Civic Literacy Requirement

Satisfying Your Civic Literacy Requirement

The UNF Civic Literacy Test

 The UNF Civic Literacy Test is a 100-question, multiple-choice exam based upon the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test. It covers general questions about the institutions and functions of the U.S. government, principles of democratic governance, founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and landmark Supreme Court decisions and their impacts.

The UNF Civic Literacy Test is available online through Canvas. In-person examinations are offered several times each academic year. Students should reserve their seats for in-person examinations via the Canvas calendar.

If you plan to satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement by taking the UNF Civic Literacy Test you must:

• Self-enroll in the Civic Literacy course page on Canvas.

• Prepare for the test by reading and studying the recommended resources.

• Either: Reserve your seat for an in-person administration of the test,or take the online test.

Plan Carefully. You may only take the UNF Civic Literacy Test three times. If you do not achieve a passing score on any of the three attempts, you must register for and complete one of the approved courses. This is a pass/fail requirement. Do not take the exam again after achieving a passing score.

Waiting too late to complete your Civic Literacy requirement may delay your graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Civic Literacy requirement?

Florida law requires that students must demonstrate knowledge of key learning outcomes in civic literacy before graduating. These include:

• Understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;

• Understanding of the U.S. Constitution;

• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-governance; and

• Understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society.

Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006 specifies how students in the State University System may satisfy the requirement.

Who must complete the Civic Literacy requirement?

• Any student who initially entered a Florida State University System school (such as UNF), or a Florida College System school (such as FSCJ, SJRSC, etc.) Fall 2018 or thereafter must satisfy the requirement. Because UNF holds students entering in Summer B to the same catalog requirements as students admitted in fall, students who initially entered UNF during summer B 2018 are subject to this requirement.

If I took a US History or American Government course at another institution, can that count?

• Please speak with your Academic Advisor to find out about having courses from private or out-of-state institutions reviewed to satisfy the requirement. You must have the course syllabus available to complete the review. 

• Courses from Florida SUS or FCS institutions that are not AMH X020 or POS X041 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

When should I take the Civic Literacy Test?

• You should fulfill your Civic Literacy requirement as early in your college career as possible. Failure to complete your Civic Literacy requirement will delay your graduation. The online test is available throughout the regular fall, spring, and summer academic terms. In-person tests (also on computer) are scheduled several times each academic year and require advance registration.

Can I take the exam online?

• Yes. The online exam is available through Canvas. You must enroll in the Civic Literacy Canvas page and complete the required UNF Academic Integrity Policy acknowledgment to access the test.

Is there a fee for the online test?

• No. The test is free to all UNF students.

Is there a paper option? Must I take the test on computer?

• The UNF Civic Literacy Test is available only on computer unless a student receives alternate test accommodations through the Student Accessibility Center.

What if I do not have a computer or tablet? Can I take the test at UNF?

• You may complete the requirement by taking an approved course or by taking the Florida Civic Literacy Test in person on a UNF computer. 

• To take the in-person exam, you must reserve your seat on an announced test day through the Canvas calendar. You must bring a photo ID to enter the exam room. Cell phones, personal computers, headphones, and other electronics are prohibited. Late arrivals will not be admitted for the in-person test.

Can I take the UNF Civic Literacy Test more than once?

• You may take the test up to three times. If you do not receive a passing score on any test attempt, you must take one of the approved courses.

• Do not take the test again after receiving a passing score.

Are there study materials available for the UNF Civic Literacy Test?

• Yes. The Civic Literacy page on Canvas has information about the Civic Literacy Test, a study plan, study materials, practice tests, and more. Students planning to take the Civic Literacy Test should self-enroll in the Canvas page using their UNF email and n#. You may need to re-enroll each semester if you registered for the Canvas page but did not complete the requirement during the previous term.

Who should I talk to if I have questions about exam accommodations?

