Civic Knowledge among Students at Teacher Education and non-Teacher Education Faculties

Authors

  • Biljana Sladoje Bošnjak Faculty of Philosophy of University of East Sarajevo
  • Ljiljana Jerković Faculty of Philosophy of University of Banja Luka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18690/6551

Keywords:

civic competences, civic knowledge, teacher education, non-teacher education faculties.

Abstract

The study examined whether civic knowledge differs between students of teacher education and non-teacher education faculties, and among students of different teacher education study programs. A survey was conducted with 256 students from two public universities in the Republic of Srpska using a demographic questionnaire and a Civic Knowledge Test. Results revealed significant differences in civic knowledge across faculties, with the highest scores among Faculty of Philosophy students and the lowest among Faculty of Electrical Engineering students. Significant differences were also found across teacher education programs: pedagogy students achieved the best results, while informatics and philosophy students achieved the lowest.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Banks, J. A. (2017). Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Chang, D.-F., You, J.-Y., and Chang, A. (2023). College Students' Civic Engagement Efficacy and Their Implementing Effects in Selected STEM Programs. SAGE Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10. –1177/21582440231220128

Council of the European Union. (2006). Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning (2006/962/EC). Official Journal of the European Union, L394, 10–18. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/E–N/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006H0962

Council of Europe. (2018). Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing. https://www.coe.int/en/web/reference-framework-of-competenc–es-for-democratic-culture

Dauer, J. M., Sorensen, A. E., and Wilson, M. (2021). Students’ Civic Engagement Self-Efficacy Varies across Socioscientific Issues Contexts. Frontiers in Education, 6, Article 628784. https://doior–g/10.3389/feduc.2021.628784

Holland, J. L. (1997). Making Vocational Choices: A Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments (3rd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.

Ilić, M. (2012). Metodika građanskog obrazovanja. Banja Luka: Filozofski fakultet.

Labov, J., Brenner, K. A., and Middlecamp, C. H. (2019). Integrating Undergraduate Research in STEM with Civic Engagement. Science Education and Civic Engagement, 11(1), 64–78. https://seceij.ne–t/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Labov.pdf

Licardo, M., and Peček, M. (2020). Developing Intercultural Competencies of Students of Pedagogical Faculties. Journal of Elementary Education, 13(2), 145–164.

McCrae, R. R., and Costa, P. T., Jr. (2008). The Five-Factor Theory of Personality. In O. P. John, R. W. Robins, and L. A. Pervin (eds.), Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research (3rd ed., pp. 159–181). The Guilford Press.

McKim, A. J., Sorensen, A. E., Dauer, J. M., and Wilson, M. (2022). Predictors of Scientific Civic Engagement (PSCE) Survey: A Multidimensional Instrument to Measure Undergraduates’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Intention to Engage with the Community Using Their Science Skills. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 21(4), ar61. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-09-02434

Murphy, K. L., and Kelp, N. C. (2023). Undergraduate STEM Students’ Science Communication Skills, Science Identity, and Science Self-Efficacy Influence Their Motivations and Behaviors in STEM Community Engagement. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 22(2), ar31. https://doi.org/–10.1187/cbe.22-06-0116

Klassen, R. M., Al-Dhafri, S., Hannok, W., and Betts, S. M. (2011). Investigating Pre-Service Teacher Motivation across Cultures Using the Teachers’ Ten Statements Test. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27(3), 579–588.

Pavel, I. (2025). Civic Literacy in Higher Education: A Philosophical Perspective. Journal of Civic Studies, 12(3), 45–60.

Protner, E., and Štefanc, D. (2014). Conceptual and Implementation Aspects of Citizenship Education in Primary School. Journal of Elementary Education, 7(2), 25–41.

Richardson, P. W., and Watt, H. M. G. (2006). Who Chooses Teaching and Why? Teaching and Teacher Education, 22(5), 475–489.

Shephard, K. and Egan, T. (2018). Higher Education for Professional and Civic Values: A Critical Review and Analysis. Sustainability, 10(12), 4442. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124442

Sladoje Bošnjak, B., and Jerković, L. (2025). Razlike u građanskim znanjima studenata s obzirom na socio-pedagoška oblježja. Radovi, 27 (in press).

Torney-Purta, J. (2002). Patterns in the Civic Knowledge, Engagement, and Attitudes of European Adolescents. European Journal of Education, 37(2), 129–141.

Škorić, M. and Škorić, N. (2020). Critical Thinking and Civic Education. Sociološki pregled, 54(2), 345–362.

UNESCO. (2015). Global Citizenship Education: Topics and Learning Objectives. UNESCO Publishing.

Downloads

Published

28.10.2026

How to Cite

Sladoje Bošnjak, B., & Jerković, L. (2026). Civic Knowledge among Students at Teacher Education and non-Teacher Education Faculties. Revija Za Elementarno Izobraževanje, 19(Special Issue). https://doi.org/10.18690/6551