Frequently Asked Questions | School of Professional Development

Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Application to the School of Professional Development

Prospective students will submit all of their application materials (e.g., essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation) via our online application portal. Each program has its own requirements, which you should review before you apply. However, you don't have to have all of your materials gathered before you start your application.

Yes. Log into your application account and click on the update profile tab located at the top of the page. Your name, email address, date of birth and password will pop up for editing. Once you have finished making your changes, click the update button at the bottom of the page.
It depends. If you are not currently matriculated and are applying to two separate programs, then yes, you will need to submit two applications. Each application will be directed to only one graduate program, and all supporting materials must be submitted.

If you are already in a matriculated program, you can add a secondary degree or certificate program by submitting the appropriate permission form.
If you applied to a matriculated program within the last twelve months, please contact the graduate program to which you applied. In certain instances, they may reconsider your application. If you're applying to a new program, please create a new account and submit a new application online.

If you have applied as a Non-Matriculated Graduate Student in the past and it has been more than three consecutive full terms without enrollment (ex. Fall, Spring, Fall) then you will need to reapply by creating a new account and submitting a new application online.
Please see the Application Links page of the SPD website for Programs application deadlines. Please check with the Graduate Program Coordinator of the department to which you are applying to see if the program will accept applications after these dates.
A non-refundable application fee of $100 for matriculated programs, or $25 for non-matriculated student status will be charged for your application. Online applicants must pay by credit card. You will be given a prompt when submitting your application online to provide your credit card information.
Log back into your online application account to view the status of your application and supporting documents. Specific questions may be directed to the Graduate Program Coordinator of the program to which you are applying.

You will receive an email notification when your official transcript has been received by SPD..
If you are offered admission, your application will be processed usually within two weeks of SPD receiving your acceptance of the offer.

International students, that are in need of immigration documents in order to be eligible to study at Stony Brook, will be processed as a priority. Please keep in mind that incomplete processing packages and additional needed information, will extend this processing period.

Required Documents

If you are applying for admission into a graduate degree and certificate program, you must submit:
- A personal statement.
- Official transcripts showing the conferral of your undergraduate degree.
Some programs may also require letters of recommendation, test scores, resumes, and/or interviews. Please check your specific program’s application requirements.
Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically by your recommenders directly to your application using a link that will be provided to them upon your submitting their name and email within the application. All required items must be uploaded into your application.

Official transcripts should be sent electronically to spd_transcripts@stonybrook.edu directly from the issuing institution. Do not send transcripts to the Graduate School or Undergraduate Admissions.

Electronic test scores should be sent to SUNY Center Stony Brook University Code 2548.

Transcripts

Yes. Applicants to matriculated programs must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale. If the student attends a college that only gives Passes or Credits for the first year of study, then these grades will be evaluated as C for GPA admission purposes unless the student provides actual grades.

Applicants seeking off-campus SUTRA non-matriculated graduate student status should have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 point scale from their undergraduate career.
Official transcripts are valid when they are issued by the school you attended. They have an official seal/stamp and an official signature by an appropriate academic administrative officer. If hard copy, they are sealed by the university and must remain sealed.

Official electronic transcripts, sent to spd_transcripts@stonybrook.edu by authorized delivery agents, are also accepted. Photocopied documents are NOT official. Final transcripts state that a degree has been conferred and provide the date of conferral.
Yes. Academic records/transcripts must be translated and/or evaluated by an authoritative evaluation service who is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluators ( NACES.org). The most commonly used service which is accepted by Stony Brook University is World Education Services (WES), which may be accessed at www.wes.org.
No. Academic records/transcripts must be translated and/or evaluated by an authoritative evaluation service who is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluators ( NACES.org). The most commonly used service which is accepted by Stony Brook University is World Education Services (WES), which may be accessed at www.wes.org.
Academic records/transcripts must be translated and/or evaluated by an authoritative evaluation service who is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluators ( NACES.org). The most commonly used service which is accepted by Stony Brook University is World Education Services (WES), which may be accessed at www.wes.org.
If you are in the process of completing a degree, please send an official transcript that shows your progress to this point. You will need to send a final, official transcript once your degree is conferred in order to be fully matriculated and eligible to enroll. Transcripts that do not show a degree awarded will not delay application processing, but failure to submit final documentation about conferral will result in a registration block.
Applicants are only required to submit transcripts from any undergraduate institutions attended (unless otherwise noted by your program) from which a degree was earned. Please note a department's graduate program admissions committee always reserves the right to request additional information.
No. While many international schools only issue one diploma, it is not true that they will only issue one transcript (mark sheet, generally with the degree posted). The School of Professional Development will not review any student applications without an evaluated transcripts from a student's international university.

