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The policies on this website (including any university procedures, processes, benefits, courses of conduct, or oral or written statements arising from or related to these policies) do not constitute any legally enforceable contract, obligation, or liability on the part of the university, except to the extent that they are incorporated by reference into a written agreement signed by an authorized university official. These policies do not alter the “at-will” employment status of any university employee hired on an “at-will” basis. The university reserves the right to interpret, revise, or withdraw these policies at any time and at its sole discretion.
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Disclaimer
The policies on this website (including any university procedures, processes, benefits, courses of conduct, or oral or written statements arising from or related to these policies) do not constitute any legally enforceable contract, obligation, or liability on the part of the university, except to the extent that they are incorporated by reference into a written agreement signed by an authorized university official. These policies do not alter the “at-will” employment status of any university employee hired on an “at-will” basis. The university reserves the right to interpret, revise, or withdraw these policies at any time and at its sole discretion.
The university confers undergraduate degrees and university-wide scholastic honors to students only as described in this policy.
For purposes of this policy, key terms are defined as follows:
BYU Credit Hours means academic credits earned from BYU while enrolled as a student at the university.
College Advisement Center (CAC) means a center at a BYU college with trained employees to assist students with academic advisement needs.
Undergraduate Degree means a degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of General Studies (BGS), Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Science.
To be eligible for graduation, an undergraduate student must complete the following requirements:
- University Core
- Major Program
- Credit Hours
- Credit Hour Residency
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
These requirements are detailed below.
A student seeking to graduate with a Bachelor of General Studies degree must meet the specific graduation requirements of BGS programs, detailed on the Bachelor of General Studies website.
A person who has earned a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from any institution, including BYU, is ineligible to earn an additional Undergraduate Degree at BYU.
University Core
The University Core, a combination of the university’s religion requirements and general education requirements, must be completed for graduation. University Core requirements are detailed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Major Program
A major program is an area of study comprising an approved collection of classes. Prior to enrolling as a new student, each undergraduate student selects a primary major program offered by the university. Before a student has earned 60 BYU Credit Hours, the student must select a primary major program other than “open major.”
To meet major program requirements, a student must complete the curricular requirements within the program completion time limit (see Program Completion Time Limit section below). Each program’s curricular requirements are described in the undergraduate catalog of the academic year in which the student selected the primary major program.
Currently offered major programs are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Credit Hours
To qualify for an Undergraduate Degree, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. (See Credit Hour Policy.)
Credit Hour Residency
At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, as an admitted day student to qualify for a baccalaureate degree. Credit earned through BYU Online courses taken by matriculated BYU students counts toward satisfying the residency requirement. Credit earned at the Jerusalem Center, or through Study Abroad, Independent Study coursework, or examination does not count toward satisfying the residency requirement.
Grade Point Average
To be eligible for graduation, an undergraduate student must earn a minimum 2.0 BYU GPA and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (including credits transferred from other institutions). A student must also meet the minimum GPA requirements of his or her primary major program. See Academic Standards Procedures.
A student completes an Undergraduate Degree and qualifies for graduation by meeting University Core, major program, and other university requirements within eight academic years of enrollment at BYU. The student must meet the requirements that were in effect when he or she initially enrolled, even if there have been subsequent changes to the requirements. If a student requests an exception to the eight-year time limit, the request is reviewed by the supervisor of the CAC for the student’s primary major program as well as by the dean or dean’s designee of the college that houses the primary major program. The reviewers’ decision is final.
A student who desires to complete an additional major program (except for pre-approved language secondary majors) submits a petition to add an additional major to the CAC for the student’s primary major program. The student must propose an additional major program prior to the student earning 60 BYU credit hours (excluding language exam credits).
To be granted, the petition must be signed by the CAC supervisor for the student’s primary major program, the CAC supervisor for the student’s proposed additional major program, and the dean, or the dean’s designee, of the college that houses the student’s primary major program.
Courses used to satisfy the requirements of a student’s major can also be used to satisfy the requirements of an approved additional major, if permitted by the requirements of the proposed additional major.
The student’s academic record lists both the primary major program and the additional major program. The college convocation program lists only the primary major program. No degree or diploma is awarded for an additional major.
A student who wishes to declare a minor program must submit a request to the CAC of his or her primary major program prior to graduation, regardless of whether the minor program is elective or required.
Students apply for graduation as detailed on the Enrollment Services website.
The Registrar certifies that a student’s degree will be awarded if the student
- has completed all graduation requirements, as detailed in this policy;
- has a current ecclesiastical endorsement;
- is in good Honor Code standing (see Student Standing Policy); and
- does not have an Honor Code or Title IX Office hold on the record (see Student Standing Policy).
The student’s graduation date is the one selected on the approved graduation application.
The university awards the following university-wide scholastic honors.
Latin Scholastic Distinctions
Latin scholastic distinctions are determined by comparison of a student’s GPA with the GPAs of the other students in the cohort in which the student graduates. A student’s (1) BYU GPA and (2) cumulative GPA are considered in the process; the lower of the two is used in the calculation to determine distinctions. If a student completes an integrated bachelor’s and master’s program, the GPAs reflect all coursework earned in both bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Summa Cum Laude is awarded to the top 1.0 percent of the Undergraduate Degree candidates who have earned a minimum of 45 credit hours that count toward the credit-hour residency requirement.
Magna Cum Laude is awarded to the top 1.1 to 5.0 percent of the Undergraduate Degree candidates who have earned a minimum of 45 credit hours that count toward the credit-hour residency requirement.
Cum Laude is awarded to the top 5.1 to 10.0 percent of the Undergraduate Degree candidates who have earned a minimum of 45 credit hours that count toward the credit-hour residency requirement.
University Honors
University Honors is awarded to a student who has completed the Honors Program requirements, as detailed in the Undergraduate Catalog. See honors.byu.edu for more information.
The university mails diplomas to a graduated student after (1) all grades are posted to the student’s official record and (2) the Registrar’s Office verifies that the student has completed all graduation requirements.
BYU does not change or add any major programs or minor programs to a student’s academic record after the student’s Undergraduate Degree has been awarded.