Membership

Requirements

Every spring, the USF chapter of Phi Beta Kappa will meet to determine nominees for the next cohort of nominees. You can learn more about our most recent class of inductees here. Those who have been invited to join the USF chapter of Phi Beta Kappa will be informed via email during the spring semester.

Phi Beta Kappa is an invitation-only society that is highly selective. Only 10% of universities in the United States have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and only a fraction of students within these universities are invited to join. Those who are selected to join Phi Beta Kappa demonstrate an outstanding academic record in the liberal arts and sciences. Members are elected on the basis of scholarly accomplishments, broad intellectual and cultural interests, and good character.

In order to become a candidate for membership in Phi Beta Kappa, a student must meet the following requirements. However, the fulfillment of these requirements does not guarantee an invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa:

  • Be an undergraduate major in the liberal arts and sciences OR have completed the interdisciplinary course curriculum in the Judy Genshaft Honors College;
  • Have a GPA of at least 3.60;
  • Have competency in a language other than English equivalent to two years of undergraduate study;
  • Have completed at least three semesters of study at USF and be registered for a fourth semester at USF;
  • Take a variety of classes outside their major to ensure breadth of academic experience.