• Students with disabilities who seek reasonable accommodations on the UNF Civic Literacy Test or in their other coursework must first register with the UNF Student Accessibility Center (SAC) located in Tom and Betty Petway Hall (Building 57), Room 1500. SAC staff members work with students to obtain required documentation of disability and to identify appropriate accommodations as required by applicable disability laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• After receiving all necessary documentation, the SAC staff determines whether a student qualifies for services with the SAC and if so, the accommodations the student requires will be provided. SAC staff then prepares a letter for the student to provide faculty advising them of approved accommodations. For further information, contact the SAC by phone at (904) 620-2769 or visit the SAC website.

What if I cannot access the Canvas page?

• You self-enroll in the Canvas page and may need to re-enroll each semester if you were previously registered but did not complete the requirement during the previous term.

• If you cannot enroll in the course, or you encounter problems accessing the Canvas page content, please contact the Civic Literacy faculty. Include your name and N# in the request.

Who should I talk to if I have further questions about the Civic Literacy requirement?

• If you have questions about whether you need to complete this requirement, or about the best way to complete it given your course schedule and academic goals, talk to your Academic Advisor.

Meeting Your Civic Literacy Requirement

This table provides details on which options meet the course and/or test requirements. Please note that students who entered a Florida public institution between Summer B 2021 and Summer A 2024 need to complete both the course and the test as noted above.

The UNF Civic Literacy Test

 The UNF Civic Literacy Test is a 100-question, multiple-choice exam based upon the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test. It covers general questions about the institutions and functions of the U.S. government, principles of democratic governance, founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and landmark Supreme Court decisions and their impacts.

The UNF Civic Literacy Test is available online through Canvas. In-person examinations are offered several times each academic year. Students should reserve their seats for in-person examinations via the Canvas calendar.

If you plan to satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement by taking the UNF Civic Literacy Test you must:

• Self-enroll in the Civic Literacy course page on Canvas.

• Prepare for the test by reading and studying the recommended resources.

• Either: Reserve your seat for an in-person administration of the test,or take the online test.

Plan Carefully. You may only take the UNF Civic Literacy Test three times. If you do not achieve a passing score on any of the three attempts, you must register for and complete one of the approved courses. This is a pass/fail requirement. Do not take the exam again after achieving a passing score.

Waiting too late to complete your Civic Literacy requirement may delay your graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Civic Literacy requirement?

Florida law requires that students must demonstrate knowledge of key learning outcomes in civic literacy before graduating. These include:

• Understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;

• Understanding of the U.S. Constitution;

• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-governance; and

• Understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society.

Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006 specifies how students in the State University System may satisfy the requirement.

Who must complete the Civic Literacy requirement?

• Any student who initially entered a Florida State University System school (such as UNF), or a Florida College System school (such as FSCJ, SJRSC, etc.) Fall 2018 or thereafter must satisfy the requirement. Because UNF holds students entering in Summer B to the same catalog requirements as students admitted in fall, students who initially entered UNF during summer B 2018 are subject to this requirement.

If I took a US History or American Government course at another institution, can that count?

• Please speak with your Academic Advisor to find out about having courses from private or out-of-state institutions reviewed to satisfy the requirement. You must have the course syllabus available to complete the review. 

• Courses from Florida SUS or FCS institutions that are not AMH X020 or POS X041 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

When should I take the Civic Literacy Test?

• You should fulfill your Civic Literacy requirement as early in your college career as possible. Failure to complete your Civic Literacy requirement will delay your graduation. The online test is available throughout the regular fall, spring, and summer academic terms. In-person tests (also on computer) are scheduled several times each academic year and require advance registration.

Can I take the exam online?

• Yes. The online exam is available through Canvas. You must enroll in the Civic Literacy Canvas page and complete the required UNF Academic Integrity Policy acknowledgment to access the test.

Is there a fee for the online test?

• No. The test is free to all UNF students.

Is there a paper option? Must I take the test on computer?

• The UNF Civic Literacy Test is available only on computer unless a student receives alternate test accommodations through the Student Accessibility Center.

What if I do not have a computer or tablet? Can I take the test at UNF?

