instrument or voice instruction courses Student teaching courses numbered 451, 452, and 454 THR 244, 295, 296, 301-307, 340 PEC 100-level courses ESE, ESG, ESM, and MEC courses HAD, HAN, HAS, HBA, HBM, HDH, HDO, HDP, HNI courses HWC fieldwork courses | |
| Credits by approved examinations | 30 credits |
| |
| Graduate courses | 6 credits |
| Developmental courses | 0 credits |
| |
| Repeated courses | 0 credits |
| |
| Restrictions on Credits Earned with a Grade of P | |
| |
By accepting responsibility for their education, students enhance the development of their academic, social, and career goals. It is expected that students accept responsibility for their academic choices as part of their educational experience at Stony Brook. Services are available to assist students with academic advising, long-range goals, and career explorations. Students themselves are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the University’s regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications including the University’s Bulletins, the Student Handbook, and Class Schedules.
Responsibilities in the Classroom
Students are expected to:
- attend class regularly unless other arrangements are made;
- arrive for class on time and leave the classroom only at the end of class;
- engage in class discussions and activities when appropriate;
- exhibit classroom behavior that is not disruptive of the learning environment;
- secure in a closed container (and not, for example, wear on a belt or around the neck) and turn off (and not, for example, simply set to vibration mode) electronic communication devices, including cellular phones, beepers, speakers, and headphones during an examination.
Text has been revised as follows, effective Fall 2002:
secure and turn off all electronic communications and entertainment devices during class time unless otherwise directed by the course instructor. Any use of a cell phone or other unauthorized electronic devise during an examination may lead to an accusation of academic dishonesty.
Students are expected to:
- observe the requirements for the course and consult with the instructor if prerequisites are lacking;
- obtain and understand the course syllabus;
- keep up with the coursework and take all scheduled examinations;
- address any conflicts in syllabus and exam scheduling with the instructor as soon as possible;
- review all graded material and seek help if necessary;
- as soon as possible notify the instructor of any disabilities that might interfere with completion of course work;
- fairly and thoughtfully complete the course evaluation form.
Students are expected to take an active part in assessing their academic progress each semester, and to monitor their progress towards completion of graduation requirements. They are expected to:
- review academic policies and procedures described in the current Undergraduate Bulletin and its Supplements;
- know basic University, college, and departmental graduation requirements in their chosen majors and minors so they may plan completion of these requirements;
- maintain personal copies of a tentative degree plan, progress reports, general educational material, and transfer credit evaluations until after graduation;
- see that any academic records from other universities are transferred and received by all the appropriate offices (Admissions and Undergraduate Transfer Office) for evaluation.
Students are expected to:
- understand the concept of academic honesty and adhere to its principles;
- be respectful and polite to all instructors and other students;
- be familiar with and abide by the University’s sexual harassment policies as well as University policies regarding consensual relationships between instructors and students;
- consult the Student Conduct Code about other aspects of student conduct in and out of the classroom.
Instructors at Stony Brook have teaching responsibilities that involve a broad range of methods. The following list of responsibilities does not define good teaching; it defines only a minimal set of conditions and practices that faculty members and teaching assistants are expected to observe in performing their teaching functions.
Classroom and Conference Responsibilities
- Instructors must meet their classes regularly and promptly, at times and places scheduled.
- Classes should be canceled only for the most serious reasons, and students should be given advance notice, if at all possible, of instructors’ absences.
- Instructors must schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet their students’ needs, minimally three hours per week, at times to suit the schedules of as many students as possible.
- Office hours should be announced in class and posted outside instructors’ offices and in department offices.
- Instructors should be available for appointments with students who are unable to meet with them during regularly scheduled office hours.
- Instructors are responsible for careful supervision and classroom preparation of teaching assistants assigned to their courses.
- The policy on electronic devices, described in the section Minimal Student Responsibilities, shall be announced before each course examination.
- Instructors must adhere to the course descriptions in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
- Prerequisites that are not stated in the Bulletin or the Supplement or the Class Schedule may not be imposed.
- A written syllabus that clearly defines the content, goals, and requirements of each course must be distributed at the beginning of the course, made readily available throughout the Add/Drop period, and kept on file in the department office. The syllabus should include the Provost’s Americans with Disabilities Act statement and information about examination dates and times, the policy on make-up exams, office hours, and the basis for the final grade.
- Instructors must conduct any teaching and course evaluation survey that has been approved by their departments or the College or University Senates. The results of class evaluations should be used in periodic reviews and revision, when appropriate, of the course.
- Homework assignments, examinations, and term papers should be evaluated and returned promptly. Written comments, explaining the instructor’s criteria for evaluation and giving suggestions for improvement, should be provided.
- Instructors are responsible for providing students with appropriate and timely notification about their academic performance in a course. An examination or other assessment measure should be administered, graded, and returned to students before the end of the ninth week of classes.
- Examinations and term papers submitted at the end of the term should be graded and either returned to students or retained for one semester.
- Instructors must observe the Final Examination Schedule that appears in each semester’s Class Schedule booklet. Instructors of courses taught on the semester schedule may only give a unit exam in class during the last week of the semester if a final examination is also given during the Final Examination Period.
- Instructors must report all suspected occurrences of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary Committee (CAS) or the Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals (CEAS).
- Instructors should always be aware that in teaching and advising they represent the University. They are bound by the University’s sexual harassment policies. Instructors are also bound by University policies that prohibit any consensual relationships with students that might compromise the objectivity and integrity of the teacher-student relationship. Examples include romantic, sexual, or financial relationships.
- Instructors should strive to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of students’ examinations, homework, and final grades.
