Undergraduate Bulletin

The Honors College

Assistant Dean: Dr. Catherine Sherman 
Administrative Director: Jessica Klare 
Office: Stony Brook Union, Suite 111 
Phone: (631) 632-4378 
E-mail:  honorscollege@stonybrook.edu  
Website:  www.stonybrook.edu/universityhonors

The Honors College, one of the most selective academic programs for undergraduates at the University, offers a limited number of exceptional students from each class the opportunity to become members of a special community of scholars. Through the College, these students pursue a challenging four-year curriculum designed to promote intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and self-direction. The revised curriculum provides a humanistic and multidisciplinary foundation with opportunities for critical reflection, along with a focus on transdisciplinary problem-solving skills to articulate solutions to contemporary societal challenges.

Acceptance

Honors College admissions decisions are based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Among these are a record of high academic and creative achievement, extraordinary motivation, diversified interests, intellectual curiosity, and sufficient maturity to carry out a challenging program of study. To enter the Honors College as a first-year student, an applicant must demonstrate overall academic excellence in high school by such accomplishments as achieving high grade averages in major subject areas and a record of advanced or college-level coursework. Recent incoming cohorts had 97-99 high school GPAs, 1500-1560 SAT (critical reading and math) composite scores, and 34-35 ACT composite scores.  Demonstrated interests and talents in multidisciplinary activities and the creative arts are also considered in the admissions process. Similar criteria apply to students who wish to enter as sophomores. The Honors College academic curriculum is designed as a four-year formative experience. Thus, students who have been enrolled in college for more than one year are not typically admitted.

Curriculum Prior to Fall 2025

1. Honors College students who enter as first-year students must take HON 101, HON 105, 106, 201, 301, 401, 495, and 496 or their equivalents. Students take HON 101, 105, and 106 in the first year.  HON 201, HON 301, and  HON 401 are to be taken in their numerical order during the three subsequent years. Students may take only one Honors College seminar in a given semester, and one seminar during an academic year. Students who enter the Honors College after the first semester of their first year are required to follow a modified course program according to the time spent in the College. (Those entering as sophomores, for example, must take HON 105  and 106 or substitute equivalent courses.)

Course Sequencing

First year            HON 105  and  HON 106 
Second year        HON 201 
Third year           HON 301 
Fourth year         HON 401

1. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in an Honors College course (those with the HON designator) may repeat the course toward Honors College requirements. No HON course in which a grade of C- or lower was received may satisfy an Honors College requirement.

Each student entering as a first-year student is required to take HON 101 along with three topics courses (HON 110-120). Students entering as sophomores are required to take two topics courses.        

2. In addition to completing the Honors College Curriculum, Honors College students must fulfill the Stony Brook Curriculum general education learning objectives of WRT, QPS, LANG, SNW, TECH, and USA as outlined in the requirements for the College or academic unit in which they are enrolled.  (SBC learning objectives for HUM, SBS, CER, ARTS, STAS, GLO, ESI, SPK, WRTD, and EXP+ are satisfied through completion of the Honors College Curriculum as detailed in A.).

Honors College students must also complete advanced studies in at least two of the three distinct areas of knowledge in SBC learning objectives of STEM+, SBS+, and HFA+. (These courses may overlap with major requirements). These courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher, and each course must be at least 3 credits. The curriculum culminates with a required a Senior Project/Thesis (HON 495/496):

1. Every Honors College student must submit a letter of intent containing a detailed description of the student's intended Senior Honors Project/Thesis. The letter of intent must be submitted to the Honors College for approval no later than the last day of classes of the final semester of the student's junior year. A progress report must be submitted at the end of the first semester of project work. An appropriate thesis (single-authored by the student) must be submitted at the end of the second semester and an oral report must be made at the annual University Honors Senior Symposium. The grade on the Senior Honors Project/Thesis must be C or higher. These rules apply to students doing their Senior Honors Projects under the HON designator or under a departmental designator. Students must obtain Honors College approval for registration under a designator other than HON. Students may substitute an appropriate credit-bearing departmental honors project or they may, with the approval of the department, submit their Honors College Senior Project for departmental honors.  In no case, however, may students submit the same project for academic credit under two different sets of course numbers and/or designators.

Curriculum Beginning Fall 2025

1. Honors College students who enter as first-year students must take  HON 101, 105 , 106, 200, 205, two core Honors seminars (201, 301, or 401), 305, 495, and 496 or their equivalents. Students take HON 101, 105 , 106, 200 in the first year.  HON 205 and 305, as well as two core Honors seminars, should be completed in years two and three.  Students will complete their Senior Project/Thesis in year four. Students who enter the Honors College after the first semester of their first year are required to follow a modified course program according to the time spent in the College. (Those entering as sophomores, for example, must take  HON 105 and 106 or substitute equivalent courses.) Honors Topics courses (HON 110-120) are non-required electives.
   
   
2. Students may substitute one of their two required Honors core seminars (201, 301, or 401) with one of the following:  HON 300 (Special Topics); HON 310 (Honors Experiences); or a pre-approved departmental course plus Honors Course Contract.  Students must obtain Honors College approval in advance of taking the substitution course.  Further information about course substitution requirements and procedures is available with the Honors College.
   
   
3. Students must complete a Senior Project or Thesis. Those enrolled in HON 495 and 496 will follow the project guidelines as described above.  Through an application process, select students can complete their Senior Project through a two-semester, course-based Social Analysis and Impact Capstone.  The Capstone requires the submission of a singled-authored Thesis paper and an oral presentation to be given at the University Honors Senior Symposium.  A grade of C or higher is required for satisfactory completion of the Capstone.

The Fall 2025 curriculum affords students some choice in the courses they take to fulfill their Honors program requirements.  As such, students must review their degree audits carefully to ensure they are completing their SBCs. 

Course Sequencing

First year                      HON 101, 105, 106, and 200
Second and Third Years  HON 205, 305, and two Honors core seminars (201, 301, or 401)
Fourth Year                   HON 490/491 or HON 495/496

Requirements to maintain Honors College membership and receive transcript notation include:

• Receive an “S” (Satisfactory) grade in HON 101 and pass all required Honors College courses with a C or higher, including the Senior Honors Project or Thesis;
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0;
• Not be found guilty of academic dishonesty; and
• Cleared through Community Standards to ensure no University Code of Conduct policies have been violated.