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THE BOILERPLATE: HOW TO USE

“Boilerplate” information provides context to those unfamiliar with Stony Brook University, and it is generally described as “About” copy.

“About Stony Brook” is available here as three options:

  • The Quick Take uses bullet points to highlight important facts.
  • The Brief Overview is a ready-made summary.
  • The Comprehensive Overview touches on all aspects of our University and is divided into sections that will help you quickly find what you’re looking for.

Before using this language, in whole or in relevant part, understand what information your audience needs and choose only the sections that correspond. When communicating about multiple aspects of the University, include header tags to break up the content, making it easier for the reader to scan.

 

ABOUT STONY BROOK — QUICK TAKE

Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is one of America’s most dynamic public universities, a center of academic excellence and an internationally recognized research institution that is changing the world. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. After more than 65 years of existence, Stony Brook is ranked #58 among U.S. universities and #26 among public universities in the nation.

QUICK TAKE

  • > 26,000 students
  • >200 undergraduate programs
  • >140 graduate and professional programs

ACCOLADES

  • #58 among U.S. universities (U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, 2025)
  • #26 among public universities in the nation (U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, 2025)
  • No. 1 public university in New York (U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, 2025)
  •  Among the top 10 public colleges (Fiske’s Best Buy Colleges, 2025)
  • #15 among national universities in social mobility (U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, 2025)
  • Ranked 56th for ethnic diversity among national universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2024–2025)
  • National hospital leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality (Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2024)
  • One of America’s 50 best hospitals and among the top 1% of hospitals in the country (Healthgrades®, 2025)
  • Ranked 13th among hospitals in New York State (U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals, 2024)
  • One of the top 150 places to work in healthcare (Becker's Healthcare, 2024)
  • Among the top hospitals in the nation for environmental excellence (Practice Greenhealth, 2024)
  • Member of the invitation-only Association of American Universities, comprising the 71 leading research institutions in North America
  • Proud home to Nobel laureates, Guggenheim fellows and MacArthur grant winners

We’ve grown from a collection of geodesic domes at Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, New York, to our main 1,040-acre campus in Stony Brook, New York — a powerful incubator of teaching and research innovation as well as a driving engine for the Long Island economy — with satellite locations in Southampton and South Korea.

ABOUT STONY BROOK — BRIEF OVERVIEW

Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 220,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X@stonybrooku.

ABOUT STONY BROOK — COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW

OUR STUDENTS

Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is home to a diverse student body of more than 26,000 high-achieving students, including more than 18,000 undergraduates from nearly all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, Stony Brook offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and more than 140 graduate and professional programs. Innovative programs include a combined-degree fast-track MBA program and the award-winning Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program, which involves undergraduates in research in nearly every discipline and has produced Beckman, Goldwater, Marshall and Truman scholars. Students in all disciplines have the opportunity to enrich their education by pursuing their academic interests in an overseas location while still earning credits toward their bachelor’s degree. Stony Brook offers unique semester, academic year, and summer and winter programs in locations such as Australia, Italy, Jamaica, Madagascar and South Korea.

OUR FACULTY
Nobel laureates, Guggenheim fellows, Fields Medal recipients and MacArthur grant winners teach on our campus. Our faculty are leaders in significant national and worldwide projects, such as uncovering the causes of lobster mortality in Long Island Sound, searching for the origins of man in Kenya’s Turkana Basin and managing the national parks of Madagascar. We’ve made significant contributions to NASA initiatives, such as examining Martian minerals for evidence of life and other phenomena.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Stony Brook University has the responsibility of co-managing nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), joining such prestigious schools as Princeton, Stanford and the University of Chicago on the list of major institutions that have a role in running federal research laboratories. In addition, BNL and Stony Brook collaborate with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory — one of the world’s pre-eminent private research institutes. Several faculty members have dual appointments with Stony Brook and BNL.

STONY BROOK INCUBATOR PROGRAM
The Stony Brook Incubator Program offers startups and young companies more than 100,000 square feet of designated incubator space, or “virtual” participation through nonresident programs, across a technology spectrum from advanced materials and biotechnology to clean tech, software, IT hardware and innovations too new to name. The program includes entrée to world-class technology and sector-focused programming, specialized facilities and access to the university’s exceptional faculty, student talent and assistance in securing early-stage financing. These resources include the two New York State designated Centers of Excellence: the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) and the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT); the Centers for Advanced Technology in biotechnology (CFB) and integrated electric energy systems (CIEES); the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) program; the Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership (LIMEP); and the New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), all located at Stony Brook University. In addition, the Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI) — Long Island’s first incubator — and the Food Business Incubator at Calverton provide resources and programming for all incubator companies. 

ARTS
Stony Brook’s Staller Center for the Arts offers a rich program of theater, dance, classical music and popular entertainment throughout the year. The center hosts master classes and concerts by students and celebrated faculty musicians. Each summer, the Stony Brook Film Festival brings leading and emerging independent filmmakers and fans to campus.

