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The University Core: General and Religious Education
The BYU Baccalaureate: The Ideal of Integration
Many people, when they think of university education, think
primarily of the major—a bachelor’s degree in, for example,
economics or chemistry or engineering. But a baccalaureate is
much more than a major and much more than job-based training
in a particular field. The very wording of the diploma does not
state the major: something greater has been earned and
conferred—a university baccalaureate.
There are three formal components to the baccalaureate at
Brigham Young University: religious education, general
education, and education in a major. Of these, the first two
constitute the university core. In accordance with The Aims of a
BYU Education—which invites each student and every member
of the university community to wholeness—each of the three
components complements the others. They are not partitioned off
from one another; none claims preeminence; together they
comprise a whole, a harmony.
The following visual model differs from the way many think
about general education and religion courses, as things to get out
of the way as quickly as possible:
Skills and depth are developed over time as the student
progresses in both the core and the major; breadth, unfolding
partly from historical perspective, ought to characterize the major
as well as the core. The relationship between core and major will
vary in any given year according to the competing demands upon
the student’s attention. However, students should strive to
develop their programs in such a way that a lively interrelationship
between the university core and the major, in which each
nourishes and informs the other, is pursued over their entire
undergraduate experience.
The major and the core blend into each other. It is here that
open electives play their particular role. Without prolonging time
at the university, each student enjoys the latitude—and, for some,
ample latitude—to design an individual educational experience.
Electives enrich; choices that students make about electives define
what is unique about their education. Having found a core science
course engaging, for example, a student might take cognate
courses to explore the subject more deeply.
Having completed the 14-hour religion requirement, students
are not barred from taking further religion courses. Majoring in a
technical field, students might enlarge their experience of the
liberal arts beyond what the core requires. A humanities major
might choose to complete an applied minor in computing skills or
to construct an unofficial “mini-minor” of courses that open up a
particular opportunity for employment or professional school.
Students are encouraged to acquire skills in both foreign
language and mathematics, even though only one of these is
required by the core. Additional curricular and extracurricular
opportunities in the Honors Program are open to all students at
whatever level they might wish to be involved.
Why a University Core?
All students at BYU should be taught the truths of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Any education is inadequate which does not emphasize that His
is the only name given under heaven whereby mankind can be saved. . . .
Because the gospel encourages the pursuit of all truth, students at
BYU should receive a broad university education. The arts, letters, and
sciences provide the core of such an education, which will help students
think clearly, communicate effectively, understand important ideas in
their own cultural tradition as well as that of others, and establish clear
standards of intellectual integrity. (BYU Mission Statement)
Most graduates, five years after completing their degrees, are not
employed directly in the areas of their majors, and studies show
that those do best in the long term whose breadth of education,
rather than specialized training, has given them versatility. A
university provides marketable skills; it bestows credentials
necessary to some future goal; its graduates, statistically, make
more money. But students who enroll at the university seeking
only these things—or worse, students who graduate having
sought only these things—cheat themselves of the best the
university has to offer.
Students benefit most who desire to savor and to ponder, to
recognize (in whatever eventual major) the hidden likenesses
among the subjects they study, to aim at integration and
wholeness. Students benefit most who take the university with
them: changed by their experience, they have developed educated
habits of mind; they have deepened their faith; they have learned
to integrate the sacred and the secular; and they have learned that
the craving for knowledge is not fully capable of satisfaction
within a lifetime. Students benefit most who become lifelong
learners, engaged in service to their fellow human beings.
That it integrates sacred and secular education is the hallmark
of a BYU baccalaureate. All disciplines at BYU are “bathed in the
light and color of the restored gospel” (Aims, “Spiritually
Strengthening”). Religion courses themselves —both Doctrinal
Foundation and electives—are not intended as only a devotional
supplement to the educational enterprise of the university. At
once rigorous and inspiring, they engage the mind and the heart
in an ever deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ
through close and meticulous study of the scriptures and the
teachings of the living prophets.
General education joins with religious education to make
university education different from specialized vocational training.
It builds a foundation for intellectual development; it increases
our understanding of civilization—of humankind’s most valuable
knowledge and achievements in the arts, letters, and sciences.
