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+--- Thread: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? (/Thread-Thoughts-on-BYU-Independent-Study-s-religion-courses)
Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - daydream - 08-05-2026
Curious as to whether or not anyone here has taken these. If so, what are your thoughts? I am waiting on UMPI and TESU's advising departments to respond about whether or not it transfers. When I emailed TESU's advising department, I received an email stating that I needed to contact their advising department.
I guess I'll need to set up an advising appointment. These courses are relevant to my genealogical niches and look like a nice way to acquire UL credit. (Assuming they transfer in as such.)These are the particular courses that I'm interested in. The $500 price tag is steep for me, so I'll apply for a scholarship if TESU and/or UMPI accepts these courses.
Pioneers, Conflict, and Growth | REL C 342
Joseph Smith and the Restoration: 1805-1845 | REL C 341
Introduction to Family History Doctrine and Practice | HIST 205 This one isn't UL, but I would find learning about church policies and procedures surrounding temple work to be interesting.
There's also UL courses on modern church history and some scripture. Those ones don't stand out as much to me though.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - ss20ts - 08-05-2026
I looked at the UMPI transfer database and I don't see any of these classes listed. That doesn't mean they won't accept them. It could mean no one has transferred them to UMPI. All of the religion courses transferred in as general electives except 2 which were anthropology electives. There's definitely ways to get much cheaper general electives if you need them.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - daydream - 08-05-2026
(08-05-2026, 08:20 PM)ss20ts Wrote: I looked at the UMPI transfer database and I don't see any of these classes listed. That doesn't mean they won't accept them. It could mean no one has transferred them to UMPI. All of the religion courses transferred in as general electives except 2 which were anthropology electives. There's definitely ways to get much cheaper general electives if you need them.
Thank you for looking it up. I am waiting for UMPI to follow up with me on this topic.
As for the costs, I would definitely apply for scholarships first. I would only take courses with BYU Independent Study if I got a sufficient scholarship.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - daydream - 08-11-2026
(08-05-2026, 08:20 PM)ss20ts Wrote: I looked at the UMPI transfer database and I don't see any of these classes listed. That doesn't mean they won't accept them. It could mean no one has transferred them to UMPI. All of the religion courses transferred in as general electives except 2 which were anthropology electives. There's definitely ways to get much cheaper general electives if you need them.
I just looked at the UMPI transfer database and saw some of the same classes listed under BYU. No option for BYU Independent Study apparently. Looks like six of the REL courses transfer in as UL anthropology electives. I don't see a transfer equivalency for HIST 481R (or any BYU Independent Study family history courses) listed though. Given that REL classes transfer in as ANT electives, I suppose taking REL classes via BYU Independent Study would be an easy way to acquire some UL elective credit and/or declare a social studies minor. At least for those familiar with the topic. I am curious as to what RELC 342 and RELC 343 transfers in as. Likewise, if RELC 341 is treated the same as REL 341.
I definitely wouldn't pay the full tuition price. I'm not sure to what extent BYU Independent Study's scholarships cover study fees, but my plan is to apply for that.
Quote:
REL 301
Old Testament I
3.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
3.00
REL 324
Doctrine & Covenants I
3.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
3.00
REL 325
Doctrine and Covenants II
2.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
2.00
REL 333
Teachings of Living Prophets
2.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
2.00
REL 341
LDS History from 1805-1844
2.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
2.00
REL 352
The Gospel and Christian Histo
2.00
ANT 3XX
Anthropology Elective
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - wow - 08-12-2026
That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - ss20ts - 08-12-2026
UL credit would be cheaper at UMPI for a lot of people. Also notice that the religion BYU Independent Study courses that have transferred are only 2 credits? UMPI's degrees are based on 3 credit courses so you could end up short on credits somewhere with 2 credit courses.
(08-12-2026, 07:50 AM)wow Wrote: That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
Well, it's Latter Day Saint history......not history the rest of the world recognizes. It's 100% religious based. I live near where it all began and there's some shady things around the origins.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - sanantone - 08-12-2026
(08-12-2026, 11:11 AM)ss20ts Wrote: UL credit would be cheaper at UMPI for a lot of people. Also notice that the religion BYU Independent Study courses that have transferred are only 2 credits? UMPI's degrees are based on 3 credit courses so you could end up short on credits somewhere with 2 credit courses.
(08-12-2026, 07:50 AM)wow Wrote: That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
Well, it's Latter Day Saint history......not history the rest of the world recognizes. It's 100% religious based. I live near where it all began and there's some shady things around the origins.
Everyone who is not LDS knows that their version of ancient history runs contrary to verified history, but the history of the LDS religion should, I would hope, be an actual history course. But if they teach the false narrative around Joseph Smith, then I guess not
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - daydream - 08-12-2026
(08-12-2026, 11:36 AM)sanantone Wrote:(08-12-2026, 11:11 AM)ss20ts Wrote: UL credit would be cheaper at UMPI for a lot of people. Also notice that the religion BYU Independent Study courses that have transferred are only 2 credits? UMPI's degrees are based on 3 credit courses so you could end up short on credits somewhere with 2 credit courses.
