Since its founding in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has championed education in the arts and sciences, fostered freedom of thought, and recognized academic excellence. Phi Beta Kappa has more than half a million members worldwide and over 280 chapters in U.S. colleges and universities. Members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 39 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and over 130 Nobel Laureates.
Students inducted into the Eta Chapter at UMBC are considered to have demonstrated that they share a dedication to pursuing academic excellence and a love of learning. In reviewing potential candidates for election, the Eta chapter seeks to identify those who, because they enjoy the rigor of intellectual challenge and are assuaging an unbounded curiosity, have pursued a broad curriculum of liberal studies well beyond minimal institutional requirements.
Eta of Maryland of Phi Beta Kappa currently uses the following criteria in selecting candidates for election to Membership in Course. It is emphasized that these are only the minimum criteria for consideration for election and that meeting all of these criteria does not guarantee election.
90 credits in liberal studies subjects at a college or university
36 credits at UMBC
3.5 grade point average in liberal studies subjects
Completion of General Education Program requirements in language
Competence in mathematics through the precalculus level. Students may demonstrate competence in mathematics by completing high school or college courses or by proficiency examination.
Completion of at least six courses (18 credits) in a coherently structured program of liberal studies outside a student’s major discipline.
Very few students earn the honor of membership in Phi Beta Kappa, which is based on academic excellence in the liberal arts and scholarly breadth. Confused by receiving invitations from multiple honor societies? Read this article from USA Today to help sort it out.
