Understanding Civic Literacy Among Non-Civic Education Students After Completing a Pancasila and Civic Education Course: A Case Study of Language Department Students

Abstrak

Civic literacy is an essential competency that enables university students to participate responsibly in democratic life. The Civic Education course plays a strategic role in developing students’ civic understanding, including those from non-civics disciplines. This study aims to explore the civic literacy of Language Department students after completing the Civic Education course, identify the learning factors that influence its development, and formulate relevant instructional strategies to strengthen civic literacy. The study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. The participants were first-year students from the Indonesian Language Education and English Language Education programs at Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka who had completed the Civic Education course. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, which includes data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings indicate that the Civic Education course contributed to a broader understanding of civic literacy, encompassing citizens’ rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, social participation, and democratic responsibility. This understanding was reflected in students’ academic and social lives through their participation in classroom discussions, student organizations, and engagement with social issues. The development of civic literacy was influenced by the relevance of learning materials, participatory teaching methods, lecturers’ roles as facilitators, and students’ social experiences. The study recommends strengthening Civic Education through case-based learning, reflective discussions, the integration of current issues, and digital literacy to support the sustainable development of students’ civic literacy.