- In dealing with students, instructors should be polite, helpful, and fair. They should take into account the wide range of cultural factors and physical challenges that can affect learning, and should attempt to help students overcome any disadvantages.
Undergraduate students whose declared major is in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) should make requests in matters outlined below to the Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals of CEAS. (Declared CEAS majors include applied mathematics and statistics, business management, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering science, information systems, and mechanical engineering.) See also the entry “Petitioning for Exceptions” below.
All other students, including those whose declared major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, those who have not declared a major (indicated by GEN on the student’s record), and those who have declared an area of interest (e.g., pre-business GBS, pre-computer science GCS, pre-nursing GNS) should make requests in matters outlined below to the Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals of the College of Arts and Sciences. See also the entry “Petitioning for Exceptions” below.
Both committees operate under faculty legislation and consider exceptions to regulations pertaining to such matters as registration changes, course loads, and academic standing. The CEAS committee also deals with academic dishonesty and academic grievances. Note: Not all exceptions to regulations or deadlines are petitionable. Changing to or from the P/NC option after the deadline published in the academic calendar is not petitionable.
In exceptional circumstances, students may petition the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing for permission to withdraw from a course after normal deadlines. Students who obtain permission to add or drop courses after the normal deadlines will be charged $15 for each program change form processed by the Registrar. Students who, because of extraordinary situations beyond their control, are granted permission to withdraw from all courses and who will not be in attendance during the semester are not charged a fee.
The Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals of the appropriate college considers all petitions for reinstatement in cases of academic suspension. (See the section “Academic Standing, Support, and Retention” earlier in this chapter.) Students who are granted reinstatement will be assessed a $50 processing fee.
Petitioning for Exceptions
Students are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the University’s regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications including this Undergraduate Bulletin, the Student Handbook, and class schedules.
Occasionally extraordinary circumstances necessitate that a student request an exception to an academic regulation or deadline. These may include exceptions to registration processing dates and exceptions to regulations on academic standing. Students must file a petition with the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals. See the entry “Committees on Academic Standing and Appeals (CASA)” above. Note that changing to or from the P/NC option after the deadline published in the academic calendar is not petitionable.
Most petitions for exceptions must be accompanied by documentation demonstrating why the student was unable to comply with the regulation or deadline for which the student is requesting an exception. Ignorance of deadlines or regulations is insufficient cause to grant an exception.
Written information about academic regulations, guidelines, and procedures may be obtained from the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office, where petitions are filed, for students with majors in CEAS. All other students should consult the Academic Advising Center or, for EOP/AIM students, the Office of Special Programs, and file petitions with the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Academic Dishonesty
Intellectual integrity is the cornerstone of all academic and scholarly work. Therefore the University views any form of academic dishonesty with the utmost seriousness. The Academic Judiciary Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences are responsible for enforcing the guidelines for dealing with academic dishonesty in each college and for the consideration of individual cases. The judiciary committee of each college has jurisdiction over all courses offered in that college. Either committee may inform pre-professional committees about any findings of academic dishonesty which, in its judgment, are of sufficient seriousness. Information about the procedures for hearings and other functions of these committees dealing with academic dishonesty is available in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and in the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office.
Scholarly and Scientific Misconduct
While most cases of academic dishonesty may be under the jurisdiction of the judiciary committees, students involved in allegations of scholarly or scientific misconduct as defined below are subject to the campus policy and procedure for investigating such allegations as filed in compliance with the requirements of the Public Health Service’s Office of Research Integrity.
Scholarly misconduct is defined as:
- Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other serious deviation from accepted practices in proposing, carrying out, or reporting results of scholarly activities; and
- Retaliation of any kind against a person who reported or provided information about suspected or alleged misconduct and who has not acted in bad faith. This definition is not meant to include actions involving honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data.
The Academic Judiciary Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences consider students’ complaints of arbitrary, capricious, malicious, or otherwise improper actions related to grading and other evaluations, assignments, examinations, other re-quirements for credit, and any other academic matters. While such grievances are most often brought by students against instructors, the committees consider grievances involving any member of the academic community on the West Campus. The committees, however, cannot intervene in matters covered by the procedures set forth in the Policies of the Board of Trustees, the Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order, or the collective bargaining agreements between New York State and United University Professions (the faculty-staff union) or GSEU (the Graduate Student Employees Union).
The committees consider only charges of clearly improper academic practices; they will not intervene in disagreements about an instructor’s intellectual judgment (e.g., grading). Grievances should be brought to a committee only after students or others have unsuccessfully pursued other avenues of redress, such as discussion with the instructor and department chairperson. Grievances should be put in writing, including all pertinent details, and should be submitted to the appropriate committee within one month of the alleged impropriety. Further information about academic grievance procedures may be obtained from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs or the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office.
Student On-Line Access to Records (SOAR)
The SOAR system provides direct, immediate access to selected parts of individual student academic records. Students may view and print their unofficial grade report, their degree audit report (DARTS), their current course registration, and course registration for the next semester. Students may also check their registration status and review the mailing addresses that the University has on file for them.
Students log on to SOAR at the Student Services/Registrar counter, the Aca-demic Advising Center, the CEAS Undergraduate Student Office, EOP/AIM, Undergraduate Transfer Office, and the Health Sciences Center Student Services Office. Many applications, such as registration information, transcript request status, and degree audit information, are available under the SOAR designation on the University’s home page at www.sunysb.edu.
Degree Audit Report and Tracking System (DARTS)
The Degree Audit Report and Tracking System (DARTS) provides a computer-generated report indicating each student’s progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. The report is designed to be a helpful advisory tool and is not an official evaluation of a student’s progress.
