Terms to Know
This is a guide to help you navigate the unique lingo you may hear at college and at BYU specifically. These are some terms that we think all first-year students could benefit from knowing.
Academic Terms to Know
- Major: a specific area of study during one's time in college. The classes students take at BYU pertain to their respective majors.
- Minor: Is not required at BYU. A minor is a course of study you can add, it is a chance to learn about a certain field without doing the whole major.
- Undergraduate: This is school completed after graduating from high school and can include an associate’s and/or bachelor’s degree. (BYU only offers bachelor’s degrees as far as undergraduate education goes.)
- Graduate Degree: This can include a master’s and/or PHD or any other professional school following your bachelor's degree.
- Teacher’s Assistant (TA): TAs provide support to both professors and students. As a student you can go to TAs with questions about coursework, help with preparation for tests and questions about content of classes.
- TA Labs: TA labs are scattered throughout campus and have hours for TAs for different levels within areas of learning, like chemistry, statistics, physics, etc. You can go to these for help during lab hours for help with your coursework and have questions answered about the material.
TA Labs
- TA Labs: TA labs are scattered throughout campus and have hours for TAs for different levels within areas of learning, like chemistry, statistics, physics, etc. You can go to these for help during lab hours for help with your coursework and have questions answered about the material.
- Office Hours: These are times set aside by both professors and TAs for students to ask questions about coursework and material.
- General Education (GEs): Credits that everyone needs to fulfill outside of their major. ie. Electives, UNIV 101
- Credit Hours: Classes have an assigned number of “credits” that range from .5-4 credits and these are given to help you know the general amount of time that you will spend working on the class each week.
- Honors Program: Being a part of this program gives you the opportunity to develop as a student-scholar in teaching areas across the university. There are also added requirements to “graduate with honors” with this program.
BYU Catalog
Home - Prerequisite: These are classes that need to be taken before registering in another class or before applying to application only majors at BYU.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): This is a federal aid program that provides financial aid for students as they attend college. Applying to see if you qualify for aid can be beneficial for paying for college.
- Federal Student Aid
- There are two types of financial aid that may be offered to you after you submit FAFSA and your financial need is evaluated.
- Pell Grant: A type of federal aid that does not have to be repaid.
- Student Loans: Loans that are specific to paying for school and will need to be paid, often with interest. (Can be received through FAFSA or other loaning institutions.)
- Canvas, Learning Suite
These are the two main learning platforms that BYU uses. Learning Suite is used widely by many professors/classes and Canvas is mostly used for online classes.
Learning Suite Basics
Canvas - Testing Center: Professors may assign your tests to be taken at the Testing Center, which is a place where you will be proctored in-person as you complete either paper and/or online exams.
- Bluebook: a blue book is a small booklet of lined paper, often used for essay-style exams. They must be purchased prior to your exam, at BYU, you can purchase them at the BYU Bookstore. Use these as directed by your professor.
Experiential learning
- Study Abroad: A study abroad gives you the opportunity to study somewhere foreign through the university.
Find Your Program - Careers and Experiential Learning: This is an office dedicated to preparing students for post college futures and careers.
About Us - Internships: These are opportunities to get hands-on work experience as a student to gain real-world skills and knowledge.
- BYU Student ID: This is a card that provides official university identification.
- Net ID: This was created when you applied and is on your student ID. It is essentially, your username for BYU.
- ID Number: This is also printed on your student ID and is a number assigned to you and is used to access different services on campus.
Campus Life Terms to Know
- BYU Student Association (BYSA): This is BYU’s student government that organize clubs, events, and activities for students throughout the school year. These are planned by student volunteers, for students.
About BYUSA - Intramurals: These are recreational sports leagues that are open to all students.
ISports - ROC Pass: You can buy this pass prior to the start of fall semester and it gives you access to all BYU athletic events.
The ROC - Y-Serve: BYU Y-serve is a great resource to find service opportunities! There are a bunch of different ways to get involved in community and individual service here at Y-serve! There are even volunteer programs that could build your resume, or give you hands on experience in a certain career field.
Paying for College
Paying for college can be more stressful than taking classes at times, we want to help simplify that stress. There are many resources available at BYU that help you to not go broke when you are at college.
Paying for School
Paying for School
Other Things to Know
Here are some helpful things to know beyond what you may have already experienced or read. Things like: housing, service, exercise classes, fun activities and overall wellness at BYU.
- Housing: For your first year at BYU, you are required to live in either on campus or off campus BYU contracted housing. Whether you live on campus or off campus, we encourage students to build belonging wherever they live!
BYU Residence Life - Wellness Wise: You are a person before you are a student, which is why BYU has resources like Wellness Wise! This website has resources to help students with anything that contributes to wellness—including physical, mental, spiritual, and more!
Student Wellness Resources - SWELL/STDEV classes: Did you know you can take wellness classes? SWELL/STDEV classes are designed to promote wellness in students. From yoga to study skills to career exploration, there is a lot to learn in these classes! They are also great to mix in with your GE/Major class load.
SWELL Classes - BYU Events Calendar: One great thing about BYU is how many events happen on campus! There is something for everyone here! Going to events is a great way to build community, make friends, and have fun! There are dozens of events each week, so make sure you check the calendar for updates!
Calendar