The General Education program was officially established around 1952-1953 at Brigham Young University. The program is responsible for all general education requirements of the university core, and the General Education Office also facilitates faculty and course development. Supervisors of General Education included Noel B. Reynolds (director until 1982), William E. Evenson (director, 1982-1983; dean, 1983-1985), Donald K. Jarvis (dean, 1985-1986), and John D. Bell (dean, 2008-2015). In 1986, GE became part of General Education and Honors and was supervised by that dean and staff. In 2002, the College of Undergraduate Education was established, overseeing General Education, Honors, and associated programs. As of 2022, the General Education program was administered by the College of Undergraduate Education and overseen by an associate dean of Undergraduate Education.

The General Education and Honors administrative body was formed at Brigham Young University in 1986, when General Education and University Honors Education were placed under the leadership of one administrator, known as the Dean of General Education and Honors, who reported directly to the university. This continued until 2002 when the name was changed to Undergraduate Education, which reflected its main focus. General Education and Honors oversaw the GE component of a BYU education as well as the Honors Program. At various points in its existence, the administration also supervised First-Year Writing, Freshman Academy, the Freshman Year Office, and Pre-professional Advisement.

Deans of General Education and Honors included James R. Kearl (1986-1989), Harold L. Miller Jr. (1989-1993), Paul A. Cox (1993-1997), James E. Faulconer (Acting Dean, 1997-1998; Dean, 1998-2000), and George S. Tate (2000-2002).