/College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Biology

Fall 2026 Biology Registration Hub

Important BIO Updates for Fall 2026


Fall 2026 Registration Forms

    • Deadline: Sunday, August 30, 2026.
    • Note: Forms submitted after this date are not guaranteed to be processed before the add/drop deadline.


Course Updates

  • Prerequisite requirements have changed for the following courses: BIO 201, BIO 211, EBH 381, BIO 312, BIO 319, BIO 321, BIO 351, BIO 352 and BIO 356. As always, be sure to actively check the Stony Brook Undergraduate Catalog for the official information on all courses.
  • BIO WRTD Requirement: In order to satisfy the Upper-Division Writing requirement for the major in Biology, you must co-register for the 0-credit BIO 459 course with an approved advanced course. Courses available for the WRTD requirement in Fall 2026: BIO 312, BIO 335, BIO 336, BIO 352, BIO 354, BIO 364, BIO 365, BIO 366, and EBH 302.
If you have yet to complete your WRTD requirement and plan to register for one of these advanced courses, we encourage you to register for BIO 459 at the same time that you are registering for the respective advanced course during your enrollment appointment.
  • Updates To the BIO 459 Submission Process:

    What you need to know:

    • No Double Submission: You are no longer required to upload your assignment to the BIO 459 Brightspace page. You only need to submit your work to your co-applicable course (e.g., BIO 320, BIO 365) as instructed by your professor.

    • Direct Grading: The BIO 459 grading team will have administrative access to your core course to review and grade your work directly.

       

 

Registration Resources

Before your appointment begins on April 6, ensure your "path is clear" in SOLAR:

  • Clear Holds: Check the "Holds" box on your SOLAR home page. Common holds include Acknowledge Financial Liability, Medical/Immunization, and Advising Holds.

  • Placement Exams: If you are a new student or switching to Biology, ensure your OCPP (Chemistry) and Math Placement scores are finalized. You cannot enroll in BIO 202/203 without the proper Chemistry prerequisites/co-requisites.

  • Degree Works: Run a fresh "What-If" report if you are planning to switch specializations (e.g., from Interdisciplinary to Neuroscience).

If SOLAR says a course is "Open" (Green Circle) but gives you an error when you try to add it, you are likely hitting a Reserve Capacity restriction.

  • What it is: SBU Biology reserves seats for specific groups (e.g., Honors students, New Transfers, or specific majors) until a certain date.

  • Strategy: If you don't meet the reserve, add yourself to the Waitlist immediately. On the Friday before classes begin, most reserves are lifted, and waitlisted students are moved in automatically based on waitlist position if seats become available

For Fall 2026, the credit limit follows a strict phased rollout:

  • Initial Limit: 17 credits (standard for most students during advance registration).

  • August 21, 2026 (12:00 PM): Limit increases to 19 or 23 credits based on the Course Load Policy.

Note for BS Students: You must officially declare a specialization to graduate. You can do this on SOLAR under Manage Classes > Undergraduate Major/Minor Form.

The major declaration form Opens on Monday, March 30, 2026 and

Closes on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 4PM

Fall 2026 Specializations include:

  • Neuroscience

  • Developmental Genetics

  • Ecology & Evolution

  • Quantitative Biology & Bioinformatics

  • Environmental Biology
  • Interdisciplinary Biology
  • Bioengineering ( can not be declared without a Bioengineering Minor)

The Past Course Offerings document is a predictive "data map" that helps Stony Brook Biology majors build a realistic schedule by showing when specific courses have been offered, rather than a complete list of all course offerings.

Why It Matters:

  • Identifies "Ghost" Courses: The Undergraduate Catalog lists every class ever created. Past Offerings show you which ones have actually been taught in the last five years, helping you avoid planning around a class that is effectively "retired."

  • Predicts Seasonality: Many upper-division BIO electives are Fall-Only or Spring-Only. If a course hasn't appeared in a Spring slot for three years, it helps you prioritize it for the appropriate semester or risk waiting a full year to complete a course.

  • SBC Tracking: It helps you verify which courses have historically satisfied SBC requirements like ESI, EXP+, or WRTD, ensuring your elective choices actually count toward your degree.

 

Log into SOLAR > Manage Classes > Enrollment > Enrollment Dates.

Join the SOLAR waitlist. The Biology department monitors these lists; however, if you are a graduating senior and the course is required, email BIO_Registration@stonybrook.edu with your ID number immediately.

If the waitlist is full, continue to monitor enrollment to see if a seat on the waitlist opens up.

Pre-requisite course requirements are strictly enforced for all BIO courses. In order to enroll in a BIO course, you would have needed to complete all prerequisites prior to enrollment with a grade of C or higher.