General education teaches us the importance of critical thinking,
an awareness of the past, aesthetic sensibility, and moral
judgment. These, together with the training provided in verbal
and quantitative skills, in manipulating symbolic systems, help
prepare us for a lifetime of learning, effective communication,
responsible action, forming and judging arguments, and
appreciating and creating the good and the beautiful.
Administration of the University Core
The university core is administered collaboratively by the deans of
Undergraduate Education and Religious Education under the
direction of the academic vice president. Religious Education is
responsible for the Doctrinal Foundation and Religion Electives
components and the courses that meet these requirements;
Undergraduate Education is responsible for the general education
components. The success of the core depends upon dedicated
faculty from throughout the university. The Faculty General
Education Council, chaired by the associate dean of
Undergraduate Education for General Education, reviews and
approves all courses meeting general education requirements
within the university core.
Modification of the GE Program and
Implementation of the University Core in
2004
A revised general education (GE) program and university core (in
which GE and religion requirements are combined) is being
implemented in fall 2004. Students who enter BYU fall 2004 or
thereafter must complete the new core program described below.
Students who have taken classes at BYU before fall 2004 have the
option to continue with the previous GE program. These
continuing students should visit their college advisement center to
discuss the optimal program, given their current status.
The modifications in general education, effective fall 2004,
have been made in an effort to achieve closer alignment with The
Aims of a BYU Education, helping to assure that each student
develop valuable skills and breadth in fundamental areas of
human knowledge. To accommodate these changes, earlier
restrictions against double-counting have been abandoned. It will
now be possible, in some instances, for two requirements to be
met by the same class. Among these modifications are the
following:
- A new Quantitative Reasoning requirement replaces the
previous one in Pre-College Math.
- A Global and Cultural Awareness requirement has been
added, with many possibilities for double-counting.
- The former Arts and Letters requirement has been separated
into two, with one course in each area.
- It is possible to double-count one Civilization 2 class
(designated sections only) for either the Arts, Letters, or Global
and Cultural Awareness requirement.
- Social Science has been grouped with Biological Science and
Physical Science under Scientific Principles and Reasoning and
limited to courses grounded in scientific method.
- A new online instruction course, in conjunction with two
activities classes, has been added to the Wellness requirement
as an option.
- An oral communication component has been added to the
Advanced Writing requirement.
- A new library skills component has been added for students
who have not taken First-Year Writing at BYU.
- The minimum credit needed to complete the GE program has
decreased from 34.5 credits to 31.5 credits, freeing up further
space for open electives.
Who Must Complete University Core Requirements?
All students who receive undergraduate degrees from BYU are
required to complete the new core requirements as outlined
below, except those students who have taken classes at BYU
before fall semester 2004. These latter students may complete
either the new university core program or the previous GE
program. Information on the previous GE program can be
obtained in the college advisement centers. Students completing
requirements under the previous GE program must do so before
fall semester 2008.
Description of the University Core
The new university core comprises five categories titled Doctrinal
Foundation; The Individual and Society; Skills; Arts, Letters, and
Sciences; and Core Enrichment: Electives.
These areas are explained below. Brief statements of the ways
to satisfy these requirements are provided in the accompanying
table.
Consult the University Core/General Education Courses
section of the current class schedule for an up-to-date list of
approved courses.
Doctrinal Foundation and Religion Electives
Religious Education administers and offers courses in ancient and
modern scripture, Church history and doctrine, and related
subjects. Together these help students toward an ever deeper
understanding of “the doctrines, the covenants, the ordinances,
the standard works, and the history of the restored gospel” (Aims,
“Intellectually Enlarging”).
Religion courses are provided so that students may progress in
their religious understanding and convictions simultaneously
with their education progress in secular fields. As such, religion
courses are not meant to be a mere devotional supplement but an
integral part of the university curriculum that parallels university
standards and expectations.
Because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
maintains that regular gospel study is a necessary part of the
university experience, all BYU students are expected to complete
14 hours of religion courses at BYU. Religion courses taken from
LDS institutes of religion (including stake institute) or Church
Educational System schools (BYU–Idaho or BYU–Hawaii) will
not fulfill the required minimum religion hours to be taken at
BYU requirement. Only religion hours taken at the BYU campus
(Provo or Salt Lake Center) will fulfill this requirement.
