Academic Advisement

• Student Advisement
• Introduction to the Undergraduate Degree
• University Core: Religion Education
• University Core: General Education
• Accounting and Management
• Communications

Student Advisement

Using the BYU Salt Lake Center to fill your university core requirements is an excellent way to make use of the resources that the university has extended to the Salt Lake area. In fact, the purpose of the BYU Salt Lake Center is to do just that—extend the services and the spirit of the university to the Salt Lake Valley . It would be impossible for us to offer everything that the university does; nevertheless, there is much that we can do to help you in the pursuit of your educational goals—especially in the area of the university core requirements.

You will find that the university core classes taught at the BYU Salt Lake Center are relatively small, giving you greater access to and more time with instructors. This is a particularly beneficial feature about classes taught at the center. Most of our instructors are people who are involved with their professional careers during the day and bring that experience with them into the classroom discussions at night. Not only do you receive the theoretical perspective from the textbook, but also insight into real-world applications of the knowledge in the field from one who is involved with it on a daily basis.

Please call for an appointment at 933-9429, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. so that we can advise you in a timely manner. The Academic Advisor's office is located in room 329 of the Salt Lake Center.

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Introduction to the Undergraduate Degree

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 for 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 ( http://saas.byu.edu/catalog/ ).

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 requirement at BYU. For this purpose, spring and summer terms combined equal a single semester.

BYU students are expected to complete 14 hours of religion courses on the BYU campus or here at the BYU Salt Lake Center . 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); and Doctrine and Covenants (Rel C 324/H or 325/H). In addition to the Doctrinal Foundation requirement, students must complete 6 elective hours of religion courses. IF you have questions, go to http://religion.byu.edu.

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 on the BYU campus ( Provo or Salt Lake Center ) will fulfill this requirement.

Transfer Credit

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

For more detailed information concerning religion requirements and to view the most accurate listing of religion courses, please refer to the undergraduate catalog or the current class schedule. You may also wish to visit http://religion.byu.edu at your convenience.

University Core: General Education

  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.

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. All students who receive undergraduate degrees from BYU are required to complete the new university 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 and religion requirements. 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.

For details on completing the previous GE program, please click here:

Selection and Timing of University Core Classes

Each university core requirement is completed by taking one course or a combination of courses, chosen from the approved list in the table below. 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 university core 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 university core 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 university 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 university core credit. This information is updated each semester/term and published in the current class schedule.

Although the time to complete university core requirements varies according to the major, all new students are strongly encouraged to complete the First-Year Writing, the American Heritage, and the two Book of Mormon classes during their freshman year. We recommend that new freshmen complete the first Book of Mormon class and either American Heritage or First-Year Writing (whichever they have not already completed) their second semester.

Students planning to satisfy the Scientific Principles and Reasoning/Biological Science/Physical Science requirements with the one-course options (e.g., Biol 100, Phy S 100, and Math 102) should also 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 UNIVERSITY CORE requirements can be obtained at college advisement centers or department offices.

View the university core (GE + Religion) Detailed Options table for more information about the courses which fulfill university core requirements.

Ways to Complete University Core 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 university core requirements is handled by the Transfer Evaluation Office on the Provo campus, A-183 ASB, 801-422-2500. 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 waive certain university core 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. The Advisement Support Office ( Provo campus), B-238 ASB, 801-422-3641, can be contacted for details regarding credit hours and exemption from university core requirements 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 university core requirement. No academic credit or letter grade is posted to the transcript. The challenge exam, however, is not restricted to university core 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 .

Exemption Exams: No Credit or Grade
Exemption exams are offered for select university core 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. A fee payable at the Testing Center 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

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. A fee payable at the Testing Center is charged for exams offered in the Testing Center . A fee payable at the Cashier's Office, D-155 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.

How Do You Get Help with Specific Questions Concerning University Core?

Essential information concerning the university core is found in the university core section of the current BYU Undergraduate Catalog. Additional, late-breaking information, plus advice about university core requirements, can be obtained from your college advisement center. The eleven college advisement centers, together with the University Advisement Center , 2500 WSC on the Provo campus, 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 at the Salt Lake Center and in the advisement centers and other locations on the Provo campus to provide you with an up-to-date report of your academic status. To access your progress report, log into Route Y, select the AIM icon, then Student, then Student Academic Records, and click the Progress Report link. This will generate a personalized report that includes a list of university core requirements you have completed.

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 university core 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 on the Provo campus can provide specific advice about particular degree requirements and selecting a major.

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Accounting and Management

Accounting

You can take all course work for the General Education portion of an accounting or management degree through the BYU Salt Lake Center . You can also take many of the classes which fill the core accounting and management requirements.

Prerequisite Classes. The following classes (or their equivalent) must be completed:

• Acc 200
• Acc 210 (or Acc 201/202)
• I Sys 201
• M Com 320

Please note: If you are admitted to BYU as a full-time student and you are working on a management degree, you must have clearance from the Management Advisement Center (801-422-4285) to take certain classes. All students need clearance for certain classes.

Management

Premanagement Core

You must complete these courses with at least a 3.0 GPA (no grade lower than a C–), with no more than one repeat for each course. (This is the requirement to apply to the program; it does not guarantee acceptance into the Marriott School of Management.) No clearance is needed to take precore classes.

• Econ 110
• Math 119
• Acc 200
• Stat 221
• I Sys 100 (or qualifying exam)
• I Sys 101 (or qualifying exam)

Management Core I

You must be formally accepted to the Marriott School of Management or obtain proper clearance to register for Management Core I courses. (See academic advisor in room 204 for questions or clarification.)

• Acc 210 (prerequisite: Acc 200)
• M Com 320
• I Sys 201

Integrated Management Core

You must be formally accepted to the Marriott School of Management and have completed Core I requirements to register for Integrated Management Core courses.

Additional Requirements

A few courses for some of the areas of emphasis are available through the BYU Salt Lake Center . Contact the Undergraduate Management Office, 460 TNRB on the BYU Provo campus or check your class schedule for details.

• Acc 241
• ManEc 301

You must complete the remaining course work in Provo . Plan for daytime availability.

For a complete listing of requirements, contact the academic advisor (room 204) or the Management Advisement Center , 460 TNRB (801-422-4285), at the main campus in Provo .

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Communications

In order to register for the following communications classes at the center, you must obtain clearance through the Communications Academic Advisement Center (801-422-3777) in Provo. You should have also filled the prerequisites for the classes as listed below:

• Comms 211: Hon P 200, Phil 105, or Engl 115 with a B minimum or an English AP score of 4.
  Comms 300: Major Status
  Comms 319: Departmental statistics requirement, major status.
• Comms 360: Major or minor status

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