Civic Literacy
UWF offers courses that allow students to demonstrate civic literacy competency, while equipping them to participate in the democratic process.
Program Requirements
The study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship supports a rich academic experience, contributes to career readiness, and equips students to participate fully in the democratic process.
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require 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 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three 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.
Table 1. Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students
Attention. The cohort details "Students first entering the SUS or FCS" is referring to entering the University of West Florida (UWF).
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Cohort 1 | Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None/Exempt |
| Cohort 2 | Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3 | Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) – summer A 2024 | Complete both a course and exam |
| Cohort 4 | Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2024 (on or after July 1, 2024) and thereafter | Complete both a course and an exam |
Additional information can be found at uwf.edu/civicliteracy and on the Civic Literacy Implementation and Guidance Document.
If you already earned the requisite score on the AP Government and Politics: United States (3) or AP United States History (4) exam, you have already satisfied both the exam and course requirement.
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
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.
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.
Approved transfer courses include AMH 2020 or POS 2041 only when taken at a Florida State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS) institution. Beginning fall 2018, the State of Florida mandated specific civic literacy competencies for inclusion in these courses; therefore, out-of-state transfer students might have credit for AMH 2020 or POS 2041 as part of UWF's General Education curriculum but do not meet the Civic Literacy requirement.
Please work with your advisor to complete a Request of Evaluation of Transfer Coursework if you believe a course taken at an institution outside of the Florida State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS) meets the course requirement for Civic Literacy.
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.
Please visit the Civic Literacy Requirement page in Confluence for details about meeting this requirement.
Request for Evaluation of Transfer Coursework
Students who completed a course equivalent to AMH 2020 or POS 2041 at another institution may submit a course syllabus for Civic Literacy review. Please work with your advisor to complete a Request of Evaluation of Transfer Coursework (found as an App under MyUWF or on the Application resources page).
A course syllabus from the semester in which the student completed the course must be attached as documentation. The form will route to the appropriate department for review. In order to satisfy the requirement, transfer courses must have included the four Civic Literacy 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; and
- An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.
Frequently Asked Questions
For answers to frequently asked questions, reference the Florida Board of Governors' Active Regulations website, BOG 8.006.
For answers regarding the Civic Literacy Exam, including the specific requirements and information on how to enroll in Canvas, please visit the Civic Literacy Requirement page in Confluence.
Contact
For additional information, please contact your program advisor.