Students with transfer credit are required to take the number of
religion hours at the BYU campus specified on the chart in the
Undergraduate Students with Transfer Credit section below.
Doctrinal Foundation
The heart of the university core’s religion component is the
doctrinal foundation based upon careful, informed, and reflective
study of sacred scripture and doctrines of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All students must complete the Doctrinal Foundation
requirement of the university core as follows: Book of Mormon
(RelA 121/H and 122/H), New Testament (RelA 211/H or 212/H,
or a Jerusalem Center course: RelA 111, 200, 310, or 311), and
Doctrine and Covenants (RelC 324/H or 325/H). Students with
transfer credits must complete the requirement as outlined in the
Undergraduate Students with Transfer Credit section below.
It is strongly recommended that the Book of Mormon
requirement (RelA 121/H and 122/H) be taken the first year at the
university. All returned missionaries must enroll in sections
designated for returned missionaries.
Students who are not LDS are strongly encouraged to enroll in
RelC 100, Introduction to Mormonism, during their first semester
in residence. This course is designed to be informational, to
introduce students to the culture, scriptures, and distinctive
doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and
to prepare them for subsequent religion classes. RelC 100 may be
used to fill either the New Testament or Doctrine and Covenants
requirement.
Religion Electives
The Doctrinal Foundation is to be enriched with rigorous study
from religious topics dealing with ancient scripture and Church
history and doctrine. Therefore, students must complete 6 elective
hours of religion courses at BYU.
Because regular gospel study should be a continuous part of a
student’s university experience, it would be ideal to take one
religion class each semester of enrollment. No more than 4 hours
of religion credit per term, quarter, or semester may be counted
toward the required minimum religion hours to be taken at BYU.
Spring and summer terms combined equal a single semester.
Authorized International Study Programs may require approved
exceptions.
No religion course numbered in the 500s and 600s may be
applied toward undergraduate religion credit.
Undergraduate Students with Transfer Credit
Students with transfer credit are required to fulfill both the
minimum religion hours to be taken at the BYU campus and the
Doctrinal Foundation/Religion Electives as outlined on the chart
below.
| Total Hours Transferred to BYU |
Minimum Religion Hours to Take at BYU |
Doctrinal Foundation Courses Required for Graduation |
0–14.9
15–29.9
30–44.9
45–59.9 |
14
12
10
8 |
Book of Mormon
(RelA 121/H and 122/H),
New Testament
(RelA 111 or 200 or 211/H or 212/H or 310 or 311),
Doctrine and Covenants
(RelC 324/H or 325/H). |
60–74.9
75–89.9 |
6
4* |
Book of Mormon
(RelA 121/H and 122/H),
Doctrine and Covenants
(RelC 324/H or 325/H). |
| 90 or more |
2* |
Book of Mormon
(RelA 121/H and 122/H). |
| * More credits may be needed if the Doctrinal Foundation
requirement has not been completed. |
Note: The transfer credits are shown in semester hours. To convert
quarter hours to semester hours, multiply the quarter hours by
two and divide by three (i.e., 12 quarter hours x 2 = 24÷3 = 8
semester hours).
Religion Credit from Non-LDS Colleges and Universities
Religion credit from non-LDS universities and colleges will not
satisfy the Doctrinal Foundation or Religion Electives
requirements.
For courses in Ancient Scripture and Church History and
Doctrine, see Religious Education in the Academic Departments/Schools/Areas,
Degrees, and Courses section of this catalog. For
other information concerning Religious Education, please see
http://religion.byu.edu.
