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, 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 relationship between the University Core and the 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 the entire undergraduate experience. For a fuller description of each of these components—their underlying philosophy, objectives, and details—please see the University Core and Major sections of the BYU Undergraduate Catalog.

University Core: Religious Education
University Core: General Education (GE)
     -Exemption and Challenge Examinations
     -Schedule of Exemption and Challenge Examinations
Major Education
The University Core (GE + Religion) Detailed Options table

 

University Core: Religious Education

Religious Education administers and offers courses in ancient and modern scripture, Church history and doctrine, and related subjects. Religion courses—both Doctrinal Foundation and Religion Electives—are provided so that students may progress in their religious understanding and convictions simultaneously with their educational 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. As a result, no more than 4 hours of religion credit per semester may be counted toward the religion hours at BYU requirement. For this purpose, spring and summer terms combined equal a single semester.

BYU students are expected to complete 14 hours of religion courses at the BYU campus. All students must complete the Doctrinal Foundation requirement of the University Core as follows: Book of Mormon (Rel A 121/H and 122/H), New Testament (Rel A 211/H or 212/H, or a Jerusalem Center course: Rel A 111, 200, 310, or 311), and Doctrine and Covenants (Rel C 324/H or 325/H). In addition to the Doctrinal Foundation requirement, students must complete six elective hours of religion courses at the BYU campus.

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 “religion courses taken at BYU” requirement. Only religion hours taken at the BYU campus (including the Salt Lake Center and approved BYU Independent Study courses) will fulfill this requirement.

All returned missionaries taking the Book of Mormon (Rel A 121 or 122) must enroll in sections designated for returned missionaries.

Students who are not LDS are strongly encouraged to enroll in Rel C 100, Introduction to Mormonism, during their first semester in residence. Rel C 100 may be used to fill either the New Testament or Doctrine and Covenants requirement.

Transfer Credit

Students with transfer credit must fulfill the religion requirements according to the table below.

Total Hours Transferred to BYU	Minimum Religion Hours to Take at BYU	Doctrinal Foundation Requirements
0-14.9	14	Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Doctrine & Covenants
15-29.9	12	Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Doctrine & Covenants
30-44.9	10	Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Doctrine & Covenants
45-59.9	8	Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Doctrine & Covenants
60-74.9	6	Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants
75-89.9	4*	Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants
90 or more	2*	Book of Mormon

* More credits may be needed if the Doctrinal Foundation requirement has not been completed.

For more detailed information concerning religion requirements and to view the most accurate listing of religion courses, please refer to the undergraduate catalog, current class schedule, or the Religion Department website.

 

University Core: General Education (GE)

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 the importance of critical thinking, an awareness of the past, aesthetic sensibility, and moral judgment. These, together with the training provided in manipulating verbal and quantitative systems, help prepare students for a lifetime of learning that includes the abilities to communicate effectively, act responsibly, form and judge arguments, and appreciate and create the good and the beautiful.

Modifications in general education, effective fall 2004, have been made in an effort to achieve closer alignment with the Aims of a BYU Education, and in order to assure that each student develops valuable skills and breadth in fundamental areas of human knowledge. A revised general education (GE) program and university core (in which GE and religion requirements are combined) was implemented in fall 2004.  Students who enter BYU fall 2004 or thereafter must complete the new core program described below.  Students who began on the immediate preceding GE program may be able to complete that GE program if they do so within eight years from their date of first attendance.  Students may see their academic advisor for help determining if they qualify for the previous GE program.

Selection and Timing of GE Classes

Each GE requirement is completed by taking one course or a combination of courses, chosen from the approved list in the University Core. Single-course options are most often designed for students whose major is topically distant from the requirement. On the other hand, combination-of-course options are often designed for majors related to the requirement, and may include courses a student might take to satisfy a major or minor requirement. Students should carefully consider which option best meets their educational needs. Students are urged to consult their college advisement center when planning their classes.