Academic Advising
Academic advising involves exploring a student’s life goals and vocational aims to develop each student’s program choice. Advisors begin with these broader issues to help new and continuing students select courses and plan appropriate schedules. Advisors can help students to clarify their values and can help relate students’ interests and abilities to their educational and career plans. Advisors can help students adjust to new learning styles required at a large university, such as lecture classes, team teaching, and laboratory instruction. Students are responsible for understanding and abiding by the University’s policies, requirements, regulations, and deadlines, and advisors can help explain them.
The Academic Advising Center offers advising to all College of Arts and Sciences students. Advisors explain academic regulations, help students select courses and plan their academic programs, explore majors and minors, and advise students concerning procedures for petitioning for exceptions to University regulations and procedures. Advisors are available on a walk-in basis and by appointment. Students may also e-mail their advising questions to (LINK) Advising@sunysb.edu, or go to the Center’s Website, accessed through the University’s home page www.sunysb.edu. The Center also coordinates the orientation of new students. Only advisors in major and minor departments and programs can provide official advising on their major’s or minor’s requirements.
The Undergraduate Transfer Office advises new transfer students through their first semester at Stony Brook and evaluates transferred credits toward the University’s general education requirements. Students planning to take courses elsewhere after matriculation at the University should review their course selections with the Transfer Office prior to enrollment.
The Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office provides specialized advising for students interested in College of Engineering and Applied Sciences professional programs. A designated faculty member for each academic department and program in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences directs the undergraduate program and coordinates the advising of students regarding the discipline or program. All students are expected to consult an appropriate advisor before registering each semester.
Prime Time for Students
Each November and April, for a period approximately coinciding with advance registration for the next semester, academic departments provide extra advising hours and schedule special events pertaining to their programs. These Prime Time for Students activities provide special opportunities for students to talk with faculty members about individual courses, major and minor requirements, and the appropriateness of the academic field for certain career choices.
Selection of Area of Interest
All newly admitted freshmen, except those accepted into majors with approved limited access, are placed in the GEN (general program) category. At orientation, incoming freshmen are encouraged but not required to declare one of several areas of interest for which an advisor’s signature is not required. These areas of interest are listed on the Declaration of Major form which is used for officially declaring an area of interest, major, minor, secondary education option, addition of major or minor, and change of major or minor. The forms are also available from the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Advising Center.
New freshmen who do not wish to declare an area of interest will remain in the GEN (general program) category. Those who have declared an area of interest may change to another area of interest.
By officially declaring an area of interest, the student indicates his or her preference, but it does not guarantee a place in any major that has limited acceptance.
Academic Major
All students are required to declare and complete the requirements of an academic major prior to receiving a degree.
Students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree. Each academic major description states which degree is awarded. Students wishing to explore possible majors should review in this Bulletin the requirements and descriptions of the ones they are considering and then discuss their academic plans with an advisor in the department sponsoring the major or an advisor in the Academic Advising Center, or, for freshmen enrolled in USB 101 or its equivalents (e.g., EAS 101), their section instructor.
All majors offered include in their Bulletin entry a definition of the discipline and the goal of the major as well as general information about careers pursued by students who have completed the major. The entry includes a list detailing the requirements for the major plus a suggested sequence of courses over eight semesters that includes major and general education requirements.
Major departmental programs consist of study concentrated in one of the academic departments of the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Marine Sciences Research Center, allowing students to explore in some depth the content, methods, and achievements of a given academic discipline. An interdisciplinary or interdepartmental major enables the student to investigate an area of interest that transcends the limits of individual academic departments by combining appropriate courses from two or more disciplines to create an integrated core of study directed toward a special goal.
All majors, minors, and programs offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Marine Sciences Research Center are described in detail with their requirements and appear in alphabetical order in the chapter “Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.” The department chairperson, the undergraduate director, the administrative assistant or undergraduate secretary, the office location, phone number, e-mail address for student questions, and Web address are listed in the header to each major program entry. Finally, because Stony Brook offers many minors appropriate to students in various majors, minors of particular interest to students in each major are listed as well.
Students should declare a major, or area of interest, as soon as possible to receive academic advising and information provided by major departments and programs.
Most forms of financial aid also require that the student have an officially declared major in order to be considered for eligibility.
Declaration and Change of Major in the College of Arts and Sciences
The Declaration of Major form, available in the Registrar’s Office, is used officially to declare a major; the signature of a departmental advisor is required for all majors in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students must declare a major before registering for the first semester of the sophomore year if they have not already done so. New transfer students who matriculate as sophomores, juniors, or seniors must declare a major during their first semester at Stony Brook.
Academic departments advise students about the courses and major(s) in their departments and sign students into the majors. The signed Declaration of Major form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for processing.
New transfer students who have indicated a major on their application for admission should confirm their major status in person with their chosen department or program early in their first semester at Stony Brook.
Students who have declared a specific major may change at any time before graduation. Students should discuss the change with an advisor in the desired program, obtain the appropriate signature on the Declaration of Major form, and submit the form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.
Declaration and Change of Major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
All programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences currently limit the number of students accepted. While acceptance criteria are based mainly on demonstrated scholastic ability, extraordinary personal circumstances, experiences, and academic background may also be considered in the evaluation process.
Qualified freshman and transfer applicants who have specified their interest in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Business Management, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, Information Systems, or Mechanical Engineering may be accepted directly into one of these majors upon admission to the University. Admission to the University, however, does not guarantee either immediate or future acceptance into the major for which the student applied.
Requirements for acceptance of continuing students into a major are listed with each major. Transfer students are urged to contact the appropriate undergraduate program director as early as possible.
