Undergraduate Bulletin

The Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC)

The Stony Brook Curriculum includes both breadth and depth of study, and ensures that students will learn skills necessary for life-long learning. Use the course search to search for courses that complete SBC learning objectives. 

Through the general education curriculum, students will:

DEMONSTRATE VERSATILITY by showing proficiency in each of eleven fundamental learning objectives:

• Explore and Understand the Fine and Performing Arts (ARTS)  
• Engage Global Issues (GLO)  
• Address Problems using Critical Analysis and the Methods of the Humanities (HUM)  
• Communicate in a Human Language Other than English (LANG) (see Note 1)
• Master Quantitative Problem Solving (QPS)  
• Understand, Observe, and Analyze Human Behavior and the Structure and Functioning of Society (SBS)  
• Study the Natural World (SNW)  
• Understand Technology (TECH)
• Understand the Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural History of the United States (USA)  
• Write Effectively in English (WRT)  

Note 1: CEAS majors, the Athletic Training major, the Respiratory Care major, and the Clinical Laboratory Sciences major are exempt from the LANG learning objective. Students enrolled in the major in Social Work are exempt from the LANG learning objective, but are required to enroll in and pass with a letter grade of C or higher the first semester of an elementary foreign language course numbered 111, or satisfy through alternate methods (see  Communicate in a Human Language Other than English--LANG). 

EXPLORE INTERCONNECTEDNESS by completing a course that examines significant relationships between Science or Technology and the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences (STAS).

PURSUE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING   by completing advanced studies in  three of four  distinct areas of knowledge. A "+" sign in the abbreviations for these learning objectives signifies that most courses in this category will be relatively advanced courses at the 200- to 400-level. These learning objectives are:

• Experiential Learning (EXP+)
• Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA+)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS+)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM+)

PREPARE FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING  by taking (in most cases) courses which may also satisfy other SBC, major or other degree requirements.

• Practice and Respect Critical and Ethical Reasoning (CER)  
• Respect Diversity and Foster Inclusiveness (DIV) (see Note 2 below)
• Evaluate and Synthesize Researched Information (ESI)  
• Speak Effectively before an Audience (SPK)  
• Write Effectively within One’s Discipline (WRTD)

Note 2:  Students are responsible for completing the general education requirements published in the Bulletin that was current as of the first semester of matriculation (or rematriculation). The following student groups must satisfy the DIV learning objective as part of their degree requirements:

• Freshmen who matriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
• Transfer students who matriculate in the Spring of 2020 or later
• Students who rematriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later

Students may reduce the number of courses needed to achieve the Stony Brook Curriculum learning objectives through university certified AP credit, courses certified in more than one area, challenge exams, on-campus placement tests, course waivers, and faculty-designed themed course clusters. In accordance with SUNY policy, at a minimum, students must complete at least 30 credits of General Education awarded by an institution of higher education. In order to satisfy the SBC learning objectives, a passing letter grade or a grade of S must be earned in the corresponding course.  Recorded grades of P, NC, U or F will not satisfy SBC learning objectives. LANG, WRT, and QPS learning objectives must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

A detailed list of the courses and activities that fulfill these objectives may be found in the university undergraduate Bulletin.  Many of the above requirements may be fulfilled as part of a student's major or minor.  For more information on the Stony Brook Curriculum in relation to SUNY General Education Requirements, see link.