Phi Beta Kappa: What is it and How do you Get In?

Q&A

by Sarah M. Pritchard

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and largest honor society in the U.S., founded in 1776. Membership is recognized worldwide as a mark of achievement. Whether you go on to graduate school or take a job or pursue volunteer activities, being a member of PBK is an honor that will help you throughout your working life. The Society recognizes academic excellence and intellectual curiosity among the liberal studies students at our campus. Membership is by invitation only; student transcripts are screened every year by members of the UCSB chapter, and faculty may make nominations. In June 2005, 101 students were initiated out of the total graduating class of over 4000. How can you become one of these?

Basic requirements are a GPA of at least 3.75 for juniors and 3.40 for seniors; four quarters of a foreign language (intermediate level), and mathematics (geometry, and algebra through quadratics). Each senior must have 60 units of work at UCSB (each junior, 120 units), excluding professional, vocational, technical, recreational, and remedial courses and all courses taken Passed/Not Passed. Grades earned on other campuses of the University of California are included in computing the GPA. A record with more than 15 P/NP units is normally disqualified, although exceptions are made for candidates in the College of Creative Studies and occasionally for others.

Election to Phi Beta Kappa requires that the candidate demonstrate intellectual curiosity beyond the minimum outlined above. Some, but not all, of the ways in which this may be shown are:

• A range of courses in different disciplines, beyond the minimum general education requirement of the college and the requirements for a student's major;
• Participation in a departmental senior honors program;
• A GPA significantly higher than the minimum;
• At least one additional quarter of language study above the minimum;
• 0 pass/no pass units.

Required mathematics courses are usually taken in high school. The foreign language requirement may also be fulfilled, partly, in high school. Two years of study in high school count for one quarter of study in the university, three years as three quarters. Candidates who complete four years of language before entering the university must take at least one quarter here at the intermediate level (language 4 or higher). An Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5 in a foreign language will also fulfill the Phi Beta Kappa requirement. Both the mathematics and foreign language requirements may be satisfied using the P/NP option or by proficiency tests.

These requirements, and the procedures for review of students, are established through the UCSB chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda of California. For more specific information go to the chapter web site: http://www.oiss.ucsb.edu/pbk/ or consult with one of the current officers, who are also listed at the web site.

Once a member, you may participate in a wide range of local and national activities. The Society publishes a journal, offers fellowships, hosts visiting scholars on campuses, and promotes other scholarly activities. If you are based at a university that has a chapter, you may get involved helping to review and admit new members, organize guest lectures, and promote the goals of the Society. Some larger cities have independent PBK associations for people not affiliated with academic institutions. For more information see the national web site at http://www.pbk.org.

Sarah M. Pritchard is the University Librarian and Corresponding Secretary, Lambda Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

PBK Q&A

Q: What do Bill Clinton, G. H. W. Bush, Angela Davis, Condoleeza Rice, Francis Ford Coppola, and several members of the United States Supreme Court all have in common?

A: As undergraduates, they were all elected members to Phi Beta Kappa.

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