The University Core Summary
Note: Courses that include honors sections are followed by /H.
| DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION |
| BOOK OF MORMON |
RelA 121/H and 122/H |
| NEW TESTAMENT |
RelA 211/H and 212/H |
OR |
Jerusalem Center courses: RelA 111, 200, 310, or 311 |
| DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS |
RelC 324/H or 325/H |
| THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY |
WELLNESS |
HEPE 129 |
OR |
PE 105 and two approved courses in PE, dance, or outdoor skills (RMYL) |
| CITIZENSHIP |
|
Standard Option |
OR |
Options for Certain Majors |
| AHtg 100/H or Honrs 240 |
One of the following two-course combinations:
Hist 220 and PlSc 110/H;
Hist 220 and Econ 110/H;
PlSc 110/H and Econ 110/H;
Hist 221 and PlSc 110/H |
|
One course* (many possibilities for double-counting) |
| SKILLS |
| EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION |
|
Engl 115, 200/H, Honrs 200, or Phil 200/H |
OR |
AP English 3 or higher plus library tutorial (200-level First-Year Writing strongly recommended) |
|
|
One course.* Prerequisite: complete First-Year Writing requirement. Some majors require specific course. Recommended during junior year. |
| QUANTITATIVE REASONING |
| |
Math 102 or higher; or Phil 205/H; or Stat 105 or higher |
OR |
ACT math subscore of 22 or above; SAT math subscore of 500 or above |
| LANGUAGES OF LEARNING |
| |
Approved courses* from math or foreign language options.** |
| ARTS, LETTERS, AND SCIENCES |
|
One course (to ca. 1500)* |
|
|
|
One course (from ca. 1500)* |
|
|
|
One course in Arts* |
OR |
Designated Arts-focused Civilization 2† |
|
One course in Letters* |
OR |
Designated Letters-focused Civilization 2† |
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND REASONING |
|
Standard Options |
|
Options for Certain Majors |
| Biol 100/H or Honrs 260 |
OR |
One course each from two of the three groups:
Group 1: Biol 150, 350; InBio 131
Group 2: Biol 276, 340; PDBio 205, 220
Group 3: Biol 240; MMBio 221 |
|
PhyS 100 or Honrs 259;
(or PhyS 110A and 110B) |
OR |
One course each from two of the three groups:
Group 1: Chem 101, 105, 111/H, 152
Group 2: Phscs 101, 105, 121, 123, 127/H, 137, 167, 220
Group 3: Geol 101/H, 103, 111, 330 |
|
One course* from options grounded in the scientific method |
| CORE ENRICHMENT: ELECTIVES |
| RELIGION ELECTIVES |
From three to four courses (6 elective religion hours are required) |
| OPEN ELECTIVES |
Variable |
Notes: *From the approved list in current class schedule. **Students
completing the BM degree or BFA in music dance theatre meet this
requirement through a music theory sequence. †Civilization 2 can
double-count only once—either for Arts or Letters or Global and Cultural
Awareness. Honrs refers to Honors Program offerings. Total hours:
religion hours 14; the total required hours in general education may
vary from 31.5 to 72 depending upon tracks chosen by students or as
a result of departmental requirements
The Individual and Society
The Individual and Society requirements inspire students to
continue learning and serving throughout their lives. Students
will actively participate in solving family, professional, religious,
and social problems after leaving BYU. Under the Individual and
Society category are grouped the areas of Wellness and
Citizenship, the latter of which includes American Heritage and
Global and Cultural Awareness.
The Wellness requirement provides instruction based on
current scientific evidence and revealed knowledge about what
constitutes a healthy lifestyle and offers practical experience in
fitness and wellness. It provides instruction in health principles
for lifelong physical well-being and emphasizes the underlying
principles of cultivating a “sound mind in a sound body.”
American Heritage gives students an introduction to the
political and economic foundations of the American democratic
system and helps students appreciate the unique contribution of
America to modern civilization. The Global and Cultural
Awareness requirement ensures that students develop an
“informed awareness of the peoples, cultures, languages, and
nations of the world.” Students understand important ideas in
their own cultural tradition as well as others and are prepared to
“go forth to serve.”
Skills
In our modern, complex society, the ability to communicate
effectively is deemed a crucial skill. Under the Skills category are
grouped the following requirements: first, under the heading
Effective Communication is First-Year Writing, followed by
Advanced Written and Oral Communication; second,
Quantitative Reasoning; and third, Languages of Learning. All
these requirements convey information and understanding. First-Year
Writing teaches methods of library research, text analysis,
and writing skills in different genres and styles. These essential
skills will be used and expanded in all succeeding years of
university work. Once students have identified an area for major
study, the Advanced Written and Oral Communication
requirement introduces them to the discourse and documentation
style of their chosen discipline.
