Academic Advising is Important

As you prepare for your upcoming year at Stony Brook, the Academic & Pre-Professional Advising Center is here to assist you in exploring more focused possibilities and achieving your academic goals. All students in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, School of Journalism, and School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences are strongly encouraged to utilize the advising services of the Academic & Pre-Professional Advising Center.

Things to Think About

In order to be on track for graduation, here are some things you should be thinking about:

  • Know your class year. Class year at Stony Brook is determined by credit count (including transfer credits), not by how many years you have attended. If you have earned 24-56 credits you are a sophomore, if you have earned 57-84 credits you are a junior, and if you have earned 85 or more you are a senior.
  • Contact your academic advisor. Contact an academic advisor in the Academic & Pre-Professional Advising Center for an advising appointment. Advisors are available for all general education advising matters. Just call (631) 632-7082 and press option 2 to connect with us. Appointments are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you prefer to walk-in without an appointment, you are welcome to come to Walk-in Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. We are located at E-2360 Melville Library.
  • Review your degree progress report. At least once each semester, review your degree progress report on SOLAR. Go to “Student Records & Registration”, click “View Degree Progress”, and click “View Degree Progress Report”. Here you will see a copy of your unofficial transcript and the status of your general education requirements (i.e., skill, DEC, upper division credits, etc.) Additionally, majors are in the process of being added to the degree progress report. Currently, only the psychology major is part of the degree progress report and includes only courses taken at Stony Brook toward fulfilling the major. For more information about the Degree Progress Report, click here.
  • Register for classes. Depending upon your major, select some DEC and some major classes to create a good, balanced schedule. Full-time students must enroll in at least 12 credits. Strongly consider taking a winter class or summer classes to catch up or get ahead in your studies.
  • Declare a major. If you have not yet declared a major, you will need to do so upon earning 45 credits, or by the middle of your sophomore year. If you do not know what you wish to major in, speak with an academic advisor. Faculty and advisors in academic departments can work with you on all major and minor requirements. For more information on selecting and declaring a major, click here.
  • Read the "Please be Advised" e-mail. On a bi-weekly basis, you will receive the "Please be Advised" e-mail from the Academic & Pre-Professional Advising Center. This e-mail includes important information on academic deadlines, programs, upcoming events, and scholarship opportunities.
  • Check out the Academic Advising website. Check out this website for lots of helpful academic advising information!

Special Information for New Transfer Students

  • Contact your academic advisor.If you are a new transfer student, you are assigned an academic advisor for your first year of study at Stony Brook. Your advisor is noted below based upon your last name:
    Last Name            Advisor
    A-B            Danielle Zito
    C-D            Mary Beth Powers
    E-G            Jackie Fesefeldt
    H-J            Samantha Segal
    K            Sandy Trapani
    L-O            Neil Buffett
    P-R            Joe Lodato
    S            Alicia Madden
    T-V            Randy Thomas
    W-Z            Ellen Hopkins
    Faculty in academic departments can work with you on all major and minor requirements. For more information about the advisors, click here.
  • Send your Transcripts. Remember to send all transcripts from previous schools, including AP scores, high school, college and university transcripts to the Undergraduate Transfer Office, 134 Administration Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794. For more information, visit http://www.stonybrook.edu/transfer/
  • Enroll in SBU 101. SBU 101 for new transfer students is a one credit, one hour per week course designed to enrich your first-semester experience at Stony Brook. You will learn to integrate yourself into, and navigate your way around the Stony Brook University community. Through academic advisement, exploring campus resources, group activities, discussions and presentations, SBU 101 will provide you with the necessary tools to help you achieve a successful transition from your previous college or university, and help you to develop the skills essential for academic success at a large research university. Friendship development and fun are stressed! You will register for SBU 101 at Orientation. Click here for a sample syllabus for SBU 101.