ATHLETICS
Stony Brook’s Department of Athletics sponsors 18 Division I varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that compete at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Coastal Athletic Association. Our world-class facilities include the 12,300-seat Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and a sports complex housing the 4,000-seat Stony Brook Arena. All of Stony Brook’s men’s and women’s programs offer athletics scholarships. 

SATELLITE LOCATIONS
Stony Brook Southampton, on Long Island’s East End, is home to the Lichtenstein Center (MFA programs, FoodLab, and Southampton Writers Conference), School of Health Professions (graduate programs), and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (Marine Sciences Center and the Semester by the Sea program).

SUNY Korea, a partnership between Stony Brook University, the State University of New York (SUNY) and the South Korean government, opened its doors in March 2012 as the first American university established on Korean soil. It is also the first university to join the Songdo Global University Campus.

STONY BROOK MEDICINE
Stony Brook Medicine integrates and elevates all of Stony Brook University’s health-related initiatives: education, research and patient care. It includes five Health Sciences schools — Renaissance School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing and School of Social Welfare — as well as Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings throughout Suffolk County. 

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
The university is divided into 12 schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, The Graduate School, School of Communication and Journalism, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Professional Development, and the five health sciences schools: Renaissance School of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Health Professions, Nursing and Social Welfare.

ARTS AND SCIENCES
The College of Arts and Sciences offers degree programs in fine arts and humanities, in biological and physical sciences, in mathematics and in social and behavioral sciences. In addition to departmental majors, special interdisciplinary majors using the resources of two or more departments are offered, as well as programs leading to provisional certification in secondary education.

BUSINESS
The AACSB-accredited College of Business offers comprehensive education and conducts research for the business, public and nonprofit sectors. Our undergraduate business management major and accounting minor, along with our hybrid and online MBA programs and STEM-designated, specialized MS programs in Accounting and Analytics, Decision Analytics and Finance, are delivered by a diverse faculty who meet high standards for research and teaching excellence. Students engage in dynamic learning communities, acquiring the knowledge, skills and insights needed to manage complex organizations. Our dedicated faculty bring both academic and business expertise, teaching not only the core principles of accounting, management, finance and marketing, but also the intangible aspects of leadership, communication and business strategy. The College of Business offers flexible full- and part-time programs with day, evening, weekend immersion and online courses, including a fully online MBA option.

CONTINUING, PROFESSIONAL AND ONLINE EDUCATION 
Continuing, Professional and Online Education (CPOE) provides wide-ranging learning opportunities for every stage of life. The School of Professional Development (SPD) offers graduate programs in education and human resource management with flexible online options for working professionals. SPD also coordinates teacher education programs and oversees teacher certification for all Stony Brook University students. For those seeking to enhance their skills, CPOE’s Center for Continuing Education offers noncredit programs — including project management and online tech bootcamps — that are ideal for professionals who need to upskill or reskill to advance their careers. CPOE offers two programs for high school students: The Accelerated College Education (ACE) program is a dual credit concurrent enrollment program that allows high school students to earn high school and SBU college credits at the same time. The Pre-College Summer Program is a noncredit residential learning experience that provides rising high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to pursue various academic areas while gaining a realistic preview of the campus experience.  Rounding out CPOE’s programs is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). OLLI fosters a vibrant, peer-led community for retired and semi-retired learners, offering intellectually enriching workshops and engaging social events.

ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University has nine academic departments. The College offers 13 undergraduate majors, consisting of nine ABET-accredited programs, as well as 12 master's degree programs and 12 doctoral degree programs. Its faculty body includes distinctions such as 62 NSF Career awards; 16 SUNY Distinguished Professorships; members of the National Academy of Engineering; as well as recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology. Faculty and students work together on interdisciplinary topics in many research centers and institutes including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York State institutions and industry. Students may study within traditional engineering disciplines or in interdisciplinary fields and find work in the industry or pursue graduate study.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Graduate School offers a wide array of advanced degree programs, encompassing 61 master’s degrees and 49 PhD programs. A diverse community of graduate students chose to pursue their graduate studies at Stony Brook from 48 states and over 100 countries. The centralized team of professionals at the Graduate School is committed to supporting students and postdocs through professional and personal development and innovative curriculum as they pursue creative academic and research opportunities. They are dedicated to empowering graduate students from application to graduation to create the next generation of scholars through collaborations with faculty and staff across graduate programs. Stony Brook’s advanced graduate programs are internationally recognized and consistently receive exceptionally high ratings from external evaluation agencies and scholarly studies.

JOURNALISM
The School of Communication and Journalism offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs in communication, science communication and journalism that emphasize ethical, engaging and inclusive research and storytelling across media platforms. Students graduate with a strong foundation of communication theory and research and gain practical skills in digital media through hands-on courses and professional experiences. The school’s undergraduate journalism program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. It is also home to the Colvin Center for International Reporting and the Center for News Literacy and works in close collaboration with the internationally known Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.

MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) is a leader in marine, atmospheric and sustainability research; education; public service, and is SUNY’s designated center for the marine sciences. The school is among the leading oceanographic and atmospheric sciences institutions in the world, providing students with access to state-of-the-art research laboratories, shipboard experiences, high-powered radar and computing facilities, and a variety of experiential learning opportunities. SoMAS students are provided unparalleled and exciting opportunities for study abroad in places including the UK, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar. SoMAS provides expanded study opportunities in the fields of ocean conservation, climate change and extreme weather, sustainability, waste management, marine fisheries and resources, and many others.

RENAISSANCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
The Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) was built on the fundamental cornerstones of excellence in education, research, patient care and community service. Consistently ranked as New York’s top public medical institution, the School comprises eight basic science and 17 clinical departments that provide preclinical and clinical education of medical students including graduate, postgraduate and continuing education. Faculty, students and residents were instrumental in helping Stony Brook Medicine — one of the premier academic health centers in the United States — serve more than 37,700 inpatients and 1,519,850 outpatients during the 2023 calendar year. As a leading research university, Stony Brook works to improve health and save lives by bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications. The School offers research and clinical opportunities and has attracted a faculty of national and international renown.

The Renaissance School of Medicine’s eight departments in the basic science disciplines include:

  • Anatomical Sciences
  • Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Informatics
  • Microbiology and Immunology
  • Neurobiology and Behavior
  • Pharmacological Sciences
  • Physiology and Biophysics

The School’s 17 clinical departments include:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family, Population and Preventive Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • Pathology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Surgery
  • Urology

DENTAL MEDICINE
The School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is renowned for implementing cutting-edge technology in its educational programs and in the delivery of oral healthcare services. The SDM offers the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in addition to postdoctoral education in endodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, general dentistry, dental anesthesiology, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial radiology and dental care for patients with special needs. Master’s and doctoral degrees are offered through the university’s Graduate School and the school’s Department of Oral Biology and Pathology. The SDM provides dental care to more than 15,000 community residents every year – with over 300 visits daily – and is a leader in translational research and technology transfer. SDM students participate in community outreach regionally and nationally, with an emphasis on serving remote or underserved populations of New York.

HEALTH PROFESSIONS
The school offers baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees in both clinical and nonclinical areas that include applied health informatics, athletic training, clinical laboratory sciences, health science, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical therapy, respiratory care and speech-language pathology. We also offer non-credit certificate programs in EMT/paramedic, medical dosimetry, phlebotomy, radiation therapy and radiologic technology.

The mission of the school is to transform lives through healthcare education, workforce development and engagement, research, and cultivating resources and partnerships.  We prepare the next generation of outstanding healthcare professionals, while supporting research and innovative, inclusive teaching that anticipates and responds to the needs of our diverse community and beyond.

NURSING
The School of Nursing offers degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the PhD in Nursing. At the undergraduate level, the Basic Baccalaureate Program and an Accelerated Baccalaureate Program are available to students who hold non-nursing baccalaureate degrees. Both of these programs are offered on site and lead to licensure as a registered nurse. The Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s and Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s/Master’s programs are available to registered nurses with associate degrees or diplomas in nursing. These programs are offered through distance education with on-site requirements.

At the graduate level, a Master of Science degree in Advanced Practice Nursing is offered in the following foci: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwifery. Also offered: a Master of Science in Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership. Advanced certificate programs are offered for nurses with an advanced degree (master’s or doctoral) to continue their education by preparing them for the advanced practice roles of nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse leader or nurse educator. All Master of Science and advanced certificate programs are offered through distance education with on-site requirements. The license-qualifying postbaccalaureate DNP Program is designed for registered nurses who hold a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing. It is offered in the following population foci: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family, Pediatric Primary Care, Pediatric Acute Care, Psychiatric Mental Health, Neonatal and Nurse Midwifery. Nurse practitioners and nurse midwives who hold a master’s degree may be eligible to enter the DNP Program with advanced standing (post-master’s entry). A gap analysis is conducted to confirm previous coursework taken and validate the number of clinical hours performed at the master’s level. The DNP Program is offered through distance education with on-site requirements. The PhD in Nursing is designed for master’s-prepared nurses who aspire to research and academic roles within healthcare and educational settings.

The baccalaureate degree in Nursing, Master of Science degree in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Nurse Midwifery is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.

SOCIAL WELFARE
The School of Social Welfare is committed to building a more equitable society based on the values of human dignity, inclusiveness, diversity and equality, and on economic, environmental and social justice. It offers three degree programs: a Bachelor of Science with a major in Social Work (BSW), a Master of Social Work (MSW) and PhD. The full-time, upper-division undergraduate BSW program provides preparation for entry-level social work positions. The MSW program prepares graduates for advanced generalist social work practice. The PhD is an advanced research degree with a specific focus on understanding and addressing the social determinants of health. The school offers three dual-degree programs: MSW/JD, MSW/MA, MSW/MPH. The MSW and BSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; the MSW program is registered with the New York State Education Department as qualifying graduates for licensure credentialing.

 

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