Academic Advising
Students are encouraged to meet with undergraduate advisors every semester to stay on track for on-time graduation. The SoCJ partners with University Advising to give students a customized holistic advising experience. Students seeking advising should complete the SoCJ Advising and Registration form. Our team of advisors will assess your needs and will reach out with next steps.
Advisors are here to help you with:
- Selecting courses in your major for next semester (Explore Fall 2026 SoCJ classes)
- Planning your academic career
- Contemplating changes to your major, minor or concentration
- Dropping or withdrawing from courses in your major
- Considering the G/P/NC option
- Exploring career paths to see how we can help you achieve your goals
- Facing major academic, personal, family or medical issues, including Academic Judiciary proceedings
Helpful Information:
- All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher to count toward your major or minor.
- Beware of the G/P/NC option. Always check with an advisor first. Even if you earn a passing “P” grade in a major or minor course, you’ll have to repeat it. No exceptions.
- JRN 106, JRN 208, and JRN 305 run as COM 106, COM 208, and COM 305.
- COM 415: Data Analysis and Storytelling is no longer required for journalism majors and may be taken as an elective.
- Remember to keep track of your progress toward your degree. It will help you and your advisor when you talk about what you should take next semester.
Schedule an Advising Appointment
All students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment each semester before their registration date to review their academic plan, discuss course selection, and prepare for registration.
Schedule an Advising Appointment SoCJ Advising and Registration Form
Major & Minor Requirements
Stay on track with these helpful documents that detail the major requirements, electives and suggested currivulum maps for each SoCJ program.
Communication
Major Requirements Minor Requirements
Journalism
Major Requirements Minor Requirements
Mass Communication
Major Requirements Minor Requirements
Communication & Innovation
Graduating Seniors
We recommend all graduating seniors schedule a major credit check at the start of their final semester, preferably before the end of the drop/add period.
Transferring Credits to SBU
To find out if courses you took at another institution can count toward your Stony Brook degree, you first must work with Academic and Transfer Advising Services (ATAS). Only courses that have been accepted by the university can be evaluated for credit in your major or minor.
If you would like the SoCJ to evaluate a course to see if it can be applied to your
major or minor, you must:
- Submit the course syllabus to the SoCJ
- Make sure the final course grade appears on the previous institution's transcript
With that information, an SoCJ advisor will determine if those credits can count toward your major or minor, and how they will be applied.
School of Communications and Journalism Advising Team
Irene Virag
Program Director, School of Communication and Journalism
(Add Student Populations)
Meghan Sweeney
Assistant Director for Upperclass and Transfer Advising
Student Populations: Full Time and First time Juniors (U3) and Seniors (U4)
Mary Monsees
Academic Advisor
Student Populations: First Year (Freshmen - U1) and Second Year (Sophomores - U2)