(08-12-2026, 07:50 AM)wow Wrote: That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
Well, it's Latter Day Saint history......not history the rest of the world recognizes. It's 100% religious based. I live near where it all began and there's some shady things around the origins.
Everyone who is not LDS knows that their version of ancient history runs contrary to verified history, but the history of the LDS religion should, I would hope, be an actual history course. But if they teach the false narrative around Joseph Smith, then I guess not
I figure the pioneer course would lean towards being the most secular, although I could be wrong. I imagine other courses would definitely be taught from a religious POV. I am well aware of its weaknesses as a religion. My own family history just happens to be intertwined with that, so that's why it is of interest to me.
While it transfers in as anthropology credit, I suppose that could be utilized towards a social studies minor at UMPI. I definitely wouldn't pay full price and would apply for a scholarship beforehand. I'm waiting for UMPI's advising team to respond about equivalencies for unlisted courses.
edit: Well I think a staff member at UMPI saw my email or maybe this thread because now nearly all of the REL C courses transfer in as general electives instead of anthropology. Now most REL C courses can't be utilized towards a social studies minor. Curious as to how HIST-481R, REL C 341 (the pioneer history course - previously mentioned), and REL C 342 transfer.
I could very well end up maxing out my ACE credit with CLEPs, Sophia, Straighterline, etc so I figure I might as well plan to acquire more RA credit.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - wow - 08-13-2026
(08-12-2026, 11:36 AM)sanantone Wrote:(08-12-2026, 11:11 AM)ss20ts Wrote: UL credit would be cheaper at UMPI for a lot of people. Also notice that the religion BYU Independent Study courses that have transferred are only 2 credits? UMPI's degrees are based on 3 credit courses so you could end up short on credits somewhere with 2 credit courses.
(08-12-2026, 07:50 AM)wow Wrote: That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
Well, it's Latter Day Saint history......not history the rest of the world recognizes. It's 100% religious based. I live near where it all began and there's some shady things around the origins.
Everyone who is not LDS knows that their version of ancient history runs contrary to verified history, but the history of the LDS religion should, I would hope, be an actual history course. But if they teach the false narrative around Joseph Smith, then I guess not
The church has become a lot more forthcoming about its history in recent years. They used to keep much of it locked up in vaults, inaccessible even to historians. Now they are putting a lot of source materials online for anyone to look at. The big "watershed" moment was the release of the Joseph Smith papers ~10 or ~15 years ago. It's not perfect, but from what I understand, the church history courses at BYU are fairly academic. The bias now is toward a faith-promoting *interpretation* of history, rather than changing/hiding uncomfortable facts. That said, maybe the courses I've heard about are under the history prefix and not the REL one?
Anthropology still seems like a weird reclassification to me.
(08-12-2026, 08:37 PM)daydream Wrote: edit: Well I think a staff member at UMPI saw my email or maybe this thread because now nearly all of the REL C courses transfer in as general electives instead of anthropology. Now most REL C courses can't be utilized towards a social studies minor. Curious as to how HIST-481R, REL C 341 (the pioneer history course - previously mentioned), and REL C 342 transfer.
Oops. Sorry.
RE: Thoughts on BYU Independent Study's religion courses? - ss20ts - 08-13-2026
(08-12-2026, 08:37 PM)daydream Wrote:(08-12-2026, 11:36 AM)sanantone Wrote:(08-12-2026, 11:11 AM)ss20ts Wrote: UL credit would be cheaper at UMPI for a lot of people. Also notice that the religion BYU Independent Study courses that have transferred are only 2 credits? UMPI's degrees are based on 3 credit courses so you could end up short on credits somewhere with 2 credit courses.
(08-12-2026, 07:50 AM)wow Wrote: That's weird that the history course doesn't transfer as a history elective.
Well, it's Latter Day Saint history......not history the rest of the world recognizes. It's 100% religious based. I live near where it all began and there's some shady things around the origins.
Everyone who is not LDS knows that their version of ancient history runs contrary to verified history, but the history of the LDS religion should, I would hope, be an actual history course. But if they teach the false narrative around Joseph Smith, then I guess not
I figure the pioneer course would lean towards being the most secular, although I could be wrong. I imagine other courses would definitely be taught from a religious POV. I am well aware of its weaknesses as a religion. My own family history just happens to be intertwined with that, so that's why it is of interest to me.
While it transfers in as anthropology credit, I suppose that could be utilized towards a social studies minor at UMPI. I definitely wouldn't pay full price and would apply for a scholarship beforehand. I'm waiting for UMPI's advising team to respond about equivalencies for unlisted courses.
edit: Well I think a staff member at UMPI saw my email or maybe this thread because now nearly all of the REL C courses transfer in as general electives instead of anthropology. Now most REL C courses can't be utilized towards a social studies minor. Curious as to how HIST-481R, REL C 341 (the pioneer history course - previously mentioned), and REL C 342 transfer.
I could very well end up maxing out my ACE credit with CLEPs, Sophia, Straighterline, etc so I figure I might as well plan to acquire more RA credit.
Why not just complete the RA credit at UMPI? They have expanded YourPace immensely the last couple of years and have more course offerings than ever.