"Love of learning is the guide of life"
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most prestigious undergraduate liberal arts honors society in America. It celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts---the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences—and also sponsors activities to advance these studies in higher education and in society as a whole.
Only about 10 percent of the nation's colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters.
Only about 10 percent of the arts and sciences graduates of these colleges and universities are selected for Phi Beta Kappa membership.
Each year only about one college senior in a hundred, nationwide, is invited to join Phi Beta Kappa.
At UB, minimal standards of eligibility for membership include:
An undergraduate liberal arts degree program, defined as a BA or BS degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Biochemistry, or the Department of Biomedical Science.
Completion of 100 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.65 or higher, or 85 hours with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher at all colleges which the student has attended.
Completion of at least 60 credits hours at UB.
Breadth in the liberal arts as shown by the number, variety and quality of courses taken outside of the major, including at least enough to fulfill the University’s general education requirements or their equivalent. (N.B. As of 2015 inductees will be expected to present intermediate proficiency in a foreign language.)
The University at Buffalo’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa selects its members annually in January. Students who are selected are notified in late January/Early February. A formal induction ceremony is held in March of each year.
For more information about Phi Beta Kappa, please visit the national website at: https://www.pbk.org. For more information about the University at Buffalo chapter, please email us at: PhiBetaKappa@buffalo.edu or call the University Honors College at: 716-645-3020.
Last updated: April 22, 2013 9:36 am EST
