Civic Literacy Requirement
The State of Florida requires that all students graduating from Florida Atlantic University and other institutions in the State University System (SUS), as well as from any Florida College System (FCS) institution, fulfill a Civic Literacy Competency requirement. Beginning in Fall 2018, students entering a Florida public institution as a degree-seeking student for the first time needed to demonstrate civic literacy through either taking a certain course or passing an exam. The 2021 Florida Legislature amended the statute and now requires students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. Thus, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculated at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As shown in Table 1, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
Table 1: Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohorts of Students
|
Students Included in Cohort |
Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
|
|
Cohort 1 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to Fall 2018 |
None |
|
Cohort 2 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS in Fall 2018 - Summers (1 & 2) 2021 |
Complete a course or exam |
|
Cohort 3 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS in Summer 3 2021 and thereafter |
Complete both a course and exam* |
*There are two exceptions for Cohort 3 students only. High school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school, which will be in place beginning Fall 2021, are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement. They are still required, however, to take the course. Also, certain accelerated mechanisms meet the course requirement (see Table 2).
Table 2: Current Options for Cohorts 2 & 3
|
Options |
Score |
Meets Course Competency |
Meets Exam Competency |
|
Courses |
|||
|
POS 2041 if taken after Fall 2018 (including dual enrollment if taken after fall 2018) |
Passing Grade |
X |
|
|
AMH 2020 if taken after Fall 2018 (including dual enrollment if taken after fall 2018) |
Passing Grade |
X |
|
|
Accelerated Mechanisms |
|||
|
Advance Placement Government and Politics: United States Exam |
3 |
X |
X |
|
Advance Placement United States History Exam |
4 |
X |
X |
|
Cambridge AICE History, US History, c. 1840-1990 (A-Level) |
A - E |
X |
|
|
CLEP American Government Exam |
50 |
X |
X |
|
IB History: History of America |
5 - 7 |
X |
|
|
Additional Assessments |
|||
|
SUS Civic Literacy Test - Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions * |
60 out of 100 |
|
X |
|
Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) - available late 2021 ** |
48 out of 80 |
|
X |
* FREE workshops to prepare for the SUS Civic Literacy Test - Civics are offered throughout the year through the Center for Learning And Student Success (CLASS). This 3-part workshop series covers the founding of the U.S. and the U.S. Constitution and Amendments, structure of U.S. government, and landmark Supreme Court Cases. For more information on these FREE workshops and for specific dates/times, visit https://www.fau.edu/class/civicliteracy.php.
** Additional information and updates will be provided when the FCLE becomes available.
The SUS Civic Literacy Test - Civics is a proctored exam. You must take the exam in one of two ways:
Remotely, using Honorlock. You must have your Owl Card or other official ID (e.g.: driver’s license or state ID card) in hand and have a webcam in place on your computer. There is a $12.75 charge for this service. Click on the link below to enroll in the Canvas course that will take you to Honorlock.
In person, at the FAU Testing and Certification Center.