Administrative History

The College of Religious Instruction was an administrative unit at Brigham Young University.

The College of Religious Instruction was born in 1959 when the Division of Religion was discontinued due to growth in university enrollment and renamed the College of Religious Instruction. As university enrollment grew, religious class enrollment grew, as every student was required to engage in a religious class each semester. The following individuals served as deans of the college: David H. Yarn, Jr. (1959-1963), B. West Belnap (1964-1967), Daniel H. Ludlow (1968-1971), and Roy W. Doxey (1972-1973).

The College of Religious Instruction had a fundamental role in properly integrating religious and moral values with secular knowledge. With the requirement of religious course enrollment each semester, individuals at Brigham Young University had the opportunity of establishing his or her life on a stable ethical and religious basis. Despite its college structure, the College of Religious Instruction did not grant degrees, neither graduate nor undergraduate.

Theological classes became part of the College of Religious Instruction at its establishment in 1959. Beginning in 1961, the faculty of the College of Religious Instruction instituted a new class requirement for incoming freshman, that of a Book of Mormon course.

A Reading Committee on Publication of Theological Material existed at least in 1963 under the chairmanship of William E. Berret. It was discontinued by 1968.

The following departments were a part of the College of Religious Instruction from 1959 to 1964: Bible and Modern Scripture, Biblical Languages, L.D.S. Theology Church Organization and Administration, History and Philosophy of Religion, and Religious Education. These were replaced by the Dept. of Undergraduate Studies in Religious Instruction and the Dept. of Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction in 1964. Three new departments were organized in 1969, replacing the previous two, which included the Department of Ancient Scriptures, the Department of Church History and Doctrine, and the Department of Philosophy.

Citation:

Religious Instruction records, 1965-1979 (College of Religious Instruction)

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Apr. 13, 2009 (College of Religious Instruction; previously known as Division of Religion)

Brigham Young University, 1975: v. 2, p. 184 (Division of Religion renamed College of Religious Instruction in 1959; granted master's and doctor's degrees in religion) v. 2, p. 187 (College of Religion) v. 2, p. 193 (reorganized and renamed Religious Instruction in 1973; lost college status)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: