High School Programs FAQ

• Apply for admission to the specific high school program for which you are qualified to apply or the one that best fits your needs: the Standard Program, the Advanced Program, or the Adult High School Diploma Program. Include your official transcript from all previously attended high schools.
• Application processing time is a minimum of three weeks (depending on applicant volume).
  
• Receive your Welcome Packet, which includes an acceptance letter explaining how to proceed in your program as well as a Student Progress Report (SPR) that lists any previously taken course(s) that has (have) been accepted for credit toward your program. 
• Choose the courses you would like to enroll in after comparing your Student Progress Report with your program’s Academic Plan.
• If you would like help choosing your courses, you may reach a High School Programs advisor by calling 801-422-8122.
• Enroll in a minimum of two to five courses (depending on your program requirements), complete your coursework, and pass your exams. You will need to pass and complete at least six courses every six months to complete your program in four years.
• Successfully meet program requirements by completing 24 credit hours in specified subject areas.
• Receive an official transcript and completion letter once you complete the Standard Program or the Advanced Program. If you are in the Adult High School Diploma Program, you will receive your high school diploma after completing all program requirements.

Standard and Advanced Programs
You may benefit from the Standard Program or the
Advanced Program if you:

• Struggle in a traditional high school setting
• Travel frequently
• Are homebound due to illness
• Move often
• Are homeschooled

You should not apply to the high school programs if you:

• Need only a few courses to meet your local high school’s graduation requirements
• Are seeking NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA, etc., eligibility (or may do so in the future)

If you do not meet the criteria above, you may still take our high school courses without applying to one of the high school programs. Please check with your academic advisor to see whether our course credits will transfer to your school before enrolling in any of our courses.

Adult High School Diploma Program
You may benefit from the Adult High School Diploma Program if you:

• Are no longer eligible to complete your high school education in a traditional high school setting
• Are trying to complete your high school studies while working full time and/or raising a family
• Travel frequently
• Are homebound due to illness
• Move often

You should not apply to the Adult High School Diploma Program if you are:

• Younger than 19 years of age
• Not a United States citizen or permanent United States resident
• A Utah resident who has taken and passed the GED test after June 30, 2009

Step 1: Choose Your Program

• Standard Program, Advanced Program or Adult Diploma Program
• Familiarize yourself with program requirements and expectations.
• Choose the program that best fits your needs and circumstances.

Step 2: Create a BYU Net ID and password

This is for individuals who have not yet registered for a BYU Net ID (username) and password

You need a BYU Net ID and password before applying to a program.

• Click "Login" at the top of this page
• Under "I Don’t Have an Account," click "Create an Account"
• Enter personal information and click "Continue"
• Create log-in information by: choosing a BYU Net ID and password, entering contact information, then clicking "Continue." You will need to remember your BYU Net ID and password to register for courses, etc.

Step 3: Download/Print Application
Download the PDF application for the program to which you want to apply. Standard & Advanced, Adult diploma

Step 4: Fill Out Application
Follow the instructions on the application and send in all requested documentation.

• BYU Independent Study high school courses are secular in nature; your religious affiliation will not factor into determining your eligibility to participate in our high school programs.
• You should not apply to any of our programs if you are seeking NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA, etc., eligibility (or may do so in the future).
• Although our courses are accredited and accepted by most colleges and universities, you should always consult with your potential college before enrolling.
• Due to the nature of distance education, we cannot designate your student status as part time or full time, nor can we fill out any non-BYU forms verifying your status, etc. Before applying to a program, you should verify that your lack of part-time or full-time student status will not disqualify you from any benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
• High school credits you have earned from other accredited schools are generally transferable and will be evaluated for possible credit toward your program requirements.
• Each program is designed to be a four-year course of study, but you may complete the program requirements in less time.
• All students are required to enroll in STDEV 051 to become better prepared to succeed in distance learning. It is recommended that students enroll in this course first.
• Completion of a BYU Independent Study high school program fulfills high school requirements as defined by the State of Utah.
• Students can register for courses and the skills assessment test (TABE 041) by calling our Registration Department at 1-877-221-6716.
• Students accepted into the Adult High School Diploma Program should register for the TABE 041 skills assessment test within 30 days of receiving their acceptance letter.
• Adult High School Diploma Program requirements are subject to change as deemed necessary by the Provo (Utah) School District.
• We reserve the right to cancel your enrollment in a program at any time for reasons including (but not limited to) plagiarism, dishonesty, falsifying documents, etc.

