Fall-Spring

The Online Chemistry Placement & Preparation Process

for Fall 2024 Registration. 

Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University

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 Fall 2024 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 before the 12 weeks 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.

What you must do once you register in the Fall 2024 OCPP Course (check the Guidance & Instructions menu)

• 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.

Deadlines (Fall 2024)

Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students:

• Freshman: You must complete the required objectives of the OCPP process in order to make an appointment for registration in your courses. The deadline for freshman students to complete their OCPP work is Friday June 21, 2024. Any questions concerning Academic Advising for freshman students, including problems with satisfying the deadline, should be sent to ucolleges@stonybrook.edu.

• 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 Spring 2024 registration will see an OCPP item on their checklist in their Stony Brook portal. The requirement for  a student to go through the OCPP process is based upon a thorough review of her/his transcripts, the major (and/or pre-health plans) that she/he is pursuing at Stony Brook University, and whether she/he needs to take the OCPP on her/his first semester at Stony Brook. Choosing not to take the OCPP when listed on the student's checklist can lead to significant delays in her/his graduation date.

Continuing and Non-Matriculated Students:

• 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 2024 OCPP course will be available until 11:50 PM EST Monday September 2. Please note, however, that there is no guarantee of a seat in the courses, so it is recommended that you complete the OCPP and register as soon as your enrollment appointment begins (i. e., well before classes start on August 26).