Recommendations

No. Recommenders will be sent an electronic notification and link with which they can submit their letter. If exceptional circumstances prevent the recommender from uploading their letter or recommendation, please contact spd@stonybrook.edu for information.

Test Scores

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

No. The GRE general test is only required of applicants to the following programs:

Master of Arts in Teaching:
- English
- French
- Italian
- Spanish
- Mathematics
- Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Physics
- Social Studies
For the GRE, arrange to have Educational Testing Services (ETS) send official GRE score reports to Stony Brook University (School code: 2548)

TOEFL/IELTS

Please schedule to take the exam in time for the School of Professional Development deadline for the semester to which you are applying. Be aware as well, that it takes time for ETS to send these scores to Stony Brook. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that he/she has taken the test and ordered the scores be sent to Stony Brook in time for admissions evaluation by the department. Any delay in the receipt of the TOEFL score will impede application evaluation and processing.
The School of Professional Development will not accept any test scores that are more than 2 years old based on the application deadline date. For example, TOEFL exams taken prior to January 2016 will not be accepted for Fall 2018 applications due on or about January 15, 2018.
Native or primary speakers of English have been raised or educated in an English-speaking environment. Native or primary speakers may speak a language other than English at home but speak English exclusively outside the home in social and/or educational contexts.

Please note: Intentional misrepresentation by a student regarding his or her native/primary language is academic dishonesty and grounds for dismissal from the University.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Taking Graduate Courses Outside of a Degree Program

If you have a baccalaureate degree and are interested in taking graduate or undergraduate courses at Stony Brook without working toward a degree, you may apply for admission as a non-matriculated graduate student (also known as "GSP" student) through the Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions Center.

The maximum number of graduate credits that one may earn as a non-matriculated graduate student (GSP) that may later be considered for any Stony Brook graduate degree or post-master's graduate certificate is 12; and a maximum of 6 for advanced graduate certificate programs.

Enrollment in a department's graduate courses does not entitle a GSP student to candidacy for a department's degrees. You must formally apply and be admitted to a degree and/or certificate program.

Information for Teachers

Yes. You can take graduate or undergraduate courses as long as they are open and available to non-matriculating students. The School of Professional Development only accepts applications for those seeking non-matriculated status from those students who are applying as a member of an off-campus SUTRA cohort through a Teacher Center partner for example. All others seeking graduate non-matriculated status must apply through the Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions Center.
If you are a teacher with Stony Brook University graduate student status taking undergraduate credits for the purpose of seeking an additional certification, courses must be taken at the graduate level in order to earn credit so that the credits appear on your transcript and can be eligible for review by NYSED. Contact the Program Director/Department for the course in which you are interested in enrolling for advisement. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please email SPD_GraduationandCertification@stonybrook.edu for additional information. This does not apply to students with Graduate Non-Matriculated Student Status.

University Policies

Yes, effective January 1, 2016, Stony Brook implemented a tobacco-free policy. This includes all tobacco and smoke/vapor-producing products. For more information about this policy, please refer to the following website:

http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/tobaccofree/

Housing

Contact Information

For further information about School of Professional Development admissions, please contact: spd@stonybrook.edu

Admissions