Religious Education was created as a college-level unit at Brigham Young University in 1983 as a reorganization of the earlier Religious Instruction unit. Religious Education administers the departments of Ancient Scripture, and Church History and Doctrine. Deans have included Robert J. Matthews (1983-1990), Donald Q. Cannon (1990-1991), Robert L. Millet (1991-2001), Andrew C. Skinner (2001-2006), Terry B. Ball (2006-2013), and Brent L. Top (2013), Daniel K. Judd (2019-2021), and Scott C. Esplin (2021-).

Religious Instruction was the entity of Brigham Young University responsible for religion classes and religious instruction.

Religious Instruction was organized in 1973 when the decision was made to change the name of the College of Religious Instruction simply to Religious Instruction. In 1975, Religious Instruction began to be no longer listed with the list of colleges in the University Catalogs. Abolishing the college entity was a decision made for several reasons, one being the idea that making this change decreases the sensitivity about a "paid ministry." The following men served as deans of Religious Instruction: Jeffrey R. Holland (1974-1976) and Ellis T. Rasmussen (1976-1983).

Religious Instruction administered all religious instruction funded by the University. Courses in religion have been offered by the University since the beginning of its existence, due to the idea that each individual's life must be built upon a firm ethical and religious basis.