Students planning on a major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences should consult the Undergra-duate Student Office in CEAS for advising on appropriate course selection.
Health Sciences Center Majors
With the exception of the major in Health Science, all majors in the Health Sciences Center undergraduate programs (School of Nursing, School of Social Welfare, School of Health Technology and Management) are limited-admission, junior/senior level programs. Qualified freshmen who indicate an interest in certain undergraduate majors offered through the Health Sciences Center on their application to the University are conditionally accepted directly into the major shortly after they are admitted.
While students may declare their intention to major in Health Science at any time through completion of the Declaration of Major form, students may not seek admission to any other HSC program by using this form. Further, declaring an area of interest related to one of these majors does not guarantee later acceptance. Continuing and transfer students who wish to enter one of the upper-division programs in the Health Sciences Center must formally apply for admission to that program after completing the course and credit requirements described in the Health Sciences Center chapter of this Bulletin and must be formally accepted. Students wishing to pursue the major in Health Science, described in the "Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs" chapter of this Bulletin, may do so at any time and may advance to the senior year courses upon completion of specified requirements.
When Major Requirements Change
When major requirements are changed, continuing students have the option of fulfilling the new requirements or of fulfilling those specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin and supplements to the Undergraduate Bulletin current at the time they completed 45 credits. Students who have completed fewer than 45 credits when the revisions are first published must satisfy the new requirements, unless the major department specifies otherwise.
Transfer students who entered Stony Brook with 45 or more transfer credits have the option of fulfilling the new requirements or of fulfilling the requirements specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin and supplements to the Undergraduate Bulletin in effect when they matriculated.
Where course offerings have changed so that the required courses that would apply to particular students are no longer in the curriculum, the department will designate comparable alternatives to enable such students to complete the major without delaying their graduation.
Academic Minor
Although students are not required to complete a minor in order to graduate, many minors are available for those wishing to develop another area of specialization without the full depth of an academic major. An academic minor is a specified sequence of courses totaling between 18 and 24 credits and requiring at least nine credits of upper-division work. It does not lead to a degree.
Participation in a minor is optional and includes not only completing the required sequence, but consulting the director of the minor initially and as work in the minor proceeds. Many major departments also offer a minor in the discipline; the requirements for the minor are described with the corresponding major program entry. In addition, interdisciplinary minors that draw on courses from a variety of disciplines are des-cribed in the alphabetical listings of Ap-proved Majors, Minors, and Programs. Minor entries include the name and academic affiliation of the minor director and additional information such as office location, phone number, and e-mail and Web addresses where available.
To assist students in selecting optional minors, a listing is included in the header of each major program, indicating minors of particular interest to students with that major. A maximum of three minors may be noted on a student’s transcript.
For further information, consult the relevant minor director or the Academic Advising Center.
Declaration of Minor
The Declaration of Major form, available from the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Advising Center, is used officially to declare a minor; the signature of the minor director is required. Students may have up to three declared minors recorded on their University transcript. Minors are not noted on diplomas.
Double Majors
When a student officially declares and completes two majors (a double major), the student receives one baccalaureate degree upon graduation. The student must fulfill the graduation requirements of the degree-granting college when specifying B.A. or B.S. or B.E. The University does not officially recognize triple majors.
Double majors may be composed of any two majors (except Multidisciplinary Studies) within the College of Arts and Sciences or with one major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and one in Arts and Sciences or with one major in the Health Sciences Center’s School of Health Technology and Management and one in Arts and Sciences or in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Students who wish to complete two majors must obtain the approval of the two departments or programs involved. The number of credits taken to fulfill the requirements of both must total at least 60. Students should submit a Declaration of Major form to add a second major when both majors are in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students must be formally accepted through direct admission or application to majors in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and in the School of Health Technology and Management, except the major in Health Science.
Double Degrees
The following text has been replaced by the text
below it, in red, effective Spring 2002
Under certain circumstances, a student who pursues majors in two of the three largest academic units offering bachelor’s degrees may receive two degrees simultaneously.
Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts or of Science
Qualified students may be granted permission to earn double degrees at the undergraduate level. This is permissible only if one of the majors leads to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and the other leads to a Bachelor of Engineering degree offered in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Written approval to undertake a double degree must be obtained from the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office and from the Academic Advising Center, subject to review by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
In addition to meeting all of the Diversified Education Curriculum requirements, including those requirements specific to either College, and all other graduation requirements, the candidate for a double degree must earn a total of 144 credits and must fulfill the requirements of the Bachelor of Engineering degree and the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree.
Health Sciences and a West Campus College
Students at Stony Brook may simultaneously earn bachelor’s degrees from both a West Campus college and the Health Sciences Center if they have been formally admitted to each unit. Written approval to undertake this curriculum must be obtained from the dean of the Health Sciences school in which the student is formally enrolled and from the Academic Advising Center, subject to review and final authorization by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The double degree consists of a Bachelor of Science degree from the Health Sciences Center and either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering from a West Campus program.
The double degree will be awarded only when: 1) a concentration in the second field has been completed in a time span greater than that required for one degree, i.e., normally five years of full-time study; and 2) the area of specialization of the West Campus program is fundamentally different from that of the Health Sciences Center program.
Only double degrees, not double majors, may be earned by students studying jointly in the School of Nursing or the School of Social Welfare and a West Campus college. Students in the School of Health Technology and Management may earn either a double degree or a double major.
The following text replaces the text above, effective Spring 2002:
Qualified students may be granted permission to earn double degrees at the undergraduate level only if one of the majors leads to a degree that is specified as professional or clinical (externally certified) and the total number of credits completed for the two degrees is at least 144.
