The Honors College FAQs

The Honors College curriculum is completely independent of your major. Currently, Honors College students are enrolled in 34 different majors! The program is designed to complement your major and help fulfill Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) general education requirements. However, you’ll need to plan time in your senior year for your senior project, which is also commonly required for departmental honors. 

No, you don’t have to choose. Many Honors College students also participate in departmental honors programs. While departmental honors often involve honors-level courses and research or creative projects in your major field, this is distinct from the Honors College curriculum. If both programs require a senior project or thesis, you’ll only need to complete one project that satisfies both.

Yes, Honors College students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing.

This is a common misconception. Honors courses emphasize intellectual exploration and critical thinking rather than an increased workload. While the quantity of assignments may not be greater, you’ll be expected to produce work of a higher standard.

No. Although Honors College classes and mini-courses are exclusive to Honors students, these make up about one-quarter of your total academic credits. You’ll take the rest of your courses with the general Stony Brook student body, allowing you to build a close-knit Honors community while forming connections outside the program.

 Yes, in most cases. To graduate, you must complete both your major’s requirements and the university’s general education requirements, known as the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC). With a few exceptions, the Honors College curriculum fulfills all SBC requirements.

Honors College courses are small, discussion-based classes with about 20 students. They focus on participation, critical analysis, and writing instead of traditional lectures and tests. This interactive format fosters collaboration among peers and meaningful engagement with faculty.

Mini-courses are 1-credit, topic-based classes offered exclusively to Honors College freshmen and sophomores. Each semester, students can choose from eight courses, which change regularly. With an average enrollment of 15–16 students, these courses allow exploration of diverse topics in an intimate, engaging setting.

Yes, Honors College students receive priority housing and are offered the option to live in a residence hall dedicated to fostering a close-knit community of high-achieving students. While many students choose to live there throughout their four years, commuting students are also integral members of the Honors College community. 

It depends on your goals. The Honors College includes students whose interests span the arts, humanities, sciences, and engineering, while WISE Honors is a program for students pursuing STEM fields. The missions and curricula of these programs differ significantly, so we encourage you to review the course requirements and admissions criteria for both programs before deciding.

No, students may only participate in one University Honors Program at a time.

All three programs offer meaningful learning experiences, personalized advising, mentoring, and community engagement. Here’s how they differ:

• Honors College: A four-year, seminar-based curriculum culminating in a senior thesis or project.
• University Scholars: Focuses on leadership development, service, and academic excellence through seminars and events.
• WISE Honors:  Designed for students in STEM fields, combining academics, research, service, and leadership development, culminating in a senior project or thesis.

Participation in the Honors College does not directly affect financial aid. Many Honors students receive merit scholarships through the Office of Financial Aid, but these scholarships are awarded independently of Honors College membership.