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Honors Program

 

 

  PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS  

The advantages of a private education at a fraction of the cost!

  1. Attend small classes
  2. Speed through the core sequence
  3. Participate in personalized academic advising sessions
  4. Get priority registration for computer science courses
  5. Take advanced special topics courses
  6. Enjoy honors social events with other students and faculty
  7. Interact with other like-minded students

The advantages of a world famous research university!

  1. Receive personal attention from award winning faculty
  2. Obtain preferential admission to the joint B.S./M.S. program in CS
  3. Participate in internships and research projects
  4. Get help finding academic scholarships
  5. Graduate with the degree B.S. with Honors in Computer Science

  ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM  

For high school students, admission is based on academic record. A strong interest in mathematics and natural sciences is helpful, but high school computer science is not required. Minimum requirements are:

  1. Combined SAT score on two traditional components (critical reading and math) of at least 1430
  2. Unweighted high school average of 93% or better in a rigorous program of study

For current computer science students at Stony Brook University, admission is based on:

  1. A minimum GPA of at least 3.5 both overall and in computer science
  2. Completion of 3 computer science courses, including two upper division courses

  ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS  

Students must satisfy the standard computer science graduation requirements, however, the core curriculum is accelerated for honors students. Additional requirements include:

  1. Senior honors project, CSE495 and CSE496, under the close supervision of a computer science faculty member.
    • Project defense to the honors committee, which assigns grades in consultation with the project advisor.
    • A grade of B+ or higher for the Senior Honors Project
  2. A GPA of 3.50 or higher, both overall and in computer science courses.
  3. Three additional computer science honors courses or graduate courses. The Teaching Practicum CSE475 may be substituted for one honors course.
    • With a GPA of 3.75 or higher, both overall and in CSE classes, only one honors or graduate course is required (helping students entering the program later in their SBU career)

Comparison of the Core Curricula
Topic Honors CS Sequence Regular CS Sequence
Theory CSE150, CSE350, CSE385 CSE215, CSE303, CSE373
Programming CSE160, CSE260 CSE114, CSE214, CSE216
Senior Project CSE495, CSE496 –

  HONORS COURSES AND ACTIVITIES  

The honors curriculum offers students a small, caring environment inside a large research university, with all the advantages of both. Students attend small classes taught by award-winning faculty and have the opportunity for personal attention from faculty both in classes and through research projects. Students meet and interact with like-minded students from diverse backgrounds. Experience with computer science at the high school level is not required for the program, only an interest in this exciting and continually growing field.

Honors courses include:

  • CSE150 - Foundations of Computer Science – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE160 - Computer Science A – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE260 - Computer Science B – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE350 - Theory of Computation – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE385 - Analysis of Algorithms – Honors (4 credits)

Other advanced courses are offered on selected topics such as Robotics, Computer Security, Gaming, Visualization, and more. The curriculum can be combined with the five year B.S./M.S. program.

  HOW TO JOIN  

Freshman Spring Admits are invited to join the program shortly after they are admitted to the Computer Science Major. For details and to apply to the Computer Science major, please see http://www.stonybrook.edu/ugadmissions/freshman.

Current Stony Brook students and transfer students may submit applications directly to the Computer Science Undergraduate Office in the New Computer Science Building, room 101. Please include your transcript and and at least one letter of recommendation when you apply.

Professor Michael Bender
Professor and David R. Smith Leading Scholar in Computer Science
Director, Computer Science Honors Program 
Stony Brook University 
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2424 
Phone: (631) 632-7835
Fax: 631-632-8334
Email: benderatcs.stonybrook.edu (Click here)

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