Americans with college degrees are severely lacking in civic literacy, according to a study released on Nov. 20 by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, an organization associated with the American Civic Literacy Program.

The ISI administered a test to 2,500 randomly selected Americans with questions centered on the branches of the United States government, the U.S. Constitution and select events throughout U.S. history. More than half of the test takers failed the test, with an average score of 49 percent.

Only one in five college graduates tested earned a C or better on the exam. Of the 50 colleges surveyed, Harvard University seniors scored the highest, correctly answering almost 70 percent of the study’s questions. Still, the survey’s authors said all college results demonstrated a troubling trend.

‘For too long, America’s colleges and universities have been evaluated not on their actual academic performance, but primarily on their past prestige and endowments,’ the report stated. ‘The time for reform is now.’

Six of the 33 civic knowledge questions on the test were taken from the U.S. Citizenship Exam. A panel of professors created the rest.

ISI Director of University Stewardship Richard Brake said universities and colleges should make teaching civic literacy a higher priority.

‘They can’t learn what they’re not taught,’ he said. ‘We have to do a better job of preparing teachers.’

Brake criticized the emphasis universities place on research rather than teaching skills. He recommended colleges require American history courses in the first two years of schooling.

‘Shouldn’t the institution of education be guiding,’ Brake said. ‘The more you know about your country, the more likely you are to participate.’

Robert Leming, program director for the Center for Civic Education, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting civic responsibility among elementary and secondary school students, said knowledge of government is necessary for Americans to make informed decisions when selecting their leaders.

Still, Leming said Americans need not be experts in the area to understand government.

‘We’re busy people,’ he said. ‘We have to work. Not everybody can be a law professor and understand every Supreme Court decision.’

Leming said he partially blames the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2001 for the downturn in civic education.

‘Social studies get knocked out because teachers are pressured on math and science,’ he said.

Boston University history professor Nina Silber said students who use rote memorization to study often do not understand the significance of what they are learning.

‘Students digest facts,’ she said. ‘But I’m not sure how well they’ve been trained in analyzing.’

College of Arts and Sciences junior Tara Thompson said it is important for people in a democratic society to have a firm grasp on civic knowledge.

‘You’re part of society,’ she said. ‘It’s important to know how things work and what is going on.’

BU international relations professor Andrew Bacevich said the best way he knows to improve civic literacy is to alter his own teaching techniques. He said he often mistakenly assumes his students know more about U.S. history and government than they actually do.

‘I just need to do a better job at my job,’ he said. ‘I’m repeatedly surprised by the fact that BU students do not have mastery of the basics. It is a requirement for being a good citizen.’