A “stand-alone” civics course means that the civics content may not be embedded in another course, and that the course should be transcribed as “Civics” on students’ transcripts. However, the law makes an exception for dual credit courses: “civics content and instruction required by this section may be embedded in social studies courses that offer students the opportunity to earn both high school and postsecondary credit.” (RCW 28A.230.094).

Dual credit courses that embed civics must include all the required civics content. Dual credit courses that embed civics may be transcribed as the dual credit course. The student will earn high school credit for the dual credit course, but may not earn additional high school credit for the embedded civics. The single dual credit social studies course may meet both a social studies course requirement and the civics requirement.

When a student meets the civics requirement through a dual credit course, the student will earn credit for the dual credit course, but they will not earn additional credit for civics. If the civics is embedded in a one-year, one-credit course, the student will earn one credit while meeting a one and one-half credit graduation requirement.