Undergraduate Bulletin

Fall 2024

WSE: Women in Science & Engineering

WSE 101: Introduction to WISE and Stony Brook

A seminar intended to integrate students into the WISE Honors Program and the University community by providing information about Stony Brook and a forum for discussion of values, intellectual and social development, and personal and institutional expectations. Students will have opportunities to reflect on the meaning and purpose of honors education. This course is a graduation requirement for all first-year students in the WISE Honors Program (students in their first year of study). Not for credit in addition to ADV 101, GLS 101, ACH 101, LDS 101, HDV 101, HON 101, ITS 101, SSO 101, SBU 101, SCH 101, or LSE 101.

Prerequisite: first-year WISE student

1 credit, S/U grading

WSE 105: Opportunities in STEM and Beyond

A course composed of discussions and explorations of various science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career paths, and worldwide relevance. Guest speakers will describe their STEM work in a global context. Students will reflect upon their interests, values, talents, and skills, such as resourcefulness, curiosity, and emotional intelligence needed to tackle future global STEM challenges. The interdisciplinary, universality and civic values of STEM are emphasized through projects that link STEM to other disciplines including global issues, humanities and the arts.

Prerequisite: Member the WISE Honors Program or permission of the instructor and department

Partially fulfills: GLO

1 credit

WSE 201: Society and Gender in STEM

This course examines how gender intersects with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in historical and contemporary contexts.This examination highlights how social, ethical, political, economic and cultural factors shape historical and contemporary understandings of STEM knowledge, as well as attitudes toward those who practice in STEM fields. The course focuses on women's historic and current participation in STEM disciplines, including why so few women are involved in these fields. We will consider how stereotypes are reinforced by popular culture and explore how we might reimagine STEM knowledge and practice to incorporate greater diversity. Not for credit in addition to WSE 242.

Prerequisite: WSE 105

SBC:     DIV, HUM Partially fulfills: GLO

3 credits

WSE 205: Career Planning in STEM

An active learning course that builds upon the awareness of self and knowledge of career fields, focusing on preparation for experiential learning. Students will gather and organize knowledge, skills, strengths, and artifacts of their collegiate accomplishments, and apply a strategic marketing lens for designing their professional brand by crafting a resume, personal brand statement, LinkedIn profile, elevator pitch and cover letter. Students will actively apply for experiences on and off campus as part of the course.

Prerequisite: WSE 105

1 credit

WSE 275: University Honors Fellows Seminar

University Honors Fellows enroll in WSE 275 in the spring semester of their freshman year and WSE 276 in the fall semester of their sophomore year. This seminar prepares students for supervised learning and teaching experiences that will occur primarily in the fall 276 course. Main content areas include student development theory; mentorship; leadership development; best practices in teaching and learning; and honors education. This course is offered as HON 275, SCH 275, and WSE 275.

Prerequisite: A grade of "S" in HON/SCHWSE 101; Member of a University Honors Program; permission of the instructor

1 credit, S/U grading

WSE 276: University Honors Fellows Practicum

The second-semester course in the sequence following WSE 275. Fellows assume higher responsibility and are given opportunities to apply teaching theories and concepts as learned in 275. Fellows serve as teaching assistants for WSE 101. This course is offered as HON 276, SCH276, and WSE 276.

Prerequisite: A grade of "S" in HON/SCH/WSE 275; member of a University Honors Program (HON/SCH/WSE); permission of the instructor

SBC:     EXP+

1 credit, S/U grading

WSE 380: Research and Discovery in STEM

This course consists of a combination of theory and practice. The theoretical component involves an overview of research methodologies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, including literature reviews, research design, data collection, and quantitative analysis. In addition, there is a hands-on experience in doing research in STEM disciplines. Students may perform research in a laboratory of their choice under the supervision of a faculty member and prior approval of a research plan by the course coordinator, or may select among some offered research experiences. Within the research settings, students are given background literature, instructed in the problem to be studied, learn the necessary technical tools, jointly make a research plan, carry out experiments related to the problem, and discuss the social implications of the research problem. Students prepare papers and/or make presentations related to the projects in which they participate. Not for credit in addition to WSE 187.

Prerequisite: WSE 105

SBC:     TECH

3 credits

WSE 381: Service-Learning in STEM

In this course, students will apply social science knowledge and methodologies to learn how to integrate meaningful community service within the context of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to enrich the learning experience, engage in civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. STEM-related skills-based knowledge such as design optimization, systems and subsystem interconnectedness, constraints, trade-offs and side effects, and ethical considerations will be acquired as a result of the participation in the course. Students will be evaluated on the identification of a community need, the STEM design aspects of their proposed solution, and their communication of the problem, research and solution. As part of the course, direct engagement with community partners during and after the design phase should be established as students learn how to engage civically as part of a democratic citizenry with the depth of commitment to community service that the 21st century demands.