Only the following currently offered undergraduate programs are considered to be professional or clinical degree programs:
- Bachelor of Engineering degrees in bioeningeering, engineering science, electrical engineering, computer engineering and mechanical engineering;
- Bachelor of Science degree in nursing;
- Bachelor of Science degree in social welfare;
- Bachelor of Science degrees in clinical laboratory sciences, cytotechnology, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and respiratory care.
Students who are planning to complete the majors in biology and in either clinical laboratory sciences or cytotechnology should note that these programs will lead only to a double major, not a double degree.
Students who are planning to complete a bachelor of science degree in nursing or a bachelor of social work degree in social welfare and any other major should note that these programs will lead only to a double degree, not a double major.
Students must be formally admitted to each unit granting the degree and have written approval from the dean of each college. Approval is subject to review and final authorization by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Second Bachelor’s Degree Program
A student who has completed the requirements for and received a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook or another accredited institution and who wishes to earn a second degree from a West Campus program must apply and be accepted as a matriculated student for the second baccalaureate. After completing the first degree, the student must earn at least 36 credits in residence at Stony Brook and complete a new major. Of these 36 credits, 21 must be at the upper-division level (courses numbered 300 or higher), primarily from courses chosen for the major. Students also are required to fulfill the “Expanding Perspectives and Cultural Awareness” portion of the Diversified Education Curriculum that is described in the "Degree Requirements" chapter. Coursework completed for the first bachelor’s degree, whether taken at Stony Brook or elsewhere, does not count toward completing these requirements. Sequential bachelor’s degree students who wish to qualify for degrees with distinction must complete 55 credits in coursework at Stony Brook toward the second degree. All sequential bachelor’s degree candidates must have completed, with a C or higher, courses judged equivalent to Stony Brook’s general education requirements in English composition and mathematics or complete these courses at Stony Brook. For purposes of registration and academic standing, matriculated candidates for a second baccalaureate will be treated as seniors.
Transcripts
Students who desire transcripts of their academic record at Stony Brook, either for their own use or to have forwarded to another institution or agency, must submit a written request to the Registrar’s Office at least ten days before the transcript is needed. A form for this purpose is available from the Registrar, but requests may also be made by letter or facsimile transmission. Information concerning transcript requests also is available on the University Website at www.sunysb.edu. The charge for transcripts is $5 per copy; payment should be made to the Bursar’s Office. If submitted by mail, the request and check payable to SUNY at Stony Brook should be sent to
Bursar’s Office
P.O. Box 619
Stony Brook, NY 11790-1351
P.O. Box 619
Stony Brook, NY 11790-1351
Partial transcripts of a student’s record are not released unless required by law. Students may, however, request only the undergraduate or only the graduate record. Transcripts will be issued only if the student’s financial record shows no outstanding obligation. Students also may view their transcripts using the SOAR system on campus or through the Web.
Academic Honors
Selection of students for honors is based primarily on University records and recommendation and not on application. Some of the disciplinary national honor societies require application and have established criteria for eligibility. Interested students should approach the relevant department or program.
Honor Societies
Besides the annual awards listed in the Scholarships and Awards chapter, induction into an honor society acknowledges the student’s outstanding academic performance.
- Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, is devoted to fostering the liberal ideal in education and encouraging the spirit of critical inquiry. Admission is by election, based on the breadth and balance of a student’s career academic program as well as superior performance. The number of initiates is limited by the national body; members of the junior class may constitute only a small fraction of the annual total. The minimum cumulative g.p.a. in recent years has averaged 3.60 for seniors and 3.80 for juniors.
Sigma Beta, Stony Brook’s own honor society, is devoted to academic excellence and university service. Member-ship is open to students with no more than 80 credits who have, at the conclusion of the most recent fall semester, a 3.50 grade point average as a full-time student using the same criteria as for the Dean’s List, below.
Sigma Xi is a national honor society for achievement in pure or applied scientific research. Any student associated with the University who has, through re-search achievements, shown a marked aptitude that is expected to lead to the fulfillment of the requirements for full membership may be nominated by a faculty member or department and elected as an associate member of Sigma Xi.
Tau Beta Pi is the national engineering honor society devoted to honoring students for academic excellence and for service to the engineering profession. Engineering juniors and seniors who have demonstrated these qualities are invited to join Stony Brook’s Omicron chapter of Tau Beta Pi.
The Golden Key National Honor Society recognizes junior and senior students who have achieved at least a 3.30 g.p.a. at Stony Brook. The campus chapter adds to the vitality of the University’s intellectual and social life through sponsorship of extracurricular events.
Dean’s List
After each fall and spring semester the dean of each college compiles a Dean’s List of undergraduate students who constitute approximately the top 20 percent of their class. Each full-time student must have completed in that semester at least 12 credits for a letter grade (including S) and have no I’s, U’s, NR’s, NC’s, F’s, or Q’s. P grades are not considered to be letter grades. Part-time students must have earned at least six credits in a semester of letter-graded work (not including S or P grades). The grade point average cutoffs are as follows: seniors, 3.40; juniors, 3.30; sophomores, 3.20; and freshmen, 3.10.
Degrees with Distinction
Degrees with distinction are conferred on candidates for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Engineering degree who have completed at least 55 credits at Stony Brook (excluding Challenge credit), have letter grades assigned to at least 80 percent of their coursework, and attain the requisite g.p.a. in the class. The levels of distinction are summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude, and constitute approximately the 98th percentile, the 93rd percentile, and the 85th percentile, respectively, of all students. Attainment of a degree with distinction is indicated on the student’s diploma and permanent academic record. The grade point average cutoffs for the three levels of distinction are: summa cum laude, 3.85; magna cum laude, 3.70; cum laude, 3.50.
