All students registering for CHE 129, 131, or 152 must complete the appropriate level of the Online Chemistry Placement and Preparation (OCPP) process using the Mastering Chemistry software. This process is used both for placement into these courses as well as to assure adequate preparation.
While enrollment in the Summer/Fall 2025 OCPP course is free of charge, it is important to note that after enrollment a student has at most 12 weeks (84 days) to complete the required objectives (although in most cases the deadlines set up by Academic Advising will be due well before the 12 weeks after which the access code expires).
________________________________________________________________________
Every student taking a chemistry course numbered 129 or higher must start with one of these courses. These are the initial courses of the three alternative sequences for the General-Chemistry/Organic-Chemistry courses that the Chemistry Department offers.
A 4-semester sequence CHE 131/132/321/322, with the respective laboratory courses.
A 4-semester sequence CHE 129/132/321/322, with the respective laboratory courses. Please note that CHE 129 and CHE 131 are equivalent in their level and chemistry content, but CHE 129 is for students who do not meet the math co-requisite of CHE 131 (see the course descriptions here).
A 3-semester Molecular Science sequence CHE 152/331/332, with the respective laboratory courses. This is intended for students with strong backgrounds in chemistry (two or more years of high school chemistry or AP Chemistry with score 4 or 5) and math placement into calculus or higher.
When completed, the three sequences are entirely equivalent. Students, however, should be aware that the CHE 129 sequence provides additional support in developing analytical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving. CHE 129 is the natural course for students who are somewhat weak in math, and who are not yet ready to take a Calculus course. CHE 152 and the other courses in the Molecular Science sequence, in contrast, are specifically designed for students who have a strong background in chemistry (two or more years) and math placement into calculus or higher when entering the University, so they can complete their initial core chemistry courses in three semesters (one semester for some engineering majors). You can check the detailed course descriptions for the courses CHE 129, CHE 131, and CHE 152 here.
Complete the CHE 129/131 Objective (average 5 hours). Some students take significantly longer, so plan accordingly. You will know you are done when your score for the CHE 129/131 Objective in the Mastering Chemistry grade book is 99% or higher. If you complete the objective with a score less than 99% you have to retake the objective (up to 4 more times after the initial attempt).
Students that have taken AP Chemistry and obtained a score of 4 or 5 will be registering in CHE 152 (this is mandatory). In addition to objective CHE 129/131, these students must also complete the CHE 152 Objective (average 6 hours). CHE 152 is designed for students with two or more years of high school chemistry, or AP Chemistry with score 4 or 5, and is only taught during the fall semester. You will know you are done when your score for the CHE 152 Objective in the Mastering Chemistry grade book is 99% or higher. If you complete the objective with a score less than 99% you have to retake the objective (up to 4 more times after the initial attempt).
Students that do not have AP Chemistry with score 4 or 5 but that desire to register in CHE 152 and the Molecular Science sequence will have to complete, in addition to the objectives CHE 129/131 and CHE 152, a third Objective CHE 152-Supplemental (6 hours). This third Objective is designed to strengthen the student's foundations on several of the initial topics that will be covered in CHE 152. You will know you are done when your score for the CHE 152-Supplemental Objective in the Mastering Chemistry grade book is 99% or higher. If you complete the objective with a score less than 99% you have to retake the objective (up to 4 more times after the initial attempt).
Wait for your OCPP score to be uploaded to the Registrar's Solar database. Once you complete the required OCPP objective(s) it should take the Chemistry Department no more than one business day to report the information to the Registrar's Office.
First year students: the deadline for first year students to complete the OCPP work is Friday June 13, 2025.
If you have any questions concerning Academic Advising for first year students, including problems with satisfying the deadline, please contact your general advisor/advising unit.
For students in the Undergraduate Colleges advising unit, please contact ucolleges@stonybrook.edu.
For students in a major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, please contact CEAS_Advising@stonybrook.edu.
For students in any special programs (Athletics, EOP, Honors College, University Scholars, WISE Scholars, or Simons STEM Scholars), please contact your department for assistance.
Transfer: If you are a transfer student and have completed at least one semester of general chemistry that is equivalent to CHE 131 with a C or better (and the transfer of credits is aproved by Stony Brook University), you do not need to complete the OCPP process. You will register directly into General Chemistry II, CHE 132 or a higher Chemistry course. All other incoming transfer students needing to complete the OCPP Placement and Preparation process for Fall 2025 registration will see an OCPP item on their checklist in their Stony Brook portal. The requirement for students to go through the OCPP process is based upon a thorough review of their transcripts, the major (and/or pre-health plans) that they are pursuing at Stony Brook University, and whether they need to take the OCPP in their first semester at Stony Brook. Choosing not to take the OCPP when listed on the student's checklist can lead to significant delays in graduation date.
You must complete the OCPP objective CHE 129/131 (or Objectives CHE 129/131 and CHE 152 if you have AP Chemistry with score 4 or 5) before you can register in CHE 131 (students with AP Chemistry 4 or 5 cannot register in CHE 131; instead they have to register in CHE 152). The Fall 2025 OCPP course will be available until 11:50 PM EST Monday September 1 of 2025. Please note, however, that there is no guarantee of a seat in the courses so late in the registration cycle. Therefore it is recommended that you complete the OCPP and register as soon as your enrollment appointment begins (i. e., well before classes start on Monday August 25 of 2025).