Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is part of the State University of New York School System. Originally founded as the State University College on Long Island, it operated as a junior college that provided students with strong foundations that helped them transfer into one of the larger schools in that system. After moving to the Stony Brook neighborhood, the college adopted its current name. Though it initially had fewer than 800 students, the college had more than 8,000 students enrolled by the end of the 1960s. That growth continued over the years to reach more than 25,000 students total.

Though most know SBU for its main campus in Stony Brook, the university also operates a separate east, west and south campus. There are also smaller campuses located in Manhattan and Southampton. In 2011, the university announced that it would develop a campus in South Korea as well. Students can spend a semester or more studying abroad, but the university also caters to international students living in that country too.

U.S. News and World Report placed SBU on two of its lists. The university ranked at number 89 on the list of best colleges in the United States and at number 37 on the list of top public colleges in the nation. Washington Monthly listed the university at number 88 on its list of best American colleges, and it found itself on lists of the best colleges in the world created by ARWU, QS and Times.

Stony Brook University Accreditation Details

Stony Brook University always looked for ways to meet the needs of its student body, which included obtaining accreditation for the university itself and for its unique programs. Primary, also known as institutional or general accreditation, comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The MSCHE requires that all colleges applying for accreditation meet or exceed its standards in 14 different areas. SBU applies for and receives a renewal of this accreditation every decade. Depending on the program you enter, you may find that it has program accreditation as well. Program accreditation at SBU comes from organizations like:

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• American Physical Therapy Association
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Psychological Association
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
• Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System
• American Dental Association
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Council on Education for Public Health
• American Occupational Therapy Association

Stony Brook University Application Requirements

Applying for one of the graduate programs offered by SBU is different than applying for a spot in one of its undergraduate programs. All students hoping to enter the graduate school must create an online account and fill out the application online. SBU lets you select a password you can remember and use your current email address as your user name. The application asks you about your background, including where you earned your degree(s), the name and location of those school(s) and the type of classes you took. Once you submit your application, you can use the simple checklist to ensure you submit all additional documents.

Graduate students must submit at least two official transcripts from every college or university they attended that include an official stamp or seal and a signature. You will also need at least three letters of recommendation. Those you select to write the letters can do so online or via the form available online. Each individual must place the letter in a stamped and sealed envelope and sign his or her name across the flap. SBU also requires your official score from the GRE. You can request that the testing board automatically mail your score directly to the university before taking the test.

Tuition and Financial Aid

As a state school, Stony Brook University offers lower tuition rates for students who live in New York. New York residents pay around $5,400 in tuition costs, which rises to a little over $6,000 when you factor in the costs of fees. Residents from other states pay around $12,000, which includes the cost of any miscellaneous fees. Students can take up to 12 credit hours and still pay the same amount. Those who take fewer than nine credit hours of courses will see their tuition rates drop significantly. The university also requires that students have healthy insurance or purchase insurance through the school. Online students must pay graduation, technology, academic excellence and college fees.

Whether you take classes online or enroll in classes on campus, you can still apply for financial aid. The FAFSA uses your own income or the income of your parents to determine how much assistance you will receive based on how much help you need. SBU offers a payment plan that lets you make equal payments over the course of the year or several months to pay off your tuition. You can also borrow money in the form of subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, obtain grants from the government and apply for SBU scholarships.

Psychology PhD

Once you have a graduate degree in psychology, you can apply for one of the psychology PhD programs available at SBU. The university offers four majors or concentrations in this field: integrative neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognitive science and social and health psychology. Each of these programs requires that students take four introductory classes on statistics and research and five or more courses in their topic of choice. Social and health psychology students may take classes on personality development, close relationships, addictions and emotions. Students must also attend seminars that meet on campus.

During your second year, the university expects you to do research and write an extensive paper that you present to your professors and peers. Only those who successfully complete this step can remain in the program. You must also write a grant proposal or a separate paper in your later years that serves as the dissertation component of the program. Stony Brook University offers some off-campus opportunities for students as well that let you do fieldwork and complete the experience necessary to obtain a license to practice psychology in your state.