Departmental Honors Programs
Students must declare their intention to seek departmental honors and must carry out required academic activities to earn this distinction. Honors requirements are described in the "Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs" chapter in the listing of each department that offers honors. For students who qualify, this honor is indicated on their diploma and on their permanent academic record.
Application for Graduation
To become a candidate for graduation, a student must file an “Application for Degree” form with the Registrar’s Office. May, July, and August candidates who wish to be included in the May Commencement Program must file by the previous February.
Deadlines: December and January candidates—end of the third week of the candidate’s final semester.
May candidates—end of the second week of the candidate’s final semester.
July and August candidates—end of the second week of the last summer term for which they are registered.
Exact deadlines appear in the academic calendars printed in the Class Schedule during the academic year and in the Summer Session Catalog.
Time Limits on Completion of Degrees in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
All degree requirements for either the Bachelor of Engineering degree or the Bachelor of Science degree must be met in 11 semesters by students classified as full time. Full-time transfer students must meet all degree requirements in the number of semesters remaining according to the following formula: the number of transferred degree-related credits is divided by 12 (which is the minimum number of credits a full-time student may take in a semester) to determine the number of semesters already completed. The result is subtracted from 11 (semesters) to indicate the number of remaining semesters permitted for completion of degree requirements. In addition, students who withdraw from the University and return at a later date to complete degree requirements are required to have formally reevaluated all courses more than six years old that were taken at Stony Brook or elsewhere to fulfill major requirements.
Withdrawal from the University
Students who wish to officially withdraw from the University must complete and submit a “Withdrawal from the University” form to the Academic Advising Center or the Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Student Office. Forms are available from these offices and from the Registrar’s Office. The date on which the form is filed, not the date of last class attendance, is considered the official date of withdrawal.
Note: Non-attendance does not constitute official withdrawal. Notification of the student’s instructors does not constitute official withdrawal. Non-payment of tuition and fees does not constitute official withdrawal.
Students who submit withdrawal forms after the first ten class days but not later than the last day of classes in a semester will be assigned a withdrawal (W) for each course. Withdrawal after the last day of classes does not relieve students of financial obligation.
Foreign students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must consult with International Services before withdrawing from the University.
Leave of Absence and Returning to the University
At the time they withdraw from the University, students have the option of indicating whether they intend to return. This “leave of absence” may be canceled if the student attends another college while on leave from Stony Brook and fails to maintain a C average at that institution. A student in that situation should consult a Stony Brook admissions counselor at the earliest opportunity.
- Students who indicate at the time of official withdrawal that they may wish to return to Stony Brook will be approved routinely for return to the University during the three semesters following the one in which they withdrew if:
- the student leaves in good academic standing;
- there has been no previous withdrawal;
- the student has no disciplinary action pending or in force.
- College of Arts and Sciences students who have not been enrolled at Stony Brook for four consecutive semesters and have not earned any Stony Brook credits will be assigned a new matriculation date and will be responsible for the academic requirements in effect at the time of their return. These rematriculated students will be required to meet with an academic advisor before registering for classes upon their return. Note: Summer terms are not considered to be semesters and credits earned during the summer do not count toward maintaining matriculation.
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences students will be assigned a new matriculation date after one semester of absence from the University and will be responsible for the academic requirements in effect at the time of their return. They will be required to meet with a faculty advisor before registering for classes.
- Educational Opportunity Program students must obtain clearance for re-admission from the EOP/AIM Office and meet with their AIM counselor.
- Prior to registering for classes, all foreign students returning to the University must obtain a visa clearance from International Services.
Students who, for financial or personal reasons, have not been enrolled at the University for at least ten consecutive semesters and who, after rematriculation, complete at least 12 (but no more than 24) credit hours in good academic standing, may be eligible for academic renewal. Under this policy, the student’s cumulative grade point average will be re-initialized and calculated based on course grades earned as of the date of rematriculation, although the original grades and g.p.a. remain on the transcript. In order to qualify for graduation, students must earn a minimum of 36 credits and a cumulative g.p.a. of 2.00 at Stony Brook after re-initialization of the cumulative g.p.a. Those would wish to be considered for degrees with distinction must earn at least 55 credits at Stony Brook after re-initialization of the cumulative g.p.a. For advice about eligibility, students should speak with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center.
Credit Options
Challenge Program for Credit by Examination
The University’s Challenge Program permits matriculated undergraduates to meet requirements, earn credit, and receive advanced placement by taking examinations in place of regular courses. Each department determines the courses for which it will offer Challenge examinations.
Certain restrictions apply:
- No student may take a Challenge examination in a course that is a prerequisite for a course already passed.
- Credit may be accumulated through the Challenge Program for no more than five courses. (Up to 30 credits by exam may be applied toward the degree through a combination of Challenge and approved external examinations.)
- Challenge credit:
- may not be used to fulfill the University residence requirement (36 credits earned at the University after achieving junior standing);
- may not be used to satisfy the 55 credits in residence required of candidates for degrees with distinction;
- may not be used to fulfill Diversified Education Curriculum requirements except for one course in each of the three D.E.C. Disciplinary Diversity categories (E, F, and G).
Cross Registration
As part of the Academic Enrichment Program of the Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education (LIRACHE), the University participates in a cross-registration agreement with 14 other university and college campuses in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The program affords full-time Stony Brook undergraduates an opportunity to register elsewhere during the same semester (summer session is excluded) for courses that are not offered at Stony Brook. Tuition, exclusive of special fees, is paid by students to the home institution, even though they are taking one or more courses at a host campus. More information on this option is available from the Registrar’s Office. See also the description of the "National Student Exchange and Study Abroad" programs in the "Special Academic Opportunities" chapter.