Occasionally it is possible to complete more than one GE requirement with a single course. For example, Civilization 2 courses are typically designated either “ARTS” for arts-focused, “LTRS” for letters-focused, or “GCA” for global and cultural awareness-focused. A Civilization 2 (ARTS) course can be used to complete both the Civilization 2 requirement and the Arts requirement; a Civilization 2 (LTRS) course can be used to complete both the Civilization 2 requirement and the Letters requirement; and a Civilization 2 (GCA) course can be used to complete both the Civilization 2 requirement and the Global and Cultural Awareness requirement. Students are encouraged to use such “double-counting” sparingly—the more GE courses a student takes, the greater the breadth and value of the overall educational experience.

Not all courses listed in the table are appropriate for all students. For instance, some have prerequisites, some are upper-division courses, and some are designed primarily for certain majors. These courses are labeled in the university core table as either “has prerequisite” or “not for all students.” Students should avoid registering for courses for which they are not academically prepared, and should consult with the class instructor if they are unsure.

To gain approval to meet a GE 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 GE credit. This information is updated each semester/term and published in the University Core in the class schedule.

All new students should complete First-Year Writing and the two Book of Mormon classes during their freshman year. First-Year Writing may be taken in either semester of the first year. Students with an ACT math subscore below 22 also need to fill the Quantitative Reasoning requirement in their first year. It is likewise recommended that all new students begin work in the Mathematics or Foreign Language options under Languages of Learning.

Students planning to satisfy the Scientific Principles and Reasoning requirements in Biological  or Physical Science with the one-course options (e.g., Bio 100, Phy S 100) should also complete these, along with American Heritage, during their first two years, making some progress on them during their first 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 GE requirements can be obtained at college advisement centers or department offices.

University Core and the Honors Program

The Honors Program offers a number of courses that satisfy both University Core and Honors requirements. These courses provide a deeper, more intense exposure to the subject matter for the student who is interested in a challenging experience. Departmental courses taught in both non-Honors and Honors sections are designated “/H” in the table of courses below. Courses offered by the Honors program are designated Honors. Additional information concerning honors courses may be obtained from the Honors Advisement Center, 102-A MSRB, (801) 422-5497, or by consulting the "University Honors Program Course Guide."

Ways to Complete GE Requirements Other Than by Course Work

In addition to taking approved courses, students may satisfy individual GE requirements within the University Core by: (1) transferring acceptable credit from other academic institutions; (2) receiving credit from Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations; or (3) passing exemption or challenge examinations offered for some classes at the university.

Transfer Credit

The application of transfer credit to GE requirements is handled by the Transfer Evaluation Office, D-148 ASB, (801) 422-2507. Consortium agreements have been reached with several junior and community colleges to facilitate the transfer process for students who have completed certain associate degrees. The Transfer Evaluation Office can be contacted for up-to-date information regarding the status of those agreements with other institutions.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

The results of some Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams may be used to satisfy certain GE requirements and to obtain general university credit. AP or IB credit posted to a transfer institution will be evaluated upon BYU's standards and not those of the transfer institution. Contact the Admissions Services office, 206 HC, (801) 422-5000, for details regarding credit hours and exemption from GE requirement for both AP and IB exams.

Note: 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 requirements can be accomplished by successfully completing an examination. Two types of examinations are available: the exemption exam and the challenge exam. The primary difference between an exemption exam and a challenge exam is that an exemption exam is used exclusively to fulfill a general education requirement. No academic credit or letter grade is posted to the transcript. The challenge exam, however, is not restricted to GE courses, and academic credit and a letter grade may be posted to the transcript if the student so chooses. A student may take an exemption or challenge exam for a single course only 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. Students not enrolled in a course have an opportunity to take the challenge or exemption exams offered at the Testing Center. Please consult the table at the end of this document for specific exam dates.

Exemption Exams: No Credit or Grade
Exemption exams are offered for select general education courses only. Although passing an exam completes the GE requirement, it does not earn academic credit or a letter grade and does not appear on the transcript. Exemption exams are given in the Testing Center on the dates shown on the table that follows. A fee payable at Student Services is required for the exams. A passing score on an exemption exam is reflected on the progress report as fulfilling the requirement. However, no academic credit will be posted on the transcript of grades. The procedure to take an exam and request exemption from a course follows.

