The Office of Undergraduate Education was established as a distinct unit at Brigham Young University in 2002 when the Dean of General Education and Honors became the Dean of Undergraduate Education. Undergraduate Education has been administered by the following deans: George S. Tate (2002-2006), Daniel J. Fairbanks (2006-2008), John D. Bell (2008-2015), and Susan Sessions Rugh (2015- ). The unit is responsible for undergraduate education, honors, and associated programs.

The Honors Program was established by university president Ernest L. Wilkinson in 1960 to broaden and enrich the undergraduate student experience through intensive general education courses. This has included a focus on critical thinking and writing skills, and more recently on interdisciplinary approaches to subjects. The program was initially open to students by invitation, but was expanded to the general student body in 1983.

The Honors Program has been associated with various units of the university administration. Initially it reported directly to university administration, then in 1973 was placed under the dean of College of General Studies. In 1979 it was again placed under the direction of the university, but after 1983 began reporting through the dean of General Education and Honors and the dean of Undergraduate Education. Directors of the program have included Robert K. Thomas (1960-1968), Richard D. Poll (1968-1970), C. Terry Warner (1970-1975), Thomas F. Rogers (1975-1978), Reba L. Keele (1978-1979), Gary L. Browning (1979-1981, 1982-1983), Karen Lynn (1981-1982), De Lamar Jensen (1983-1986), Thomas Matheson (1986-1988), Alan F. Keele (1988-1993), James Faulconer (1994-1995), Susan Easton Black (1995-1998), Daniel Fairbanks (1998-1999), K. Newell Dayley (2000), J. Scott Miller (2000-2007), Madison U. Sowell (2007-2009), Gary L. Hatch (2009-2010), Rory Scanlon (2010-2012), Joseph Parry (2012-2016), and Spencer Magleby (2016- ).

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).

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.