Frequently asked questions among Undergraduate Psychology Majors or Students Considering the Major

Please refer to the Academic Transfer & Services FAQ for your general university questions.

Considering a major in Psychology:

• I want to major in Psychology. What should I do first?
  After reviewing requirements for the Psychology major,  make an appointment on Navigate to meet with one of our Psychology major academic advisors. An advisor will work with you to determine which courses you should take and which requirements you have already fulfilled. 
• Should I do a B.A. or a B.S. degree?
  What is your goal? You should choose a B.A. or B.S. based on what you wish to do after graduation. See B.A. versus B.S.
• What are the classes I need to take in order to graduate as a Psychology major?

  You can familiarize yourself with the requirements located on the Undergraduate Bulletin, find a major checklist here.

  It is also important for you to make an appointment with a major advisor so they can go through your major requirements with you. Please make an appointment on Navigate.

• How do I change/declare my major/concentration?
  Go to your SOLAR account under Student Records and Registration then Enrollment. Here you will see the Major/Minor declaration Google form. Click the link (make sure your pop-up blocker is disabled for SOLAR). (Fill out the form and submit.)
  This form closes periodically during the year, see Academic Calendars for deadlines. 
  
• If I am a double major completing one BS degree and one BA degree, what will my diploma state?
  Your degree type is always based on your first major. For instance, if PSY BS is your first major and Music BA is your second major, you will receive a Bachelor of Science degree.

 Regarding Advising:

• How often should I meet with an Advisor?

  We recommend meeting with your advisors at least once per semester, ideally with plenty of time (i.e., about 1-2 months) before an upcoming registration period. This timing is especially crucial for students in their first or second semester of Senior Year.
  
  It's common for Psychology majors to consult with an Advisor every semester, particularly after their Sophomore Year.  Make an appointment with a Psychology Advisor via Navigate
  
  For assistance with semester scheduling, start by consulting your Major Advisors for major course requirements, then see your general Academic Advisor.

• How can I schedule an advising meeting?
  You can schedule an advising appointment through Navigate, use this video for further instruction. 

  Transfer Specific:

• Where should transfer transcripts be sent?
  Visit the Academic Advising and Transfer Services website for information regarding this question.
• How do I find courses from other schools that are equivalent to SBU courses?
  You can use the online Course Equivalency Database to find transferable courses at other schools. Always confirm with your major and general advisors BEFORE taking courses at other schools to ensure they will transfer into your degree accordingly.
  
  If you need assistance navigating the Database, call Academic and Transfer Advising services at 631-632-7082 (Opt. 2).
• I am a transfer student and have a “PSY 1XX : Needs Dept Eval-Psychology” on my record. What should I do to get the course(s) from my old school evaluated?

  Fill out a Transfer Course Evaluation form and email it along with your course(s) syllabus and course descriptions from the school's catalog to both of our Undergraduate Academic Advisors (CC them both on the single email). Always remember to include your SBU ID on email correspondence with SBU Faculty and Staff.

• I’m doing a B.A. in Psychology. If I’ve already taken a statistics course, do I also need to take another math course?
  • Unless you scored a “4” or higher on the Math Placement Exam or received a “C” or higher in an equivalent mathematics course to MAT 118 or higher, the answer is “yes”.
    
    
    
    The statistics and mathematics requirements are separate requirements. If you are a transfer student, a Psychology Academic Advisor must certify that your transfer course meets the criteria for the mathematics requirement. Please make an appointment with them via Navigate.

  Registration  Questions:

• How do I find my enrollment appointment date and time?
  • On SOLAR, go to “Student Records & Registration” > “Enrollment” > “Enrollment Dates." This will provide you with your Registrar-assigned date based on cumulative credits/academic standing. Here is a Video Walkthrough for finding your enrollment time.
• May I see a syllabus for a certain course to decide whether I would like to enroll in the course?
  See the google drive of past syllabi to get an idea of what is covered during the course. Note that the syllabus may vary based on the instructor and semester, and the previous syllabus should be used as an example only. 
• How can I register for PSY 459 to earn WRTD credit?
  Most students earn WRTD through PSY 310; however, in special cases, co-registration for the 0-credit PSY 459 while completing a substantial paper or writing sample in another Psychology course will satisfy the WRTD requirement.  Students must obtain the permission of the course instructor prior to registering for PSY 459.  
• Which course(s) will allow me to complete WRTD?