To function in a technological society, a basic knowledge of
mathematics as a means of communication and problem solving
is essential. Quantitative Reasoning requires all students to certify
a basic level of numeracy, either with an appropriately high score
on the mathematics section of the ACT or SAT exams or by
completion of a BYU course. Then, under the Languages of
Learning requirement, students gain advanced symbolic language
skills in mathematics, statistics, or a foreign language that broadly
applies to a variety of disciplines. Students thus achieve an
exposure to cultures and to the ways in which practitioners of the
language structure their knowledge.
Arts, Letters, and Sciences
These requirements are designed to build upon the previous
categories by extending and deepening the student’s
understanding of the arts, letters, and sciences through more
focused study of specific disciplines. This category comprises a
Civilization sequence, a requirement in Arts and in Letters, and
requirements in Physical Science, Biological Science, and Social
Science, with emphasis on their underlying principles and on
scientific reasoning.
The Civilization requirements provide a historical framework
and a consideration of important works and themes. Through the
Arts and the Letters requirements, students appreciate the artistic,
literary, and intellectual achievements of human cultures and
strengthen their ability to analyze, interpret and draw justifiable
implications from readings and artistic works such as music or
painting. One course approved for the Civilization 2 requirement
may also count for either the Arts or Letters requirement at the
same time if an Arts, Letters, or Civilization 2 course has not
already been counted for the Global and Cultural Awareness
requirement under the Citizenship category. These are two
incidents when a GE course can double-count (i.e., satisfy two
requirements), and the student has to choose which way the
specific course will do so. For example, an Arts-focused
Civilization 2 course that is approved for Global and Cultural
Awareness cannot count for Global and Cultural Awareness,
Civilization 2, and the Arts requirements. The course is only
allowed to satisfy two of the requirements. Details are noted in the
current class schedule.
Within the Arts, Letters, and Sciences category, the area of
Scientific Principles and Reasoning contains three requirements:
Physical Science, Biological Science, and Social Science. These
requirements help develop an understanding of scientific
reasoning and the scientific method and expose students to the
excitement of discovery in these separate fields. Students will be
able to evaluate scientific data in order to make rational decisions
on science-related issues that will affect their lives and
community.
The same course cannot be counted for more than one
requirement within Scientific Principles and Reasoning. For every
requirement under the Scientific Principles and Reasoning
category there are two pathways to complete the requirement—a
one-course option and a multiple-course option (i.e., two or three
courses). Multiple-course options are structured to cover much of
the same material that is included in one-course options but in
greater depth (see table). Students must take at least one course
from each of the three areas (Physical Science, Biological Science,
and Social Science). The options for different course requirements
are independent of each other. That is, one may choose the
multiple-course option to satisfy the Biological Science core
requirement but choose the one-course option for the Physical
Science.
In general, students will find it most efficient to take one-course
options for a given requirement. However, students in
some majors will find that a particular core requirement can be
satisfied using the multiple-course pathway with courses they are
already taking for their major. Students with career or personal
interests outside their major may find that multiple-course options
better serve their needs.
The number of courses and credit hours needed to satisfy a
requirement will vary with the particular option chosen and/or
the student’s previous preparation. The complete list of courses
currently certified to satisfy a particular requirement and
additional details of how to complete the requirements are given
in the University Core/General Education Courses section of the
current class schedule.
Core Enrichment: Electives
This element of the core is in two parts: Religion Electives, which
are discussed above in conjunction with the Doctrinal Foundation;
and Open Electives, which vary according to the number of credit
hours required by the major and other factors. As mentioned,
one of the changes in the new general education program
implemented fall 2004 was a reduction in hours, aimed at freeing
up space for further open electives. Thoughtful choice of electives
allows students to design a unique and enriched educational
experience. Some suggestions on how these electives might be
used are given above under the heading The BYU Baccalaureate:
The Ideal of Integration.
The University Core and the Honors Program
The Honors Program, which is open to all interested students,
offers an array of enriched courses that simultaneously satisfy
university core and honors graduation requirements. These
courses take two forms: those offered through the Honors
Program proper (designated Honrs), which explore disciplinary
topics in creative and innovative ways; and honors sections of
departmental courses (designated by /H or a title that begins with
the word Honors). See the Honors Program section of this catalog
for a fuller description. Additional information may be obtained
from the Honors Advisement Center, 102A MSRB, (801) 422-5497,
or by consulting the Honors Program Course Guide at
www.byu.edu/honors/.
