Civic Literacy

If you initially entered a Florida state university as an undergraduate in the 2018-2019 academic year or later, you must successfully complete the Civic Literacy Requirement before you graduate.  

Understanding the Civic Literacy Requirement 

Satisfying the Civic Literacy Requirement

The academic year you initially entered a Florida state university will determine how will complete the requirement.

  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.

    1. Successfully passing either POS 2041 (American National Government) or AMH 2020 (U.S. History:1877-Present). 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.


      4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.


    2. Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments.

      Assessment Standard Score
      U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics
      (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions      		 60
      Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States 3
      Advanced Placement United States History 4
      CLEP American Government 50

  1. Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university during the 2021-22 Academic Year through the 2023-24 Academic Year must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing 2(a) and 2(b) prior to graduation:

    1. Successfully passing either POS 2041 (American National Government) or AMH 2020 (U.S. History:1877-Present). 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.


      4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.


    2. Achieving the standard score of 60 on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions or the Florida Civic Literacy Examination.


    3. Students may meet both of the competency requirements in 2(a) and 2(b)through accelerated mechanisms as specified below.

      1. Students may meet the course requirement in 2(a) by successfully passing dual enrollment versions of POS 2041 (American National Government) or AMH 2020 (U.S. History:1877-Present), or through achieving the standard score on the Cambridge AICE History, CLEP History of the United States II, or the I.B. History exams.


      2. Students may meet both the course requirement in 2(a) and the exam requirement in 2(b) by achieving a passing score on the Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States, Advanced Placement United States History, or CLEP American Government.

        Accelerated Mechanism Standard
        Score        		 Requirement
        Met
        Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States 3 Course &
        Assessment
        Advanced Placement United States History 4 Course &
        Assessment
        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 POS 2041 or AMH 2020 Passing Grade Course
        I.B. History: History of America 5-7 Course

  1. Undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a state university during the 2024-25 Academic Year and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing 3(a) and 3(b) prior to graduation:

    1. Successfully passing either POS 2041 (American National Government), AMH 2010 (U.S. History:1492-1877), or AMH 2020 (U.S. History:1877-Present). AMH 2010 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.


      4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.


    2. Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

      Assessment Standard
      Score
      Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States 3
      Advanced Placement United States History 4
      CLEP: American Government 50
      CLEP: History of the United States I 50
      Florida Civic Literacy Examination 60%

Frequently Asked Questions 

The courses and assessments you must complete are determined by the academic year you initially entered a Florida public institution. Read the Civic Literacy Requirement policy to learn more about the courses and assessments you must complete.

Your Florida College System or State University System transcript will include information about the civic literacy requirement, which will be reflected on your degree audit.

For students transferring from a Florida public institution, their cohort year is determined by when they first enrolled at a Florida public institution (not the date of their enrollment at UCF). However, this stipulation does not apply to high school students who took dual enrollment courses. Their cohort year begins when they enter a Florida institution after completing high school. For students transferring from a non-SUS, non-FCS Florida institution or from outside Florida, their cohort year is the year they arrive at UCF.

Yes. Fulfilling the requirement depends on when you initially entered UCF. Read the Civic Literacy Policy to determine how to complete the requirement.

There is a zero-credit option and an opportunity to earn credit through the College-Level Examination Program. Visit the University Testing Center website for more information.

You will have access to the zero-credit Civic Literacy: US History and Politics exam for 12 consecutive months following your registration. You can review the study guide materials and take the exam until you have passed with a score of 60 or higher. Your fulfillment of the graduation requirement will be noted on your UCF transcript and degree audit. Visit UCF’s Testing Center webpage for more information.

You will be enrolled in the Civic Literacy: US History and Politics exam course for an academic year. Once you receive a passing grade, you will be removed from the course.

The zero-credit exam option is free. Please visit the University Testing Center website to learn more about the cost of the approved CLEP exam.

UCF Libraries has provided a helpful guide and study resource for the Civic Literacy requirements. You can access this online.