Certificates & Degrees
Degrees
What online certificates and degrees are available?
Available degree options may be found on the certificates and degrees program list .
What is the difference between a certificate, an associate degree, and a bachelor's degree?
- A certificate is 12–15 credits and focuses on one area of study.
- An associate degree is 60 credits and includes general studies.
- A bachelor’s degree is 90 credits and includes a major field of study as well as general studies.
What if I already have an associate or bachelor’s degree?
Most general associate degrees will transfer into an online bachelor’s degree from BYU-Idaho or Ensign College. However, not all associate degrees will apply to every bachelor’s degree. Previous credits will be evaluated after a student has been admitted and submits previous college transcripts.
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher at any other institution can pursue an additional degree through an online program. Typically, general education courses will be waived and only core courses and religion credits will be required.
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher at any other institution can pursue an additional degree through an online program. Typically, general education courses will be waived and only core courses and religion credits will be required.
Can I change my major?
Majors/certificates are declared at the time a student starts their online degree program. Students who wish to change should take the following steps below. You can also contact us or your mentor.
- BYU-Idaho: Change your major in the Degree Planner (located inside the BYU-Pathway Portal).
- Ensign College: Change your certificate by accessing the BYU-Pathway Portal
How do I know what courses to take?
The Degree Planner lists the courses students should take for their specific degree. While it is the responsibility of the student to make sure they meet all of the necessary requirements, academic advisors are available to help.
What courses should I register for?
Students can plan to register for courses after they have been admitted, and any previous university transcripts have been evaluated.
Students who are enrolled in BYU-Pathway’s PathwayConnect are given a predetermined curriculum.
- BYU-Idaho: Students should access their Degree Planner (located inside the BYU-Pathway Portal), which outlines their entire degree plan and shows which courses to take.
- Ensign College: Students should access the BYU-Pathway Portal and click “Edit” next to the “Courses” section. That form will outline which courses they should take.
Students who are enrolled in BYU-Pathway’s PathwayConnect are given a predetermined curriculum.
What are the graduation requirements for a bachelor's degree?
To complete a bachelor’s degree, students must:
- Complete required religion courses
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher (a "C" average)
- Earn 120 credits
- Complete major requirements
- Complete required resident credits:
- For online degrees earned from BYU-Idaho: Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours from BYU-Idaho.
- For online degrees earned from Ensign College: Students must complete at least 50% of the total credits required for a bachelor’s degree from Ensign College.
Why are my first certificate and degree coming from two different schools?
BYU-Pathway provides access to select certificates and degrees from both BYU-Idaho and Ensign College. Through this partnership, students have access to a wider variety of offerings, some of which may only be available through one of these institutions. However, a certificate earned through Ensign College is still able to be applied to a degree from BYU-Idaho through the transfer of credits.
Advising
Can I get advice for planning my degree?
Contact us or your mentor to get help with:
- Available certificates and degrees
- Specific advising and counsel based on your geographical area
- Guidance on course planning
- Other academic resources, such as tutoring and disability services
What is my degree audit?
A Degree Audit is the official document that shows students in a degree program the academic requirements for their chosen degree.
Students can access their Degree Planner by logging into their account at byupathway.edu/sign-in and clicking the tab Academic Planning and then Degree Planner.
Here is a video tutorial on how to use the Degree Planner: Using the Degree Planner.
In the Degree Planner, students have access to the Graduation Requirements tab, as well as the My Degree Requirements tab which will open their Degree Audit (the pop up must be enabled). These will help guide them through their course planning within their Degree Planner.
Students can access their Degree Planner by logging into their account at byupathway.edu/sign-in and clicking the tab Academic Planning and then Degree Planner.
Here is a video tutorial on how to use the Degree Planner: Using the Degree Planner.
In the Degree Planner, students have access to the Graduation Requirements tab, as well as the My Degree Requirements tab which will open their Degree Audit (the pop up must be enabled). These will help guide them through their course planning within their Degree Planner.
How do I change my major?
If you would like to explore other majors, here is a list of certificates and degrees offered online.
Before changing your major, it would be best to consult with your mentor or academic advisor. Changing your major may influence the time it takes you to graduate and the amount of courses you need to complete your degree.
Students can change/declare their Certificate or Degree in their Degree Planner, found under 'Academic Resources' in their student portal.
Before changing your major, it would be best to consult with your mentor or academic advisor. Changing your major may influence the time it takes you to graduate and the amount of courses you need to complete your degree.
Students can change/declare their Certificate or Degree in their Degree Planner, found under 'Academic Resources' in their student portal.
- Log into Degree Planner found in your Student Portal
- Select Change Plan at the top right of the Degree Planner
- Acknowledge the two boxes that come up in the ""Warning"" box
- Click “Change Degree”
- Click “Change Certificate”
- Click “Change Workload”
- Click “Save Changes”