Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. 

The 2021 and 2024 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated 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.

Beginning with the 2021-22 Academic Year, students who earned a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination while in high school are exempt from the postsecondary civic literacy assessment requirement.

Any transfer student who enters a State University System institution and has not met the civic literacy competency requirement must meet the requirement based on the date the student initially transfers to the State University System institution.  A student who has previously completed the civic literacy competency requirement at a Florida College System institution or State University System institution is considered to have met the civic literacy competency requirement. 

Additional information can be found at uwf.edu/civicliteracy and on the Civic Literacy Implementation and Guidance Document and SUS BOG Regulation 8.006. 

Table 1. Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. You should work with your academic advisor to determine which option is best for your degree requirements/degree plan. Remember that students entering for the first time in Summer 2021 or after must complete both a course AND exam. 

Cohort

2 Students Must Complete a Course OR Exam

(a) To satisfy Course Competency: Successfully passing pass either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877 (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below). AMHX010 satisfies the course requirement if completed after the start of fall 2024. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

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

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below):

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - 60%
2. Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE) - 60%

Cohort 3 Students Must Complete BOTH a Course AND an Exam

(a) To satisfy Course Competency: Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government , AMHX010, Introductory Survey to 1877, or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877 (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below). AMHX010 satisfies the course requirement if completed after the start of fall 2024.  Credits earned for such courses via articulated acceleration mechanisms will count toward the civic literacy course requirement. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

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

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below):

Table 2: Methods for Meeting Exam Competency

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - 60%
2. Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE) - 60%

Assessment or Accelerated Mechanism

Assessment 

	Standard Score

Meets Exam Competency

Requirement Met
Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE

)
(available for in person testing at UWF starting Summer 2022. The remote option will become available after Spring 2023

)	48/80 or 60%

X

Meets Exam Competency

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions (This

online

exam option

is available only for fully online and Emerald Coast students starting Fall 2022 and

will no longer be offered at UWF after Spring

2023

2024)

60/100 or 60%

X

Meets Exam Competency
Advanced Placement Government and Politics United States	3

X

Meets Both Course and Exam Competencies
Advanced Placement United States History	4

	Meets Both Course and Exam Competencies
Cambridge AICE History, US History, c.1840-1990 (A-level)	A-E	Meets Course Competency

X

CLEP American

Government

Government

50

X

Meets Both Course and Exam Competencies

CLEP:  History of the United States I

(Cohort 4 students only)