How VIP Program Credits Count

Undergraduate Students

General Information:

The VIP program has five undergraduate courses: VIP 295, VIP 395, VIP 396, VIP 495, and VIP 496.

New program participants must first take 1 credit of VIP 295 with no additional VIP credits. An exception can be granted on special request of the team faculty mentor. Permission to take VIP 395 before VIP 295 may be granted to a student who has prior experience in the project topic, for example someone who has previously worked in the faculty member's lab.

Students who have special permission or who have completed VIP 295 may register VIP 395 (1-credit) and co-register for VIP 396 (1-credit) to earn a total of two VIP credits in a semester. A student may elect to take VIP 395 alone to earn one credit.

Students who have completed VIP 395 may register for VIP 495 (1-credit) and take up to 2-credits of VIP 496 for a maximum of 3 credits in a semester. VIP 496 is a variable credit course that may be taken for 1 or 2 credits.

A student who joins a team in the first sophomore term will typically take VIP 295 (1-credit) for two semesters, up to 2 credits of VIP 395/396 for each of the next two semesters, and up to 3 credits of VIP 495/496 for each of the last two semesters, for a total of 6 to 12 credits.

Completion of one semester of VIP 395 and one semester of VIP 495 satisfies the EXP+ requirement of the Stony Brook Curriculum. All VIP credits can be applied towards free electives and credits of VIP 395, VIP 396, VIP 495, and VIP 496 apply toward the University's upper division credit requirement.

We understand that all majors do not include free electives (engineering majors for example). We will be working with your undergraduate program directors to establish VIP courses as technical elective course options and will catalog the details on this page. You can help to expedite this process or help to establish VIP courses towards satisfaction of other major degree requirements by communicating with your undergraduate program director. We ask that program directors communicate the details of major degree requirements related to the VIP program by emailing VIP@stonybrook.edu.

Major Specific Information:

The information provided here is subject to change and should be verified by consulting with your Undergraduate Program Director or the Undergraduate Bulletin.

AMS: VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 credits count towards up to 6 credits of the 27-credit upper division elective requirement.
BME:VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 credits may count towards up to 6 credits of technical electives upon approval of the UPD or track chair. No more than a combined 6 credits of VIP and BME 499 may be used for the degree.
CIV: Three credits of VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 may count towards one technical elective with permission of the Undergraduate Program Director.
CME: VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 credits count towards up to 6 credits of technical electives.
CSE: Exactly three credits of upper-division VIP coursework may count as a 300-level CSE technical elective for the purpose of satisfying CSE major requirements. The student's participation in the VIP project must involve a substantial computing component (i.e., software development) equivalent to that of a typical upper-division, project-oriented CSE technical elective. A student who wishes to count VIP credit as a CSE technical elective must receive written approval from the Computer Science Undergraduate Program Director at the conclusion of the project. Please note that VIP credit may not be counted as a technical elective in addition to credit earned for CSE 487 or CSE 488.
ECE: Three credits of VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 may count towards one technical elective with permission of the Undergraduate Program Director.
ESE:Three credits of VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 count towards one technical elective.
ISE: VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 credits count towards up to 6 credits of ISE upper division electives.
MEC: VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 credits count towards up to 6 credits of technical electives.
TSM: VIP 395, 396, 495 & 496 can satisfy a 3 credit elective within the major. With permission of the undergraduate program director, students may use 3 credits of VIP to satisfy a skills or design course required for the major.

More coming soon.

Graduate Students

General Information:

The VIP program has three graduate courses: VIP 595, VIP 596 and VIP 695.

Master's students may take VIP 595 (1-credit) and register for up to 2-credits of VIP 596, for a maximum of three credits in a semester. VIP 596 is a variable credit course that may be taken for 1 or 2 credits. Master's students should communicate with their graduate program director to determine how the credits might apply towards degree requirements. We ask that program directors communicate the details of major degree requirements related to the VIP program by emailing VIP@stonybrook.edu so that we can include them on this page.

PhD students participate by registering for VIP 695 for 0 to 3 credits. VIP 695 will typically not satisfy a PhD degree requirement, but may be used to maintain full-time status through dissertation research and preparation.

Major Specific Information:

Coming Soon.