What is it?

The MHECAE is similar to the one hundred questions administered to applicants for U.S. citizenship by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Who is required to take the MHECAE?

All undergraduate students who are newly enrolled in a Missouri two-year or four-year college on or after July 1, 2019 are required by Missouri state law to take and pass the MHECAE in order to receive an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Students who were enrolled in an academic term prior to July 1, 2019 are NOT required to take and/or pass the exam.

Why is this?

Missouri state statute was created with the passage of Senate Bill 807 in 2018. This bill reads as follows:

Any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution. The examination shall be known as the “Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination.”

How will the MHECAE be administered?

The MHECAE may be taken as soon as the student pays the enrollment fee and registers for new student orientation.  Information regarding the MHECAE is posted to the student’s Canvas page and includes multiple forms of study materials and practice tests to help the student prepare for successful completion of the MHCAE. 

FAQs

Question 1: Are incoming transfer students first enrolling at MU in Fall 2019 required to take the exam?

Answer 1: No, these students first entered a public institution of higher education prior to July 2019.

Question 2: Are incoming First Time College (FTC) students attending the first four-week session of MU summer school in 2019 required to pass the MHECAE?

Answer 2: No, a student in this situation has enrolled at the four-year institution prior to July 2019.  A student not enrolling at MU until the second four-week session of summer school will be required by state law to pass the MHECAE.

Question 3: The incoming FTC student took coursework at a two-year or four-year college prior to high school graduation.  Does this student have to pass the MHECAE?

Answer 3: Yes, this student would be required to pass the MHECAE in order to receive a bachelor’s degree from MU.

Question 4: Are incoming FTC international students required to pass the MHECAE?

Answer 4: Yes, if the incoming international student has not previously attended an institution of higher education prior to July 2019, the student will have to take and pass the MHECAE.

Question 5: Are online/distance students required to pass the MHECAE?

Answer 5: Yes, if the student is enrolling for the first time, regardless of the mode of delivery of the classes or program, at an institution of higher education after July 1, 2019, the student will be required to pass the MHECAE prior to obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Mizzou.

Question 6: Is the test timed?

Answer 6: No, there is no time limit.  Typically, the student will complete the exam in 15-30 minutes.

Question 7: What if the student fails the exam?

Answer 7: The student is permitted to repeat the MHECAE an unlimited number of times until they satisfactorily completes the exam.  The student may retake the exam multiple times in one setting or attempt the exam again on a later date.

Question 8: What if the student has an education-impacting disability and requests accommodations for the MHECAE?

Answer 8: The Disability Center will work directly with the MU Testing Center to provide the student the appropriate accommodation but the student must first establish an accommodation plan with the Disability Center.  Steps to establish an accommodation plan with the Disability Center can be found at https://disabilitycenter.missouri.edu/accommodations-and-supports/.

Question 9: What is the last possible date a student may satisfactorily complete the MHECAE so as to receive his/her bachelor’s degree?

Answer 9: The last opportunity for the student to pass the exam will be finals week of the student’s final term of enrollment prior to graduation.  If the student fails to satisfactorily complete the exam prior to graduation, the institution will not award the degree, but the student may continue to attempt the MHECAE until it is satisfactorily completed.

Question 10: How soon will the student’s successful completion of the MHECAE be reported to the Registrar’s Office?

Answer 10: The MHECAE scores recorded in Canvas will be received by the Registrar’s Office on a daily basis.

Question 11: How will the student know whether his/her MHECAE has been reported to the Registrar’s Office?

Answer 11: A designation known as a “milestone” will be placed on the student record, which will appear on the student profile and official transcript.