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.

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.