FAQ | Department of Psychology

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:

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.
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.

Regarding Advising:

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.

Transfer Specific:

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).
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.
- 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:

- 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.
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.
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.

Finding help:

Getting involved:

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”
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://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/psychology/undergraduate/_internships.php

Undergraduate Psychology