Retake Policy

Retake: to take a course again that is NOT marked as “may be repeated” in the Undergraduate Catalog

Policy Information

First time takers of courses have priority in registration. Students who wish to retake a course (second attempt) may begin retake registration per the date notated on the Registrar’s Office academic calendar, pending an open seat.

Second attempts for winter and summer classes are permitted during the open enrollment date noted on the academic calendar.

Students are considered to have taken a course if they remain in the course past the add/drop deadline, regardless of the grade received in the course.

• Note: A grade of ‘W’ does count as a grade; see Grading and the Grading System section of the Undergradute Catalog for more information.

Credits for retaken courses will count once toward cumulative credits, but will count each time toward semester load. The highest grade of all attempts at the course will count towards the GPA. All graded attempts will be listed on the student’s transcript.

Students who retake a course may not exercise the G/P/NC option for that course.

Academic departments and general academic advising units may deny or deregister a student’s second or more attempt of a class(es) under certain circumstances, including:

1. Not making sufficient major entry and/or major progress.
2. Earning below a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
3. Retaking two or more courses in the same semester.
4. Retaking a course after earning a C or better on the first attempt.

Course Retake at Other Institutions

Students seeking to take courses at other institutions should review the Transfer Equivalency Database. If a course is not already included on this list, students should seek pre-approval from the relevant department at Stony Brook and file a Transfer Course Evaluation Form with Credit Evaluation Services.

Controlled Access Courses

Seats in high demand fall and spring classes, noted as High Demand/Controlled Access (HD/CA) courses, are reserved for first time takers and new students through the end of the orientation registration period. Therefore, there is no guarantee of a seat in the case of a second or more attempt. Students who wish to retake HD/CA courses should consider doing so in the summer and winter sessions, if possible. 

Third Attempt Retake

Students who wish to take a course more than twice must receive approval from the academic department offering the course and CEAS Committee on Academic Standing and Appeals via a petition form. In support of this petition form, students must include documentation from either the course instructor or department.

• Note: WAE 190, WAE 192, WAE 194, WRT 101, & WRT 102 are exempt from the petition process.

Approved petitions for CEAS students to take a course for the third or more time are communicated directly with the Registrar’s Office for processing. Students are responsible to pay any fees associated with the processing of their petition.

More information on multiple registrations for the same course can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.