Challenge Exams: Graded Credit
Only students who have completed at least one course at BYU through day or evening school or the Salt Lake Center are eligible for the challenge examination option. Students currently enrolled are eligible to take the exam, but the credit will not be posted to the transcript until the other BYU credit and grades are posted. Students who are suspended or dismissed may not have the challenge examination credit posted to their record even if the examination was taken prior to the suspension or dismissal.

Once students have graduated, they are not eligible for challenging any additional credit at BYU unless it is specific to the graduate program to which the students have been admitted. (See current BYU Graduate Catalog for information on how to challenge graduate courses.)

A challenge exam may or may not be offered for a course at the discretion of the department. Passing a challenge exam earns credit and a letter grade for the course, which appears on the transcript if the student elects to accept the grade. Challenge exams are not restricted to general education courses. Some challenge exams are offered in the Testing Center, and others are arranged through the department offering the course. Departments reserve the right to decide which course may be challenged by examination. A fee payable at the Testing Center is charged for exams offered in the Testing Center. A fee payable at Student Services, D-148 ASB, is required for exams that are offered through individual departments. Check with the department to see if the exam is offered in the department or in the Testing Center. To earn academic credit and a letter grade for the course, the student must submit a Challenge Examination Form, provided by the Testing Center or the department, to the Records Office, B-150 ASB. No additional fees are charged to post credits to the transcript. The student's transcript and grade-point average reflect the grade earned on the exam. The procedure to take exams and request academic credit follows.

Procedure for Exemption and Challenge Exams Given at the Testing Center

1. Procedure for Exemption Exams
   1. Contact the appropriate academic department for exam procedure and content before going to the Testing Center.
   2. Go to the Testing Center (265 HGB) on one of the examination dates listed at the bottom of this page.
   3. Pay the required fee at the Testing Center.
   4. If you are enrolled in the course when you pass its exemption exam, you must drop the course. Students who drop the class after the add deadline (ten class days after a semester starts or six class days after a term starts) will receive a W on their transcript for dropping the course, and their progress report will reflect fulfillment of the GE requirement. If the exempted course is not officially dropped before the drop deadline, the grade given by the instructor based on class performance will appear on the transcript of grades.
   
   Note: If you pass an exemption exam at the Testing Center, your progress report will be updated automatically at the end of the semester. Please retain your score report for your records.
2. Procedure for Challenge Exams Given at the Testing Center
   1. Contact the appropriate academic department for exam procedure and content before going to the Testing Center.
   2. Go to the Testing Center (265 HGB) on one of the examination dates listed at the bottom of this page.
   3. Pay the required fee at the Testing Center.
   4. After the exam is graded, if you choose to receive graded credit, obtain a Challenge Examination Form at the Testing Center and have it validated there. To accept the grade and receive credit for the course, you must sign the Challenge Examination Form and obtain the signature of the examiner (at the Testing Center). The Testing Center sends the form to the Records Office, B-150 ASB, within one month from the date the exam is taken. Graded credit will be added to your official university transcript, and the progress report will show any GE requirement as fulfilled. (Students taking the Physical Science exam may take the grade or an exemption if their score is 75 percent or above. If their score is between 60 and 74 percent, then they may receive graded credit.)
   5. If you are enrolled in the course when you pass its challenge exam, you must drop the course. Students who drop the class after the add deadline (ten class days after a semester starts or six class days after a term starts) will receive a W on their transcript for dropping the course, and their progress report will reflect fulfillment of any GE requirement. If the course is not officially dropped before the drop deadline, the grade given by the instructor based on class performance will appear on the transcript of grades.