  The most common path for students within the Psychology Major to fulfill the WRTD requirement is through PSY 310: Research and Writing in Psychology (taken during your Senior Year).

  Students should consult with the Psychology department advisor (Make an appointment via Navigate) to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education.  Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate.  The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD. 

• If I am unable to enroll in a class should I contact the instructor and ask to be let in?

   No. You shouldn't contact any instructors about enrollment. You should put your name on the waitlist for the class instead. Instructors do not handle enrollments.

• How likely am I to enter a class if I'm on the waitlist?
  Ultimately, this depends on the course and if it is a high-demand course. If you are at the top of the waitlist (spots 1-10), you have a good chance of getting into the class. Check the Undergraduate academic calendar to see the specific date the waitlist process ends for the semester. 
• What are some alternative courses that satisfy the degree requirements?

  Make an appointment with a Psychology Advisor via Navigate

• When does the credit limit go up?

  Visit the Undergraduate academic calendar for the specific date and time according to the semester. Learn more about the Course Load Policy here.  

• How many credits should I be taking per semester?

  To be considered a full time student, you need to take 12 credits per semester. Note that some financial aid requires you to take 15. 

• Who should I contact to petition to take credits this semester?
  Contact the Registrar.  

 Finding help:

• I'm having trouble in a course. Where can I get help?
  Faculty are always available during office hours to give extra help with information covered during class time, and the Academic Success and Tutoring Center offers tutoring and academic success services free of charge to all Stony Brook undergraduates.
• I am a first year/transfer student who would like to gain more information about the Psychology department and/or various resources, activities, and opportunities Stony Brook has to offer, where should I go?

  Click here for more information about the Psychology Peer Mentoring Program, which provides one-to-one mentor-mentee pairings in hopes of providing a personal support system for new students. Additionally, keep an eye on the Psychology Events calendar for relevant events and opportunities. 

Getting involved:

• How can I get involved in research?

  Review the Department website to learn about faculty members’ research. Keep in mind that the number of students who can participate in research with a given faculty member is limited, and a faculty member may not have openings at a particular time. Note that you can earn academic credit for your research involvement such as through PSY 273.  PSY 273 involves working as a Research Assistant with a Professor (sometimes in collaboration with a graduate student in his/her laboratory) in the Psychology Department.  Students must receive approval to work in the laboratory of a Professor in the Psychology Department. PSY 273 is not a course for which students simply sign up. Faculty and graduate students who are recruiting undergraduates to become involved in their research may post announcements around the Department as well as on the Department website (see below) If you see an opportunity of interest, you can contact the investigator to see if they need any more help.   

  For research courses, visit https://you.stonybrook.edu/psychologyresearch/ 

  At this website, you will see the description of PSY 273. To view current opportunities, Click on the link that reads “View current research assistant openings”

• How can I get involved in community service?
   See https://you.stonybrook.edu/psychologyresearch/
• How can I get involved in an internship?

  You should consult with the Internship Office in the Career Center, in Melville Library, W-0550. The Internship Office will provide you with a list of pre-approved psychology internships as well as a list of requirements for obtaining credit. Note that you must have a faculty sponsor within the Psychology Department for the internship. Therefore, if you wish to do an internship, you should start making plans at least one semester in advance, to arrange for a sponsor. If you wish to carry out an internship not on the pre-approved list, you need the permission of both the internship office and Psychology’s Director of Undergraduate Studies (Visit the Undergraduate Psychology Advisors page).

  See also: https://you.stonybrook.edu/psychologyresearch/