Student Participation in University-Sponsored Activities
By their participation in campus-related activities such as research conferences, dramatic or musical performances, intercollegiate athletic competitions, or leadership meetings, students make contributions to the University. In recognition of the students’ commitment both to their regular academic programs and to related activities, the University makes every effort to accommodate unique situations.
Students are responsible for presenting a printed copy of semester obligations to all their professors at the beginning of the semester to alert them to activities that may present conflicts. Instructors are required to make arrangements for students to complete examinations, quizzes, or class assignments early or late if the student’s participation in a University-related activity results in the student’s absence from the class when such work is due. Some events occur only by invitation during the semester, and instructors should make accommodations for these students.
Student Educational Records
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy act of 1974, as amended, sets out requirements designed to protect the privacy of students concerning their records maintained by the campus. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests, including but not limited to administrative, academic, or support personnel (including law enforcement and health services); University attorneys, auditors, or collection agents; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The Office’s address is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C. 20202
U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C. 20202
In addition, the University of Stony Brook is authorized to release “Directory Information” concerning students. Directory Information includes: student’s name, addresses (including email), telephone numbers, date and place of birth, major field of study, class, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, likenesses used in University publications, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and previous institutions attended.
Currently enrolled students have the right to have this directory information withheld from the public if they so desire. Forms requesting the withholding of directory information are available at the Registrar’s Office, 2nd floor of the Administration Building. At least 10 days should be allowed for processing of these requests.
Change of Address
To ensure prompt receipt of registration materials, grade reports, and other important University communications, students should report off-campus mailing address changes to the Registrar’s Office either in person by showing appropriate identification or through the Registrar’s Website. On-campus housing address changes should be reported to the appropriate Campus Residences quad office rather than to the Registrar. Foreign students must also report any change of address to International Services. Degree candidates should inform the Registrar’s Office of any address changes.
Equivalent Opportunity/Religious Absences
Some students may be unable to attend classes on certain days because of religious beliefs. Section 224-a of the New York State Education Law provides that:
- No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or days.
- Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
- It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
- If registration, classes, examinations, study, or work requirements are held on Friday after 4:00 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study, or work requirements, or opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study, or work requirements, or registration held on other days.
- In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section.
- Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.
- It shall be the responsibility of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to give written notice to students of their rights under this section, informing them that each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to such student such equivalent opportunity.
- As used in this section, the term “institution of higher education” shall mean any institution of higher education, recognized and approved by the regents of the university of the state of New York, which provides a course of study leading to the granting of a post-secondary degree or diploma. Such term shall not include any institution which is operated, supervised, or controlled by a church or by a religious or denominational organization whose educational programs are principally designed for the purpose of training ministers or other religious functionaries or for the purpose of propagating religious doctrines. As used in this section, the term “religious belief” shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under section 501 of the United States code.
Experiments conducted by Stony Brook personnel, on or off campus, in which human subjects are involved are required to be reviewed and approved by the campus Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CORIHS) before they can begin. This requirement extends to questionnaires, both written and oral, and other instruments of personal data collection. Application forms for approval of such experiments can be obtained in most departmental offices or from the University coordinator for research compliance in the Office of the Vice President for Research. A faculty advisor is required for any student-conducted experiment involving human subjects.
Undergraduates are often asked to act as subjects in experiments. They should be aware that their rights as subjects include knowing that an experiment has received the approval of CORIHS. State University policy forbids campuses to require the participation of students as subjects in human research. In almost every instance of such participation, an informed consent form is required of the subject. This form outlines the risks and benefits of participation, enumerates the subject’s rights, and describes the nature of the subject’s participation. Inquiries about subject rights should be directed to the executive secretary of the Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects in the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Research Involving Safety Considerations
Campus committees also review and approve projects involving safety concerns. These include the use of radioactive materials or devices that generate ionizing radiation and the use of recombinant DNA techniques or activities that may involve biologically or chemically hazardous materials. The appropriate forms to request approval for such projects are generally available in departmental offices. Questions may also be directed to the University coordinator for research compliance in the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Use of Laboratory Animals in Research or Instruction
Any research, teaching, or creative activity that involves the use of vertebrate animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to ordering animals and prior to commencement of the activity. Applications for such approval may be obtained from the director of the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) or from the University coordinator for research compliance. The chairs, deans, and division heads of departments in which laboratory animals are routinely used also have a supply of these applications.
The following is a brief summary of the federal, state, and campus regulations that govern the use of laboratory animals at Stony Brook:
- Except as stated in provision 2, all vertebrate animals must be ordered through DLAR. If a university purchase order is unacceptable to the supplier, the DLAR must be so informed in order to determine whether another supplier may be contacted.
- The IACUC may waive the requirement of mandatory acquisition of animals through DLAR in cases where the activity involves fieldwork. Such a waiver is granted when the detailed methods of observation, capture, or tagging of vertebrate animals are determined by the IACUC to be in compliance with applicable regulations governing such work.
- Use of privately owned animals is prohibited.
- Users of vertebrate animals must adhere to policies set forth in the N.I.H. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (available from all chairs, deans, and division heads).
- In the event that the animals must be euthanized, the method of euthanasia must conform to those in the 1986 report of the A.V.M.A. Panel on Euthanasia, or subsequent revisions (available from all chairs, deans, and division heads). Methods of euthanasia for species not covered by this report must be employed as per IACUC recommendation.