Procedure for Challenge Examinations Not Given at the Testing Center

1. Whether or not you are enrolled in the course you are challenging:
   1. Complete the Challenge Examination Form available from the department.
   2. Arrange with the department to take the exam.
   3. Pay the required testing fee at Student Services, D-148 ASB, and have the form validated there ($20 fee per course except for the language exams).
   4. Present the validated form to the department examiner.
   5. Have the grade and credit recorded on the form by the examiner and obtain the necessary departmental signatures.
   6. The department will submit the completed form to the Records Office, B-150 ASB, within one month from the date the exam is taken.
2. If you are enrolled in the course when you pass its challenge exam, you must drop the course. Students who drop the class after the drop deadline (ten class days after a semester starts or six class days after a term starts) will receive a W on their transcript for dropping the course, and their progress report will reflect fulfillment of any GE requirement. If the course is not officially dropped before the drop deadline, the grade given by the instructor based on class performance will appear on the transcript of grades.

How Do You Get Help with Specific Questions Concerning General Education?

The essential information concerning general education is found in the University Core section of the current BYU Undergraduate Catalog. Additional, late-breaking information, plus advice about general education requirements can be obtained from your college advisement center. The eleven 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.

Computers are available in the advisement centers and at other locations on campus to provide you with an up-to-date report of your academic status. To access your progress report, log into Route Y, select 'School', then 'MyMAP', then select the 'Plan MyMAP' tab and then click the 'Progress Report' button. This will generate a personalized report that includes a list of GE requirements you have completed.

Schedule of Exemption and Challenge Examinations Given in the Testing Center

The Testing Center, 265 HGB, offers special examinations for some GE classes on the dates noted below. Please contact the appropiate academic department for specific exam information before going to the Testing Center.

Course	Term	Exemption Exam (No Credit or Grade)	Challenge Exam (Graded Credit)	Fee (Pay at Testing Center)	Last Day to Drop without W on the Transcript	Department Contact
Precollege Math (Math 97)	Fall	Sep 3 - 16 Oct 23 - 30 (score of 70% and above)		$10	Sep 14	Math Lab 159B TMCB
Biological Sciences (Biol 100)	Fall		Sep 3 - 16 Oct 23 - 30	$20	Sep 14	Biol 100 Office 109 HRCB
Physical Science (Phy S 100)	Fall	Sep 3 - 16 Oct 23 - 30 (score of 75% or above)	Sep 3 - 16 Oct 23 - 30 (score of 60 to 74%)	$10	Sep 14	Phy S 100 Office N252 ESC
American Heritage (A Htg 100)	Fall		Sep 3 - 16 Oct 23 - 30	$20	Sep 14	A Htg Office 166 SWKT

For information on the BYU Testing Center hours, please visit http://testing.byu.edu

 

Major Education

Brigham Young University students are expected to develop competence in at least one area of concentration. Such competence is acquired through in-depth study in an area referred to as the major. Through the major requirements students encounter a rigorous, coherent, and progressively more sophisticated program of study. Such study is intrinsically valuable, and it prepares students to enter the world of work or to pursue further study. By the time they graduate, students should have a grasp of their discipline's essential knowledge and skills and thus be able to compete in and contribute to the larger world outside the university.

BYU offers approximately 150 undergraduate major programs. Most of these programs are centered in the more than 50 academic departments, but several interdisciplinary programs are also available. The complete list of these degrees is given in the BYU Undergraduate Catalog under the heading Alphabetical List of Undergraduate Majors at BYU. Of the 120 credit hours required as a minimum for the baccalaureate degree, the major program typically comprises between 40 and 60 credit hours, although some exceed 60 credit hours. Requirements for major programs are detailed under specific departments in the catalog.

Students need not feel undue pressure to declare a major immediately upon entering the university, and they may wish to enroll in general education courses that can introduce them to possible areas for major study. However, some majors, including those in the natural sciences, engineering, music, and visual arts, are tightly structured. Efficient graduation from these programs requires students to undertake degree requirements during the first semester of their freshman year. Students who are considering these programs are encouraged to begin them as soon as possible. The academic departments and college advisement centers can provide advice about particular degree requirements and selecting a major.