Civic Literacy
All undergraduate degree-seeking students who enroll in a Florida public institution in Summer B 2018 and thereafter must meet the state’s civic literacy requirement before graduation. The specific requirements differ depending on when you entered either a State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS) institution. Please talk to your academic advisor about what you need to do to fulfill this requirement.
Requirements Based on When Student Entered SUS or FCS
Prior to Summer B 2018
• No Civic Literacy requirement
Summer B 2018 through Summer A 2021
• Complete course OR exam
Summer B 2021 and thereafter
• Complete BOTH a course AND exam
Meeting the 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 2018 and Summer A 2021 only need to complete either the course or the exam as noted above.
OPTIONS
|
SCORE/GRADE
|
MEETS COURSE
REQUIREMENT
|
MEETS EXAM
REQUIREMENT
|
Courses
taken in 2018 or later*
|
|
|
|
POS
2041 Introduction to American Government (or equivalent)
|
C
or better
|
X
|
|
AHM
2020 US History since 1877 (or equivalent)
|
C
or better
|
X
|
|
Accelerated Mechanisms
|
|
|
|
Advanced
Placement Government and Politics: United States Exam
|
3
|
X
|
X
|
Advanced
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
|
|
Dual
Enrollment versions of POSX041 or AMHX020 taken in 2018 or later
|
C
or better
|
X
|
|
Additional Assessments***
|
|
|
|
U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S.
history and government) with supplemental questions
|
50
|
|
X
|
The Florida
Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)
|
60
|
|
X
|
*
Speak with your academic advisor
about getting coursework completed before 2018 reviewed to satisfy the Civic
Literacy requirement. You must have the course syllabus available for review.
**The
2021 Legislature amended section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, allowing all
accelerated mechanism to count towards meeting civic literacy course
requirements. Since these exams do not meet the exam competencies, they do not
satisfy the exam competency requirement.
***
A new assessment developed by the Department of Education is
in the process of being officially adopted for use by the State University
System. Note that you may not use the U.S. Citizenship test as part of the
process of becoming a U.S. Citizen.
The Florida Civic Literacy Test
The Florida 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 Florida 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 Florida Civic Literacy Test, you must:
Plan Carefully. You may only take the Florida 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
Still have questions about the Civic Literacy requirement? Get answers here or consult your academic advisor.