- All individuals involved in research or teaching activities in which animals are used must attend the training session given by the director of the DLAR in order to satisfy requirements indicated in Stony Brook’s assurance filed with the NIH.
- IACUC approval is required in cases where members of the University propose to engage in collaborative work that involves the use of animals in facilities other than those under the auspices of the University at Stony Brook.
Changes in Regulations and Course Offerings
The courses of study, academic requirements and regulations, and other information contained in this Bulletin are limited to policies in effect at the date of publication. The University reserves the right to change academic requirements and regulations or to change or cancel any course for whatever reason it may deem appropriate. New and revised courses, new and revised majors and minors, and changes in academic requirements and regulations are reported in the Supplement to the Undergraduate Bulletin, published each semester in the Class Schedule booklet.
University at Stony Brook Advanced Placement Credit
Advanced placement credit is granted to students who have taken the appropriate CEEB advanced placement examination. Students must request that their test scores be forwarded to Stony Brook’s Undergraduate Admissions Office. While each academic department determines the minimum test score required to receive equivalency for a Stony Brook course, a score of three results in two general elective credits.
The table lists available AP exams, the relevant scores, and Stony Brook equivalency and applicability to degree requirements. AP credit may apply to: Entry Skill 1 Basic Mathematics Competence; Entry Skill 2 Basic Writing Com-petence; Entry Skill 3 Elementary Foreign Language Competence; the first course required for D.E.C. category A English Com-position; D.E.C. category C Math-ematics and Statistical Reasoning; and one course each in D.E.C. categories E Natural Sciences, F Social and Behavioral Sciences, and G Humanities.
Stony Brook will grant up to 30 credits by examination in partial fulfillment of the bachelor’s deg-ree. Included in this total are credits based upon standardized external examinations (AP, CLEP, CPE) and Stony Brook’s own Challenge Examination Program. Credit by examination does not count as part of the semester credit required for good academic standing, nor may it be used to meet the Stony Brook residency requirement. All AP, CLEP, and CPE credit carries the grade of “S” and has no effect on a student’s grade point average. Consult the Transfer Office for further information on CLEP and CPE, and the Academic Advising Center for more information on Challenge exams.
| AP Exam | Score | Stony Brook Equivalent | Credits | D.E.C. |
| Art | | | | |
| History | 4 or 5 | ARH 101, 102 | 6 | G |
| 3 | none | 3 | G |
| Studio | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | G |
| Biology | 4 or 5 | none* | 6 | E |
| 3 | none | 3 | E |
| Calculus | | | | |
| AB | 4 or 5 | MAT 131, placement 7 | 4 | Skill 1, C |
| BC | 4 or 5 | MAT 131, 132, placement 9 | 8 | Skill 1, C |
| AB or BC | 3 | none | 3 | Skill 1 |
| Chemistry | 4 or 5 | CHE 131 and 132 (waiver of CHE 133, 134) | 8 | E |
| 3 | none | 3 | E |
| Computer Science | | | | |
| A | 3, 4, or 5 | CSE 110** | 3 | none |
| A/B | 4 or 5 | CSE 114 | 3 | none |
| 3 | CSE 110** | 3 | none |
| Economics | | | | |
| Macro | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | F |
| Micro | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | F |
| Macro and Micro | 4 or 5 | ECO 108 | 4+2 | F |
| English Language | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | Skill 2, 1st course, A |
| English Literature | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | Skill 2, 1st course, A |
| Environmental Science | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | E |
| French Language | 3, 4, or 5 | FRN 212 | 3 | Skill 3 |
| French Literature | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | Skill 3, G |
| German Language | 3, 4, or 5 | GER 212 | 3 | Skill 3 |
| Government and Politics | | | | |
| Comparative Government | 4 or 5 | POL 103 | 3 | F |
| 3 | none | 3 | F |
| U.S. Gov't & Politics | 4 or 5 | POL 102 | 3 | F |
| 3 | none | 3 | F |
| European History | 4 or 5 | HIS 101, 102 | 6 | F |
| 3 | none | 3 | F |
| U.S. History | 4 or 5 | HIS 103, 104 | 6 | F |
| 3 | none | 3 | F |
| Human Geography | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | F |
| Latin | | | | |
| Virgil | 3, 4, or 5 | LAT 251, 252 | 3 | Skill 3 |
| Catullus/Horace | 3, 4, or 5 | LAT 251, 252 | 3 | Skill 3 |
| Music Theory | 3, 4, or 5 | MUS 119 | 3 | G |
| Physics | | | | |
| B | 5 3 or 4 | PHY 131 none | 3 3 | E E |
| C: Mechanics | 4 or 5 3 | PHY 131 none | 3 2 | E none |
| C: Electrical and Magnetic | 4 or 5 3 | PHY 132 none | 3 2 | E none |
| Psychology | 4 or 5 | PSY 103 | 3 | F |
| 3 | none | 3 | F |
| Spanish Language | 3, 4, or 5 | SPN 212 | 3 | Skill 3 |
| Spanish Literature | 3, 4, or 5 | none | 3 | Skill 3, G |
| Statistics | 3, 4, or 5 | AMS 102 | 3 | Skill 1, C |
* Six credits towards Biology major Core Requirements
** Students who take and pass the transfer examination in CSE 114 may substitute CSE 114 on their transcripts for a total of three credits. (Note: students who receive credit for CSE 114 through AP credits must either enroll in CSE 113 or pass that evaluation examination.)
** Students who take and pass the transfer examination in CSE 114 may substitute CSE 114 on their transcripts for a total of three credits. (Note: students who receive credit for CSE 114 through AP credits must either enroll in CSE 113 or pass that evaluation examination.)