The University Core and Freshman Academy
Many courses meeting university core requirements can be taken
in an enhanced learning-community format through Freshman
Academy. This one-semester program, open to all first-year
students, helps them to make important connections within the
university during their first semester at BYU. There are both
nonhonors and honors options within the academy. A brief
description of Freshman Academy is found in the Undergraduate
Education section of this catalog. For fuller details see the
academy Web site, academy.byu.edu/, or call (801) 422-8176 or
1-877-890-5451.
Selection and Timing of University Core Courses
To gain approval to meet a core requirement, a course is subjected
to a rigorous evaluation. Such approval is not granted lightly, and
students should ensure that the courses they select are, in fact,
approved for general and religion credit. This information is
updated each semester/term and published in the current class
schedule.
Although the time to complete core requirements varies
according to the major, all new students are required to complete
First-Year Writing, American Heritage, and two Book of Mormon
courses during their freshman year. It is recommended that new
freshmen complete the first part of the Book of Mormon and
either First-Year Writing or American Heritage their first semester,
and the second part of the Book of Mormon and either First-Year
Writing or American Heritage (whichever they have not already
completed) their second semester.
Students planning to satisfy the Scientific Principles and
Reasoning/Biological Science and Scientific Principles and
Reasoning/Physical Science requirements with one-course
options (e.g., Biol 100 and PhyS 100) should complete these
during their freshman year. Civilization courses are designed as
sophomore-level courses, although some programs include them
during the freshman year. Advice as to when to complete the
other requirements can be obtained at college advisement centers
or department offices.
Ways to Complete GE Requirements Other Than by Course
Work
In addition to completing approved courses, there are several
options by which students may satisfy the general education
components of the university core: transferring acceptable credit
from other academic institutions; receiving credit from Advanced
Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations;
or passing special examinations at the university.
Transfer Credit
The application of transfer credit to GE requirements within the
university core is handled by the Admissions Office (A-183 ASB;
[801] 422-2500). Articulation agreements have been reached with
several junior and community colleges to facilitate the transfer
process for students who have completed certain associate
degrees. Contact the Admissions Office for up-to-date information
regarding the status of those agreements with a particular junior
or community college.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit
The results of some Advanced Placement (AP) and International
Baccalaureate (IB) examinations may be used to meet certain GE
requirements and to obtain general university credit. AP or IB
credit posted to a transfer institution will be evaluated based on
BYU’s standards rather than those of the transfer institution.
Contact the Admissions Office (A-183 ASB; [801] 422-2500) for
details regarding credit hours, acceptable scores, and which GE
requirements can be met through AP or IB exams.
College Level Examination Program
BYU stopped giving credit for general exams in 2000. At this time
BYU does not give credit for subject exams either. CLEP credit
posted to another institution’s transcript is reevaluated based on
BYU’s standards.
Exemption and Challenge Examinations
Some GE requirements can be accomplished by successful
completion of an examination. Two types of examinations are
available, the exemption exam and the challenge exam. A student
may only take an exemption or challenge exam once during each
semester or term. Students do not have to be enrolled in a course to
take an exemption or challenge exam. However, some of the
exams are given early enough each semester/term so that
students who are enrolled and pass the exam may drop the
course. Those not enrolled in a course have an opportunity to take
the challenge or exemption exams offered at the Testing Center.
Students should contact the appropriate academic department for
specific exam information before going to the Testing Center.
Getting Help with Specific Questions Concerning General
Education
The essential information concerning general education is found
in this catalog. However, the recommended source of information
and advice about university core requirements is the student’s
college advisement center. The ten college advisement centers,
together with the University Advisement Center, 2500 WSC,
provide assistance with registration, graduation requirements,
policies and procedures, fields of study, changes of major, and
many other aspects of academic life. Computer terminals are
available in the advisement centers and other locations on campus
to provide students with an up-to-date report of their academic
status. Access a progress report (formerly Advisement by
Computer or ABC Report) through Route Y on the BYU home
page.
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