The Standard Program

• Recommends that you be at least 14 years old when applying
• Offers a robust traditional high school curriculum
• Satisfies the basic high school requirements for admission to most colleges 
• Requires you to complete a minimum of three courses every six months (a program extension may be granted when extenuating circumstances arise)
• Helps you prepare to take the ACT or SAT
• Requires you to complete a minimum of 3.0 BYU Independent Study credit hours, regardless of the number of credits earned at other schools (most courses are 0.5 credit)
• Qualifies you to receive an official high school transcript and letter of completion upon meeting program requirements

The Advanced Program

• Recommends that you be at least 14 years old when applying
• Is more academically rigorous than the Standard Program and allows you to take concurrent/dual enrollment courses and earn college credit
• Prepares you to enter competitive colleges or universities
• Requires completion of two years of a world language sequence, as well as writing and literature courses, and higher-level math and science courses
• Requires you to complete a minimum of three courses every six months (a program extension may be granted when extenuating circumstances arise)
• Helps you prepare to take the ACT or SAT
• Requires that you complete a minimum of 3.0 BYU Independent Study credit hours, regardless of the number of credits earned at other schools (most courses are 0.5 credit)
• Qualifies you to receive an official high school transcript and a letter of completion upon meeting program requirements

The Adult High School Diploma Program

• Requires you to be at least 19 years old when applying
• Requires that you be a United States citizen or United States permanent resident
• Requires you to complete a minimum of two courses every six months (a program extension may be granted when extenuating circumstances arise)
• Requires that you complete a minimum of 2.0 BYU Independent Study credit hours, regardless of the number of credits earned at other schools
• Requires that you take and pass a basic skills assessment test (TABE: Test of Adult Basic Education). Students accepted into the program should register for the test within 30 days of receiving their acceptance letter.
• Qualifies you to earn a high school diploma from the Provo (Utah) School District
• Utah residents who take and pass the GED test after June 30, 2009, are no longer eligible to apply to the Adult High School Diploma Program. The GED becomes their Utah High School Completion diploma. Current students who choose to take the GED and pass the test will be withdrawn from the program. Students who fail the test may apply to or remain in the Adult Diploma Program. This policy change does not affect those living in other states who either pass or fail the test.

Adult High School Diploma Students’ Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
Before you can receive your diploma, you must pass a basic skills assessment test called the TABE: Test of Adult Basic Education. The TABE measures your ability level in the areas of math, English, and reading. The test may be requested by calling our Registration Department at 1-877-221-6716 and paying a $10 registration fee. The TABE must be taken with a BYU Independent Study-approved proctor and may be retaken as many times as necessary. The cost for each retake is $10.

Transcript

• A transcript is an official document that shows the courses you have taken, the grades earned, and a cumulative grade point average (GPA). A transcript is not a diploma.
• Most colleges require that you submit a transcript, not a diploma, as part of the college admissions process. Although most colleges and universities accept transcripts from our high school programs, you should always consult with your potential college or university before applying to any of our programs.
• To request a transcript of all your coursework, print and fill out a Transcript Request Form found here.

Diploma

• A diploma is an official document that certifies that you have successfully completed a particular course of study.
• The diploma earned after completing the Adult High School Diploma Program verifies that you have satisfied the high school curriculum standards as defined by the State of Utah. It also verifies that you have successfully passed the TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education).

Once you have been accepted into a high school program, it is recommended that you complete your remaining course requirements through us. However, if we do not offer a particular course that you would like to take, such as band, drama, choir, etc., you may request approval to enroll in this course at another institution by contacting High School Programs Academic Administrator, Joseph Roberson, at joseph.roberson@byu.edu.

Because we have an open enrollment policy, you may apply to any high school program at any time during the year.

Both the Standard and Advanced Program applications include a required student and parent biographical information section that should be used by you and your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to communicate any specific goals, concerns, problems, requests, etc. This information will help us determine how to best meet your needs.

The Adult High School Diploma Program application includes only the required student biographical information section.


PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
When submitting your completed application form, you must include the following:

• A $40 nonrefundable application processing fee
• An official transcript (with seal and signature) from
  every accredited school (grades 9-12) that you have
  attended; if high school credit was awarded in eighth grade, please include your eighth-grade transcript(s) with the other transcript(s) you submit. 

Mail the application materials to:

You may fax the application to 801-812-8549. However, we must receive all official transcripts in their original sealed envelope, either through the mail or in person.

Once the High School Programs Department receives all required application materials, a minimum of three weeks (once all required materials have been received) will be required to evaluate your transcript(s). You will be notified of your application status through the mail or a phone call once a decision has been made.

