Civics Literacy
Be Informed and Aware
Your civics literacy journey.
Why is it important? College is a time of learning, growing, and discovery, and gaining a better understanding of civics encourages you to do just that. Through this civics literacy requirement, you’ll increase your understanding of important contemporary political issues, identify opportunities to grow your engagement in American politics, and expand your awareness of and options for civic participation.
Pathways
Getting to graduation.
To satisfy the graduation requirement, you must complete an educational activity as part of your chosen civics literacy pathway—of which there are three—and pass the Purdue civics knowledge test. The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being pursued. The civics event and civics literacy recordings pathways may be combined (e.g., two events and two recordings, for a total of four).
Pathways to Civics Literacy
Who needs to complete this requirement?
All undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree who entered PFW in Fall 2022 or later must complete:
1. The Civics Literacy Knowledge Test, and
2. One of two pathway options listed below.
pathway 1
Civics Events & Recordings (Mix & Match)
Choose a flexible approach by attending or viewing a combination of four approved civics-related events or recordings. These can be any mix that adds up to four — for example, attend one in-person event and watch three online recordings.
- Events are listed on our Civics Literacy calendar.
- Recordings are available in the Civics Literacy Brightspace module.
- Once you’ve completed four, take and pass the required Civics Literacy Knowledge Test.
pathway 2
Take an Approved Course
Prefer the classroom experience? Complete one of the approved courses with a grade of C– or better, then pass the Civics Literacy Knowledge Test.
Fast Facts
What you need to know about this graduation requirement.
Starting in Fall 2022, all bachelor’s degree-seeking students must fulfill the Civics Literacy requirement.
The civics literacy program is a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. Once the activities are completed, a notation of civics literacy proficiency will be placed on your transcript.
Civics literacy proficiency activities are accessed via Brightspace. Students will automatically see the Civics module in their Brightspace home page as well as a notation in their myBlueprint audits.
Too obtain the civics literacy proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen civics literacy pathway and pass the Purdue civics knowledge test. The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being pursued.
Civics Literacy
Approved Courses
Completion of one of the following approved courses, by enrollment or AP credit, will fulfill your Civics Literacy Proficiency course pathway:
Download the complete approved courses list [PDF].
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
You are required to earn a passing grade (C- or better) in one of the approved courses.
Events and Activities
Submit your civics event.
The campus community is encouraged to submit events and activities that have a focus on civics. Student organizations, colleges, departments, and other groups looking to submit their events may do so through the following button. To be listed as a civics literacy proficiency event, the event must be designed to address one or more of the following:
- Increase understanding of important contemporary political issues.
- Grow student engagement in American politics.
- Expand awareness of processes and options for civic participation.
- Increase civics knowledge. All requests will be reviewed by the civics literacy subcommittee.
You will be notified as soon as a decision is made regarding whether the event can count towards the civics literacy requirement. A minimum of one month's notice is needed to ensure the subcommittee has enough time to review the event. Please submit the request as far in advance as you can.
Contact US
Have questions?
Contact us at [email protected].
Kimberly O’Connor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning
Michele Shawver, Civics Literacy Program Assistant
[email protected]
260-481-0535
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Effective for the Fall 2022 catalog term, the Purdue University Board of Trustees has implemented a Civics Literacy graduation requirement for all incoming Purdue Fort Wayne freshman and undergraduate transfer students.
Students will complete the requirement by passing a test of civic literacy and one of three paths:
- Attending four approved civics-related events.
- Completing four civics literacy recordings on the Civics Literacy Brightspace module.
- Completing one of these approved courses.
The Civics Literacy Graduation requirement applies to all Purdue Fort Wayne students, including transfer students, who enter Purdue on or after the fall 2022 catalog term. Students enrolled prior to the fall 2022 catalog term do not have to complete the requirement.
The Civics Literacy program was created with the goal of adding to the educational experience of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.
The desired learning outcomes include:
- Increasing student understanding of important contemporary political issues.
- Identifying opportunities to grow one’s engagement in American politics.
- Raising student awareness of and options for civic participation.
The intent is for all incoming undergraduate students, including transfer students, from catalog term 2022 forward to complete this requirement at some point during their time at Purdue. Therefore, it will be required to graduate.
No exceptions have been identified at this time.
Once the required test and one of the three options have been completed, a designation of “Civics Literacy Proficiency” will be placed on a student’s transcript in the semester in which activities were completed. If you believe you completed the requirements and, at the end of the semester, this notation does not occur, please email [email protected].
Students can monitor their completion of the graduation requirement in myBlueprint.
One of the options for satisfaction (plus the Civics Literacy test) is the completion of a course on an approved list. These courses may be completed at PFW. Additionally, the AP credit earned for these courses will count toward completion. Courses transferred in as equivalent to a PFW course will also count toward completion. Questions about transfer credit may be directed to [email protected].
Students must still pass the exam.
A grade of “C-“ or higher is required.
Yes, students may retake the test as many times as needed to achieve successful completion.
Please contact: [email protected]
Submit your event for review here.
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