Frequently Asked Questions

 

Admission Requirements/Transfer Questions

• I already have a bachelor's degree. Can I be admitted to the BSEE program?
  • According to University Policy, we only consider students for second bachelor's if their first degree was in a significantly different field of study. We do not consider students with bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering Technology.
  • Second bachelor’s applicants must meet all admission requirements, however admission to SBU to study any major in the CEAS is not guaranteed, and is determined on a space-available basis.
  • Per University policies, coursework taken as part of another bachelors or masters degree will typically not be used to satisfy requirements for a second bachelor's at Stony Brook. The EEO program may consider waiving select introductory math, science and engineering courses, provided you can demonstrate that you completed an equivalent course as part of your previous degree.
  • If you are still interested in applying to Stony Brook for a future term, you are encouraged to review the Transfer Database to determine if the courses you took at your prior institution(s) are considered equivalent to those required for your intended program at Stony Brook. Per our transfer course evaluation policies, any courses that are not already listed in the database as equivalent can only be evaluated for equivalency after you accept an offer of admission to Stony Brook.
• I have completed some, but not all of the admission requirements, should I apply?
  • Students should only apply for admission after meeting the stated requirements. You are encouraged to review the Transfer Database to identify equivalent courses that will satisfy admission requirements. Per our transfer course evaluation policies, any courses that are not already listed in the database as equivalent can only be evaluated for equivalency after you accept an offer of admission to Stony Brook.
  • Online options to satisfy prerequisites may be available through Open SUNY.
• In addition to the admission requirements, should I complete any other degree requirements prior to applying?

  While only the admission requirements are necessary, please note that we do not guarantee online offerings for any of the required math, science or general education courses. You may wish to consider completing all lower-level courses before applying. Review the Transfer Database to identify equivalent courses that will satisfy these requirements.

• Is physics a prerequisite for admission?

  While physics is not part of the admission requirements, it is an important prerequisite for electrical engineering coursework. You are encouraged to review the Transfer Database to identify equivalent courses that will satisfy the physics requirements, but note that Stony Brook does offer online versions of physics.

• How can students check their application status?

  In the SBU Applicant Portal (login info is e-mailed to applicants within 2 weeks of application submission), applicants can Monitor application status, Confirm receipt of items, and Upload supplements, including essays and resumes

• How many of my courses are transferable?

  Stony Brook will accept a maximum of 84 transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions for courses with final grades of C or higher. You are encouraged to review the Transfer Database to determine if the courses you took at your prior institution(s) are considered equivalent to those required for your intended program at Stony Brook. Per our transfer course evaluation policies, any courses that are not already listed in the database as equivalent can only be evaluated for equivalency after you accept an offer of admission to Stony Brook. 

• How long will it take to complete this degree?

  Students who matriculate into this program are paired with professional advisors that devise customized degree plans based on a student’s preferences, time commitments and remaining degree requirements. The length of time depends on how many courses a student chooses to take per semester and how many remaining courses a student must complete.

• Can this program be completed on a part-time basis?

  Yes! There is no minimum enrollment requirement, and students can choose to take one or two courses per semester. Summer course options are also available.

• If I join the electrical engineering online program, can I decide later on to transfer to the traditional in-person electrical engineering program?

  While both programs are housed within the same department, admission and graduation requirements differ. Students enrolled in this program are not automatically able to transfer to the in-person program, and must first complete admission requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Please note that online engineering courses may not be applicable to satisfy in-person degree requirements.

• Are students in the electrical engineering online program permitted to take in-person courses?

  While EEO students may enroll in in-person courses, any student taking an in person course is required to provide all health records and comply with on-campus policies.

• What traits will make a student in this program successful?

  A successful BSEE Online student should possess some specific qualities:

  • Strong self-discipline
  • A high level of professional, personal, or educational motivation;
  • Good time management skills;
  • Ability to work and study independently without face to face interaction with faculty and classmates to complete the work.
  • Experience using computers and the Internet;
  • Access to a computer and the Internet to work many hours a week online;
  • Have already completed all the prerequisites.
  • Understand that an online course requires as many hours as an on-campus course – or more.
• Does this program accept international students?

  We do accept international students. However, as noted in our admission requirements, applicants must have completed an English composition course equivalent to Stony Brook’s WRT 102. Per Transfer Credit Policies, “WRT 102 may not be transferred to the University from an international school.” This also applies to schools in English speaking countries such as Canada and Australia.

  Note that tuition for international students is an out-of-state rate.

 

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

• What is the tuition cost for this program?

  New York State residents can find tuition information on this page. Out of state residents are charged an online tuition rate as described on this page.

  All students are charged standard fees.

• What are the out-of-state Tuition and Fees for this program?

  Please check the Online Out of State Tuition Rates at SBU.  

• What are the New York State Tuition and Fees for this program?

  Please visit the Tuition and Fees page.  
  

• What about financial aid? Will I be eligible for financial aid?

  Please contact the Financial aid office to make arrangements to speak with a financial aid advisor.

 

Program-Specific Questions

• Does the diploma say "online?"

  The diploma says “Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering” and the word “online” does not appear in the diploma.  However, all courses in the major have the designator EEO.  

• How is the lab done online?

  Students purchase equipment to do the lab at home.  The major piece of equipment is the USB oscilloscope which is about $200.   Please find here a list of equipment needed for EEO 219, EEO 352, and EEO 353.

• Is the program ABET accredited?

  Yes, the program is accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). 

• Is there any difference between BS and BE in EE?

  There are some differences in the curriculum between the BSEE and BEEE programs, however both programs are ABET accredited. The distinction of the degree title (Bachelor of Science vs. Bachelor of Engineering) is uncommon, and many schools’ engineering degrees are Bachelor of Science.

• Do you offer an Associate Degree in EE?

  Stony Brook University does not offer Associate degrees.   Other SUNY campuses do offer Associate of Science and Technology degrees. Please visit SUNY Online. 

• Is it relatively easy for BSEE online students to become software engineers?

  We certainly have graduates who work in data science, software, and the hardware industry.   The exact career path often is a personal choice and relates to available opportunities.  My advice is to stay open to opportunities and embrace the mentality of lifelong learning to acquire required skill sets as needed.

• Would a BSEE allow me to transfer into a master's degree program for computer science later on down the line?

  It is possible to combine a BSEE with a MSCS.  However, you may have to take a few more CS courses to prepare for admission/application for MSCS.   I recommend you check with CS departments to get the specifics.

• Is the BSEE online program offered entirely online, including prerequisites and gen eds?

  The BSEE program is an upper division program.  All upper-division BSEE courses and EE related prereq are available online at SBU.  For non-EE prereqs and gen eds, they are available online via our  SUNY Online partners.  

 

Frequently Asked Questions for Veterans

• I am a veteran and would like to know what services are available to veterans.

  Please reach out to my colleague Pamela Pfeil at the Office of Veterans Affairs 

  218 Student Activities Center

  Stony Brook, NY 11794-2800

  Office: 631.632.4808

  pamela.pfeil@stonybrook.edu

• How about JST (Joint Services Transcripts)? Can those courses be transferred?

  Regarding the Joint Service Transcripts, we have found that our courses tend to be theoretically oriented and that courses from joint services are more technology oriented. Hence, we have not been able to accept courses from JST. If you believe you have taken courses that are theoretically/analytically oriented, we can do a course by course evaluation. In that case, please e-mail us the syllabus.