Brigham Young University is a private university in Provo, Utah, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A student can pursue a degree in a field such as engineering or education while taking religion courses and renewing an ecclesiastical endorsement. These requirements make the university’s religious affiliation visible in ordinary decisions about courses, registration and graduation. In fall 2026, BYU reported 37,874 daytime students, including 34,792 undergraduates and 3,082 graduate students. BYU’s institutional mission BYU’s fall 2026 figures Undergraduate education and graduation policy
From an academy to a university
Brigham Young Academy was founded in 1875. The university archives record that it incorporated in 1896 with the church’s First Presidency as its sole stockholder and adopted the name Brigham Young University in 1903. The earlier deed of trust specified texts for instruction, including the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. It provides a concrete record of the place that scripture was intended to have in the school, decades before it became a university with the range of subjects it teaches today. Brigham Young Academy records BYU Religious Studies Center on the deed of trust
BYU describes its present mission in terms of intellectual growth, spiritual development, character and service. Those goals describe the education it intends to provide. The undergraduate catalog and the university’s standing policies show how that mission takes effect for students. They cover distinct areas of campus life. The catalog describes what students study, while the standing policies set conditions on their continued enrollment. BYU’s institutional mission Undergraduate catalog Student standing policy
How religious education fits into a degree
The undergraduate catalog describes a religion requirement of 14 semester hours for full-time students. It encourages one religion class per semester until the required hours are complete. A degree also involves a major and general education. For a student planning several semesters of laboratory courses or a sequence of classes with prerequisites, the religion requirement is part of the same scheduling work as the rest of the degree. The university also describes devotionals and forums as part of campus life. Those gatherings are a separate setting from the courses that carry academic credit. Undergraduate catalog Undergraduate education and graduation policy
The core includes courses on the Book of Mormon, the teachings of Jesus, the family and the history and doctrine of the Latter-day Saint restoration. The catalog also provides a schedule for transfer students. For example, it lists 12 BYU religion hours for someone entering with 15 to 29.9 transfer hours, with the cornerstone courses or their approved equivalents still required. The BYU core curriculum
Endorsement and the Honor Code
BYU requires an ecclesiastical endorsement for admission and generally an updated endorsement each academic year for continuing students. People who belong to other churches or have no church affiliation can apply. BYU’s student standing policy describes routes for people who are outside the sponsoring church, including the university’s nondenominational chaplain. An endorsement concerns a student’s standing at the institution. It is separate from the grades recorded by course instructors. Student standing policy Admission policy
The Honor Code addresses academic honesty and personal conduct. The code prohibits alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea. It defines marriage as between a man and a woman for purposes of its sexual conduct rules and prohibits same-sex romantic behavior. It also sets expectations about participation in religious services and refers students to separate standards for dress and grooming. The admission policy requires students to commit to the applicable standards on and off campus. Church Educational System Honor Code Admission policy
The distinction between academic and ecclesiastical standing has practical consequences. Under BYU’s policy, the withdrawal or denial of an endorsement can prevent a student from registering for additional classes or graduating. The university describes a process for a continuing student to request an exception. A student’s academic record therefore covers one part of the requirements that must be met before BYU can award a degree. Undergraduate education and graduation policy Student standing policy
Taking a class online
Two BYU programs use online delivery for different kinds of enrollment. BYU Online offers semester-based courses to students who have already matriculated at the university. They register for those sections as part of their regular program, and the courses are covered by regular tuition. Independent Study offers individual courses through a separate enrollment and payment process. It also serves people who are outside a BYU degree program. The university’s FAQ explains that many Independent Study courses allow up to a year for completion. BYU Online FAQ BYU Independent Study university courses
Consider a student who attends another university and wants to complete a single class. An Independent Study course may give that student a way to earn credit through BYU. The institution that will award the degree determines whether the credit fulfills one of its requirements. A BYU student selecting an online section for the coming semester faces a different question about where that class fits in the student’s existing BYU program. BYU Online FAQ BYU Independent Study university courses
Conclusion
BYU’s founding documents show that instruction in scripture was part of the original academy. Today the university puts its religious mission into practice through academic courses, an endorsement process and standards for student conduct. Understanding the difference between those obligations and the rules for taking a single continuing education course helps explain what it means to study at BYU. Brigham Young Academy records BYU Religious Studies Center on the deed of trust Undergraduate education and graduation policy Student standing policy BYU Online FAQ
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