Prerequisite: WSE 380

SBC:     SBS

1 credit

WSE 401: Women's Leadership in STEM

This course will provide an in-depth examination of the essential components of leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The course will explore how leadership theory, drawn from the social sciences, applies to real-life situations and challenges in STEM education, industry and policy. Key concepts of leadership will be introduced including: knowledge of organizational structures, culture, power, communication (written, verbal and non-verbal), politics, decision making, problem solving, collaboration, ethics and diversity. Students will apply theory in action by participating in STEM leadership opportunities through mentoring, tutoring, research, and/or service-learning experiences at the university, local communities, and/or industry internships.

Prerequisite: WSE 381

SBC:     STAS

1 credit

WSE 405: Life Design in STEM

This course examines factors that shape contemporary careers and ways in which individual adaptability is critical for long term success in a rapidly evolving career landscape. You will learn a proactive approach to career and life design to plan for continual development of skills and competencies that fuel career growth. A focus on developing and nurturing a network of professionals in a wide variety of fields, requiring elevated communication and outreach skills. A financial planning piece will incorporate budgeting, loan repayment, and personal fiscal planning.

Prerequisite: WSE 205

1 credit

WSE 475: Teaching Practicum

Students assist the faculty in teaching courses and outreach experiences by conducting recitation or laboratory sections that supplement a lecture course or outreach. Permission to register requires an outlined teaching assistantship plan for a course under the supervision of a faculty member or for an outreach plan with the appropriate supervisor, which will be approved by the WISE Honors Program. The student receives regularly scheduled supervision from the faculty instructor. A final report and possibly a presentation are required. May be repeated, but only two credits of teaching practicum may be counted toward the WISE Honors requirement.

Pre or corequisite: WSE 381; permission of instructor and department.

0-3 credits

WSE 477: Mentoring/Leadership Practicum

Students with the appropriate background and mentoring skills participate in mentoring opportunities for undergraduate or pre-college students. Permission to register requires an outlined mentorship plan for an activity or group of students under the supervision of a faculty member or professional, which will be approved by the WISE Honors Program. The student receives regular mentoring and supervision for their mentoring experiences. A final report and possibly a presentation are required. May be repeated but only two credits of practicum may be counted toward the WISE Honors requirement.

Pre or corequisite: WSE 381; permission of instructor and department.

0-3 credits

WSE 487: Research Practicum

An independent research project with faculty supervision. Permission to register requires a research plan, the agreement of a faculty member to supervise the research and the approval from the WISE Honors Program. A final report and presentation are required. May be repeated, but only two credits of internship may be counted toward the WISE Honors requirement.

Pre or corequisite: WSE 381; permission of instructor and department.

SBC:     EXP+

0-3 credits

WSE 488: Internship Practicum

An independent off-campus STEM project under faculty and/or STEM professional supervision. Permission to register requires a project plan, the agreement of a supervisor and the approval from the WISE Honors Program. A work plan and final report are required. May be repeated but only two credits of internship may be counted toward the WISE Honors requirement.

Pre or corequisite: WSE 381; permission of instructor and department.

SBC:     EXP+

0-3 credits

WSE 495: WISE Honors Project/Thesis I

This is a first course of a two-semester, six-credit, research or creative project in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to be approved by the course coordinator and a faculty supervisor. Students may substitute an appropriate credit-bearing departmental honors project, senior design project or thesis. At the end of the first term, a progress report is expected; at the end of the second term, the student must make an oral presentation at either their department or at an approved event by the course coordinator and must submit an appropriate thesis. Students only receive a grade upon completion of the sequence.

Prerequisite: WSE 381

Partially fulfills: CER, ESI, EXP+, SPK, WRTD

3 credits

WSE 496: WISE Honors Project/Thesis II

This is a second course of a two-semester, six-credit, research or creative project to be approved by the course coordinator and faculty supervisor. Students may substitute an appropriate credit-bearing departmental honors project, senior design project or thesis. The student is expected to make an oral presentation at their department or at an approved event by the course coordinator and must submit an appropriate thesis. Students only receive a grade upon completion of the sequence.

Prerequisite: WSE 495

Partially fulfills: CER, ESI, EXP+, SPK, WRTD

3 credits