PHI BETA KAPPA

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, founded in 1776, elects students with broad cultural interests and scholastic achievement. The Epsilon of Texas Chapter at Trinity University, installed in 1974, is one of 270 chapters at distinguished colleges and universities in the United States. Selection of student members, or members-in-course, is generally made in the student’s senior year, although a few juniors (usually three or four) are elected each year. The names of those elected are announced prior to graduation in the spring semester. Students do not apply for election to Phi Beta Kappa; the Chapter screens student records.

Criteria for election to Phi Beta Kappa are determined by the Chapter under the guidelines of the national organization. To be eligible for election, the student must satisfy certain minimum criteria:

1. Candidates pursuing a single major in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Music degree are not eligible. Those pursuing a single Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Music ARE eligible.

2. Candidates must have completed a minimum of sixty hours of primarily liberal arts course work at Trinity by graduation.

3. Candidates must have completed at least one three-hour course in Mathematics at the level of calculus or higher.  Pass/Fail work is not accepted.

4. Candidates must have completed at least one course in a foreign language at the intermediate level or higher.  Pass/Fail work is not accepted.

Criteria three and four are not satisfied by high school experience. Advanced Placement Credit is accepted. Those who are eligible, based on the above minimum standards, are ranked on the basis of grade point average. Those who do not meet the minimum criteria may be nominated for membership by individual members of the chapter. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs for further information.

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