Brigham Young University. College of Religious Instruction

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).

Description

Established: 1959

Abolished: 1973

Location: Provo, Utah (1959-1973)

Functions

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.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The college was administered by a dean under the direction of the President of the University.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University (1959-1973)

Earlier unit: Brigham Young University. Division of Religion (1940-1959)

Later unit: Brigham Young University. Religious Instruction (1973-1983)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Bible and Modern Scripture (1959-1964)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Biblical Languages (1959-1964)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of L.D.S. Theology, Church Organization and Administration (1959-1964)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of History and Philosophy of Religion (1959-1964)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Religious Education Dept. (1959-1964)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Undergraduate Studies in Religious Instruction (1964-1969)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction (1964-1969)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Ancient Scripture (1969-1973)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Church History and Doctrine (1969-1973)

Subordinate unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Philosophy (1969-1973)

Associated Archival Materials

Religious Instruction records, 1965-1979. (UA 1351)

Printed matter file 12 1938-1982 1962-1982. (UA 656, Z17/6/E 2)

Register to the College of Religious Instruction records. (UA 656)

Records and correspondence from the office of the Dean, 1937-1973 1960-1973. (UA 584, Z17/5/E 6)

An evaluation of instructional television in the Brigham Young University College of Religious Instruction. (378.22 K555)

Sources

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 2 p. 622 (theological classes part of the College of Religious Instruction)

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 3 p. 111 (discontinuance of Division of Religion; religious enrollment mandatory)

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 3 p. 113 (graduate areas of Bible and Modern Scripture, Semitic Languages, Church history, and Philosophy of Religious Education)

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 4 p. 488 (David H. Yarn, Jr. (1959-1963), B. West Belnap (1964-1967), Daniel H. Ludlow (1968-1971), Roy W. Doxey (1972-1973), deans)

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 4 p. 184 (Book of Mormon course requirement)

Brigham Young University, 1975 vol. 4 p. 193 (no degrees)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1959-1960: p. 138 (departments: Bible and Modern Scripture, Biblical Languages, L.D.S. Theology Church Organization and Administration, History and Philosophy of Religion, and Religious Education; college function)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1964-1966: p. 104 (departments: Undergraduate Studies in Religious Instruction and Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1970-1972 p. 97 (departments: Ancient Scripture, Church History and Doctrine, and Philosophy)

Brigham Young University President's Records, 1949-1975 (Reading Committee on Publication of Theological Material)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2009-00330

LCCN: no2009068439

Creator: CEM