• You may complete the requirement by taking an approved course or by taking the Florida Civic Literacy Test in person on a UNF computer. 

• To take the in-person exam, you must reserve your seat on an announced test day through the Canvas calendar. You must bring a photo ID to enter the exam room. Cell phones, personal computers, headphones, and other electronics are prohibited. Late arrivals will not be admitted for the in-person test.

Can I take the UNF Civic Literacy Test more than once?

• You may take the test up to three times. If you do not receive a passing score on any test attempt, you must take one of the approved courses.

• Do not take the test again after receiving a passing score.

Are there study materials available for the UNF Civic Literacy Test?

• Yes. The Civic Literacy page on Canvas has information about the Civic Literacy Test, a study plan, study materials, practice tests, and more. Students planning to take the Civic Literacy Test should self-enroll in the Canvas page using their UNF email and n#. You may need to re-enroll each semester if you registered for the Canvas page but did not complete the requirement during the previous term.

Who should I talk to if I have questions about exam accommodations?

• Students with disabilities who seek reasonable accommodations on the UNF Civic Literacy Test or in their other coursework must first register with the UNF Student Accessibility Center (SAC) located in Tom and Betty Petway Hall (Building 57), Room 1500. SAC staff members work with students to obtain required documentation of disability and to identify appropriate accommodations as required by applicable disability laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• After receiving all necessary documentation, the SAC staff determines whether a student qualifies for services with the SAC and if so, the accommodations the student requires will be provided. SAC staff then prepares a letter for the student to provide faculty advising them of approved accommodations. For further information, contact the SAC by phone at (904) 620-2769 or visit the SAC website.

What if I cannot access the Canvas page?

• You self-enroll in the Canvas page and may need to re-enroll each semester if you were previously registered but did not complete the requirement during the previous term.

• If you cannot enroll in the course, or you encounter problems accessing the Canvas page content, please contact the Civic Literacy faculty. Include your name and N# in the request.

Who should I talk to if I have further questions about the Civic Literacy requirement?

• If you have questions about whether you need to complete this requirement, or about the best way to complete it given your course schedule and academic goals, talk to your Academic Advisor.

Meeting Your Civic Literacy Requirement

This table provides details on which options meet the course and/or exam requirements. Please note that students who entered a Florida public institution between Summer B 2024 and thereafter need to complete both the course and the exam as noted above.

The Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)

• Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government
• Understanding of the United States Constitution and its application
• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government
• Understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation, and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society

How to Sign Up for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)

UNF students are currently able take the FCLE in-person at all Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) testing centers.

To sign up for the FCLE at FSCJ visit https://www.fscj.edu/assessment-and-certification and pick the campus you wish to test at on the “Select a campus” drop down.

Once you’ve chosen your campus, you will be directed to that testing center’s registration page.

1. Choose a Group: select “Florida Civic Literacy Exam”

2. Choose an exam: select “UNF Florida Civic Literacy Exam”

3. Read the exam description

4. Pick the date that works best for you

5. Pick the time that works best that date

6. Fill out the information about yourself and read and acknowledge the important information.

7. Read the exam guidelines and agree to them

8. Add to cart at the bottom of the page

9. Click “Complete Registration” to sign up

 Florida law requires that students must demonstrate knowledge of key learning outcomes in civic literacy before graduating. These include:

• Understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;

• Understanding of the U.S. Constitution;

• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-governance; and

• Understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society.

Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006 specifies how students in the State University System may satisfy the requirement.

Please speak with your Academic Advisor to find out about having courses from private or out-of-state institutions reviewed to satisfy the requirement. You must have the course syllabus available to complete the review. 

Courses from Florida SUS or FCS institutions that are not AMH X020 or POS X041 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

You should fulfill your Civic Literacy requirement as early in your college career as possible. Failure to complete your Civic Literacy requirement will delay your graduation. 

No. Both tests are free to all UNF students.

**The UNF Civic Literacy Test is only available to students who began their enrollment between Summer B 2018 through Summer A 2024. Students who began their enrollment in Summer B 2024 or later must take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE).**