Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop the civic knowledge of Purdue Fort Wayne students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

The civics literacy program is a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students enrolled in a Bachelor degree-seeking program beginning in the fall of 2022. Students only in pursuit of an Associate degree or certificate program are not required to complete Civics Literacy Proficiency requirements.

To obtain civics literacy proficiency, students will pass Purdue’s Civics Knowledge Test, AND complete an educational activity as part of the chosen Civics Literacy Pathway. At PFW, there are two pathway options:

Civics Events and/or Recordings Pathway
- Pass the required Civics Knowledge Test AND
- Attend and/or listen to four approved civics-related events or recordings. A list of approved events and recordings will be provided to students.
Approved Course Pathway
- Pass the required civics knowledge test AND
- Earn a C- or higher grade in one of these approved courses (or transferring in an equivalent course or approved AP credit):
  - COM 21000 Debating Public Issues
  - COM 31200 Rhetoric in the Western World
  - HIST 10501 American History 1
  - HIST 10601 American History 2
  - POL 10300 Introduction to American Politics
  - POL 21100 Introduction to Law
  - POL 21200 Making Democracy Work
Approved Purdue Intercampus Transfer of Civics Literacy Requirements

Students who transfer to PFW from another Purdue campus can transfer credit for completing the following portions of the civics literacy proficiency requirements at another Purdue campus:
- A passing score on the Civics Knowledge Test.
- Completion of the Approved Course Pathway if the student earned civics literacy credit for the Approved Course Pathway at the campus in which the course was taken.
- Completion of the educational activities that are part of the Events and/or Recordings Pathway if the student earned credit for completing the comparable pathway at another Purdue campus. Note that partial completion of the Events and/or Recordings Pathway cannot be transferred.