Degree Requirements
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Florida Civic Literacy Requirement
Degree Requirements
In order to be eligible for graduation, students must meet the program requirements listed below.
Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree: Programs of instruction consisting of college-level courses transferable to the State University System.
The requirements for the A.A. degree are:
- Earning at least a 2.0 program of study GPA.
- Completion of at least 60 semester hours of credit in a prescribed course of study,
including:
- Completion of the minimum 36 general education credit hours, as specified in the College Catalog.
- Completion of the minimum requirements for the college-level communication and computation skills adopted by the State Board of Education.
- Demonstration of competency in Communication, Critical Thinking, Scientific Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Information Literacy.
- Demonstration of competency in a foreign language.
- Completion of the State of Florida Civic Literacy requirement.
- Completion of a minimum of 25% of the semester hours for the degree at Santa Fe College (15 credit hours).
- Meeting the eligibility requirements to participate in auto-graduation or complete an application for graduation through eSantaFe.
Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree: Programs of instruction consisting of college-level courses to prepare for entry into employment and include 15-18 hours of general education courses transferable to the State University System.
The requirements for the A.S. degree are:
- Earning at least a 2.0 program of study GPA.
- Completion of an approved program of at least 60 semester hours in accordance with
Florida standard credit hour length that must include a basic core of 15 semester
hours of general education courses that transfer to the State University System.
- The general education core must include at least one course from each of the following areas: Communications, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Math.
- Completion of the State of Florida Civic Literacy requirement.
- Completion of a minimum of 25% of the semester hours for the degree at Santa Fe College (15 credit hours).
- Meeting the eligibility requirements to participate in auto-graduation or complete an application for graduation through eSantaFe.
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree: Programs of instruction consisting of college-level courses to prepare for entry into employment.
The requirements for the A.A.S. degree are:
- Earning at least a 2.0 program of study GPA.
- Completion of an approved program of study of at least 60 semester hours in accordance
with Florida standard credit hour length that must include a basic core of 15 semester
hours of general education courses.
- The general education core must include at least one course from each of the following areas: Communications, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Math.
- Completion of the State of Florida Civic Literacy requirement.
- Completion of a minimum of 25% of the semester hours for the degree at Santa Fe College (15 credit hours).
- Meeting the eligibility requirements to participate in auto-graduation or complete an application for graduation through eSantaFe.
Baccalaureate Degrees (B.A.S, B.S.N. or B.S.): Programs of instruction consisting of college- level courses requiring a minimum of 120 semester hours.
The requirements for a Baccalaureate degree are:
- Earning at least a 2.0 program of study GPA.
- Completion of upper-division core requirements totaling at least 30 semester hours.
- Demonstration of competency in a foreign language.
- Completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours of general education coursework, consistent with the Associate in Arts requirements.
- Completion of the State of Florida Civic Literacy requirement.
- Completion of a minimum of 25% of the semester hours at Santa Fe College (30 credit hours).
- Meeting the eligibility requirements to participate in auto-graduation or complete an application for graduation through eSantaFe.
Florida Civic Literacy Requirement
Civic Literacy is a graduation requirement that applies to the following students:
| Catalog Year | Student Type | Degree Type | Requirement |
| 2018 through 2020 | First-time-in-college students | Associate in Arts (A.A.), Baccalaureate | Pass a course (AMH2020 or POS2041).
Note: The AP and CLEP exams can be used to satisfy the course requirement. |
| 2021 and after | All Students | Associate in Arts (A.A.), Baccalaureate | Pass a course (AMH2020 or POS2041) AND pass an assessment (FCLE). Notes:
|
| 2022 and after | All Students | Associate in Science (A.S.)/Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) | Pass a course (AMH2020 or POS2041) AND pass an assessment (FCLE). Notes:
|
FAQ’s
How can I satisfy the Florida Civic Literacy course and assessment requirements?
Beginning in academic year 2021-22, both an assessment and a course are required to satisfy the civic literacy competency requirements for A.A. and baccalaureate programs.
Beginning in academic year 2022-23, both an assessment and a course are required to satisfy the civic literacy competency requirements for A.S. and A.A.S. programs.
The table below lists the options to satisfy the course and assessment requirements. Students who earn AMH2020 or POS2041 credit via AP or CLEP will have satisfied both the course and assessment requirements.
| Option | Grade / Score | Meets Course Requirement | Meets Assessment Requirement |
| Course - AMH2020: United States History from 1877 to Present | D or higher | X | |
| Course - POS2041: American National Government | D or higher | X | |
| AICE – US History 1840-1990 (A-Level) | A, B, C, D or E | X (Only for students under catalog year 2021 and later) | |
| IB – History (HL): History of the Americas | 5-7 | X (Only for students under catalog year 2021 and later) | |
| Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE)* | 48 or higher out of 80 (at least 60%) | X | |
| AP Government and Politics: United States | 3 or higher | X | X |
| AP United States History | 4 or higher | X | X |
| CLEP American Government | 50 or higher | X | X |
| CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to Present | 50 or higher | X | X |
* Students that have taken the FCLE at another institution must provide official college or high school transcripts to meet the requirement.
Who is exempt from meeting the Florida Civic Literacy Competency requirement?
Students with catalog years 2018 through 2020 are exempt from the Florida Civic Literacy Competency requirement if they:
- Earned college credit prior to Fall 2018 (excluding ABE, GED, AP, IB, AICE and CLEP); or
- Were dual enrolled prior to Fall 2018.
How will students take the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE)?
Contact the SF Placement and Assessment Center for information and instructions about taking the FLCE exam. Currently, there is no fee for this exam nor is there a limit on the number of retakes.
What is the re-take policy for students?
Students will be able to re-take the exam as early as the day after an unsuccessful attempt.
What are the required Civic Literacy competencies?
Students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018 and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy. As outlined by statute, civic literacy competencies and outcomes include:
- 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.
How can I prepare for the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE)?
The Lawrence W. Tyree Library’s FCLE guide has a list of resources to help you prepare for the FCLE exam.
How does the Florida Civic Literacy Competency requirement apply to previously dual enrolled, transfer, out-of-state and returning students?
The civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under catalog year 2021 or later, and to students entering into A.S. or A.A.S. programs under catalog year 2022 or later, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes formerly dual enrolled, transfer, out-of-state students, and returning students entering with prior postsecondary coursework. Students who have previously achieved a passing score on an approved assessment or passed an approved course will have met the assessment requirement or coursework requirement, respectively, and will not need to re-take assessments or courses.
How does the Florida Civic Literacy Competency requirement apply to baccalaureate students who are entering with an A.A., or A.S., A.A.S. degree?
Baccalaureate students under catalog year 2021 or later are required to meet the civic literacy course and the assessment requirement. If the student previously demonstrated civic literacy competency through a course or an assessment during their associate degree program, those passed courses or passing scores could also be used toward demonstration of civic literacy competency for baccalaureate completion.