Academic Catalog

Consistent with Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006,

1. Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university in the 2018-19 academic year through the 2020-21 academic year must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:
   
   

   Mechanism	Standard Score or Minimum Grade
   Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States	3
   Advanced Placement United States History	4
   AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877*	C
   CLEP American Government	50
   Dual Enrollment versions of AMHX020 or POSX041*	C
   Official Transcript from a State University System or Florida College System institution with notation of Civic Literacy met	N/A
   POS X041 American Government*	C
   U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test - Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - Civic Literacy Exam	60

*Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

• Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
• An 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.
• An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

2. Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university during the 2021-22 academic year and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing a course and an assessment requirement through the following options prior to graduation:
   
   

   Mechanism	Standard Score or Minimum Grade	Requirement Met
   Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States	3	Course & Assessment
   Advanced Placement United States History	4	Course & Assessment
   AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877**	C	Course
   Cambridge AICE History, U.S. History, c.1840-1990 (A-Level)	A-E	Course
   CLEP American Government	50	Course & Assessment
   CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to Present	50	Course
   Dual Enrollment versions of POSX041 or AMHX020**	C	Course
   Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FLCE) taken in Fall 2021 and thereafter in a high school United States Government course or at a state college or university in Florida	60	Assessment
   I.B. History: History of America	5-7	Course
   POSX041 American Government**	C	Course
   Official Transcript from a State University System or Florida  College System institution with notation of Civic Literacy met	N/A	Course & Assessment
   U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test - Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - Civic Literacy Exam	60	Assessment

**Each of the courses must include the following competencies and opportunities to engage synchronously in political discussions and civil debates with multiple points of view and to master the ability to synthesize information that informs civic decision-making.

• Understanding the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
• An 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.
• An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement?

The Civic Literacy requirement applies to undergraduate degree-seeking students who initially entered a public Florida institution (Florida College System (FCS) or State University System (SUS) institution) for the first time in Fall 2018 or later. SUS students must complete this requirement prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree.

Who is exempt from the Civic Literacy requirement?

• Students who initially entered an FCS or SUS institution prior to fall 2018.        
• Students who completed an AA degree through Dual Enrollment at an FCS or SUS institution prior to Fall 2018.

What are the options to meet the Civic Literacy requirement at FGCU?

Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university in the 2018-19 academic year through the 2020-21 academic year, must complete one of the following:

• Pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test with supplemental questions.  At FGCU, this test is called the Civic Literacy Exam.
• Pass the Florida Civic Literacy Examination.
• Earn AP credit for POS 2041.
• Earn AP credit for AMH 2020.                           
• Earn CLEP credit for POS 2041. 
• Earn credit for AMH 2020 in Fall 2018 or later.
• Earn credit for POS 2041 in Fall 2018 or later.

Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university during the 2021-22 academic year and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing both a civic literacy course as identified in the BOG regulation 8.006 and either the Civic Literacy Exam or the Florida Civic Literacy Examination.

Can an out-of-state or private college/university transfer course count toward the Civic Literacy course requirement?

Only if the Director of General Education and the appropriate department chairperson determine that the course is equivalent in content to AMH 2020/POS 2041 and contains the mandated Civic Literacy competencies.

Will students who previously took the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Civics Test to become U.S. citizens be considered to have satisfied the Civic Literacy requirement?

No. Students who took the USCIS Civics Test to become U.S. citizens will not have met the Civic Literacy requirement.  The requirements of the USCIS test differ from those of the Civic Literacy Exam.

Are dual enrolled students who did not complete an AA degree but took dual enrolled courses prior to Fall 2018 exempt from the Civic Literacy requirement?

No. Courses taken prior to Fall 2018 did not include the competencies required by statute and regulation.

Are students who completed an AA degree at an FCS or SUS institution considered as having satisfied the Civic Literacy requirement?

Only if Civic Literacy was part of the AA requirements.

How will the Civic Literacy requirement display in the FGCU academic transcript?

FGCU academic transcripts will display the comment “Civic Literacy Requirement Decision” with an indicator of Y, N, or Z based on the student’s official academic record at the time of transcript processing.  The following represents the FGCU transcript legend for Civic Literacy requirement.

• Z         Exempt           
• Y         Fulfilled          
• N         Not Fulfilled

Additional Resources

• Florida Statute 1007.25(5)(a)(b)
• BOG Regulation 8.006
• FGCU Testing Center
• FGCU Academic Advising