In response, the Department of Humanities, Classics and Comparative Literature added a junior-year course on theory and methods to make sure every student learned the necessary research techniques and documentation skills. It also added exit interviews and portfolio reviews.

"Those are an opportunity to see the sum of their work, to allow them to reflect on their experience and to get feedback," Soper said.

They aren't a new hurdle to graduation. The learning-outcomes movement has led to basic requirement tests for Utah high school students, who must pass them before they earn their diploma. Such tests were not requested by the NWCCU and are not a part of BYU's new process.

Just how will BYU measure student mastery?

The Web site suggested degree programs could use assignments in core courses, capstone courses, national exams, juried performances, exhibits or projects, publications or presentations, GRE scores, portfolios and scores on licensure, certification or subject-area tests.

Many professors who balked at what some considered a fad have now embraced the changes, Soper said.

"They've seen this has real merits. It's getting us to tighten up our practices and helping us ask, what are my objectives in teaching this course? Of course, for us in humanities, everything is subjective and abstract, so there's still that trick."

Part of the national movement is a growing belief that students are consumers to whom colleges and universities must answer.

BYU academic vice president John Tanner spearheaded the review of the university's degrees. He unearthed a 40-year-old statement about education at BYU by a former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that appeared to foretell the age of learning outcomes.

"We must be certain that the lessons are not only taught, but are also absorbed and learned," President Spencer W. Kimball said.

But Tanner also stopped short of fully embracing the commercial model of higher education.

"Education is not just a commodity," he told faculty Tuesday, "nor are our students merely consumers."

"Our students," he added, "deserve quality teaching in every class."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com