Advanced Program students are encouraged to earn concurrent/dual enrollment (university) credit and/or Advanced Placement (AP) credit by enrolling in some of the courses listed below.

Concurrent/Dual Enrollment (University) Courses
If you would like to register for concurrent/dual (university) enrollment courses, you must:

• Have completed at least 12 high school credits
• Currently have a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Complete a Concurrent Enrollment form for authorization (prior to enrolling in the course)
• Mail or fax your Concurrent Enrollment form to the High School Programs Department.

Note: 1.0 high school credit will be awarded for each 3.0-credit BYU course that is passed; MATH 111 is a 2.0-credit BYU course. It is important to remember that university courses will affect your college GPA.

List of Concurrent/Dual Enrollment (University) Courses
A HTG 100: American Heritage
BIO 100: Principles of Biology
WRTG 150: College Writing and Reading
MATH 110: College Algebra
MATH 111: Trigonometry
PHY S 100: Physical Science Fundamentals
PLSC 110: American Government and Politics

AP Courses
We offer AP Biology and AP Psychology courses. When you have completed the course and are ready to take the AP exam, you will need to:

• Contact the AP Office to find a testing location
  Website:  www.collegeboard.com
  E-mail:  apexams@info.collegeboard.org
  Phone:  1-888-225-5427 (toll free) or 609-771-7300
• Pay for the AP exam (the fee for the exam is not
  included in the cost of the course)

The number of college credits awarded for passing AP exams may vary, depending on the college you choose. For example, if you were to attend Brigham Young University, your AP course scores would count as follows:

AP Biology: If your exam scores are 3, 4, or 5, you earn 6.0 college credits total (three credits that meet the BIO 100 university core requirements plus three elective credits).

AP Psychology: If your exam score is 3, you earn 3.0 General Psychology elective college credits. If your exam scores are 4 or 5, you earn 3.0 college credits that meet the PSYCH 111 university core requirements.

List of AP Courses
AP BIO 59: AP Biology, Part 1
AP BIO 60: AP Biology, Part 2
AP PSY 59: AP Psychology, Part 1
AP PSY 60: AP Psychology, Part 2

We have a friendly, well-trained staff available to answer general BYU Independent Study questions regarding our policies and procedures. Our office and testing hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. mountain time. Holiday hours are available online.

Contact us with High School program-specific questions
E-mail: is_highschoolprograms@byu.edu
Phone: 801-422-8122 (local)
              1-855-381-2621 (toll free)
Address: BYU Independent Study
               Attention: High School Programs
               120 Morris Center (MORC)
               Provo, UT 84602-0300

Instructors
E-mail: indstudy@byu.edu
Please include your instructor’s name in the subject line. You will also find hyperlinks within your courses to use in sending requests to your instructors.

Technical Support
Our technical support team is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. mountain time, to assist with problems with downloads, error messages, audio files, supplementary CDs, etc. They may be contacted by:
E-mail: is_tech@byu.edu
Phone: 801-422-8524 (local)
             1-877-897-8085 (toll free)

Accommodations
We are committed to providing a learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates persons with disabilities. Before you apply to any of the high school programs, please inform us of any special needs that you may have.

Our team of experienced tutors is available to help you with your course for no additional cost. If you would like to schedule a phone tutoring session or a meeting in person. Free Tutors.

Allowing Courses to Expire
If you allow a course to expire, an "F" will appear on your transcript and will be calculated into your GPA. The word "Expired" will also be noted on the transcript.

Withdrawing from a program or course
You can withdraw from our program by contacting us at 1-855-381-2621 (toll free) or 801-422-8122 (local). You may also send us an e-mail at is_highschoolprograms@byu.edu.

If you need to withdraw from a course, you may do so at any time as long as you have not requested the final exam or completed the course.

If you request a withdrawal within 60 days of registering, you will receive a refund minus a $20 processing fee for each high school course. The course will not appear on your transcript.

If you withdraw from a course after the first 60 days, no refund will be granted. The course will remain on your transcript and the word "Withdrawn" will be noted on the transcript. A "Withdrawn" course does not affect your GPA.

If you would like to request a transcript of all your coursework, you may print and fill out a Transcript Request form.

Effective September 1, 2012, high school program students will be eligible to receive one free scholarship course for every five courses they complete with a B or higher grade through BYU Independent Study.

A list of eligible courses is available on our website.

Some of the scholarship courses require textbooks and other materials that students will need to purchase separately. Such requirements are found in the course descriptions. They will also be responsible for purchasing any optional printed student guides.

Students who qualify for scholarship courses will pay approximately $660 per half year (six courses).