Criteria for election to Phi Beta Kappa at UC Davis:
An overall UC grade point average of 3.7 for seniors and 3.8 for juniors. For transfer students, the total undergraduate record and cumulative GPA must meet this standard.
Quick Facts
- Φβκ — Greek initials of the motto Philosophia Biou Kybernētēs, "Love of learning is the guide of life."
- Phi Beta Kappa is a leading advocate for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.
- We have over half a million members and chapters at 283 American colleges and universities.
- Invitation to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a reflection of outstanding achievement.
- Knowledge of a foreign language at an intermediate level, the equivalent of one year of college-level study. Extensive high school study (four years or AP credit) is accepted.
- Letters and Sciences units totaling 135 for seniors and 90 for juniors.
- Seventy-five units completed for credit at UC Davis, with letter grade (not P/NP).
- College preparatory level mathematics.
- Breadth in the course record: twelve units completed for letter-grade credit in each area: humanities, natural sciences and social sciences (GE areas AH, SE and SS).
Selection Process:
The Committee on Members in Course, composed of resident members of Phi Beta Kappa, reviews records provided by the registrar. The committee then recommends to all resident members of the UC Davis chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, those students whose records meet the criteria. Members vote to elect new members during Spring Quarter. There is no automatic right to election. We look for students who demonstrate curiosity and interest in several subject areas. See the current PBK Society Membership Stipulations for more details. The committee may apply judgment, for example, in cases where there is non-course experience with foreign language, or extensive student-option pass/no pass grading. Questions about qualification are welcome and will be considered (contact us at [email protected]).
Records of juniors and seniors in the College of Letters and Sciences, and the College of Biological Sciences, are automatically reviewed if the GPA and units-in-residence requirements are met. Names of additional students who may meet the requirements are solicited from faculty and staff advisors.
