» Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most widely recognized honor society in the United States.

Its motto is "Love of learning is the guide of life," derived from the Greek Φιλοσοφία Βίου Κυβερνήτης (ΦΒΚ). Its mission is to recognize academic excellence and promote education in the liberal arts and sciences.

Membership benefits

Phi Beta Kappa membership recognizes high academic achievement.

There are many benefits to accepting a membership in Phi Beta Kappa. For example, Phi Beta Kappa membership:

• Is a recognition of your achievement, similar to graduating with honors.
• Listing Phi Beta Kappa membership on your resume can distinguish you from other candidates in the job market and/or applications to grad school.
• Allows you to network with other Phi Beta Kappa members, which can help you grow as a professional and open up career opportunities. Joining Phi Beta Kappa means becoming part of a community of over 500,000 members worldwide. Members have included 17 presidents, 40 Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. 
• Lasts for life. There is no need to renew your Phi Beta Kappa membership. Once you accept your invitation, you are a Phi Beta Kappa member for life.

Why accept a membership in Phi Beta Kappa?

An invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa is similar to graduating university with honors. It is a recognition of your hard work and academic excellence, and it shows how much you have achieved during your college career. Earning Phi Beta Kappa membership is something you can be proud of.

Membership is also helpful after you graduate. Phi Beta Kappa is a widely known organization. Graduate schools and employers across the country understand that Phi Beta Kappa membership means that you were a high achiever in college. After you graduate and begin working in your career or field, you can use your membership as a way to stand out and give yourself a competitive advantage.

Becoming a member

Phi Beta Kappa membership is by invitation only. We extend invitations to students who fulfill the following requirements.

• Be a candidate for a bachelor's degree with at least 90 qualifying credits in the liberal arts and sciences: To be eligible for consideration, you must be a candidate for a bachelor’s degree with at least ¾ of the credits ordinarily required for a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences. You must have completed 90 qualifying credit hours in the liberal arts and sciences and must have been a full-time Chapman student for at least two years.
• Have a GPA of no less than 3.8: You must maintain a GPA of no less than 3.8 within 6 months of expected graduation. At the Chapter’s discretion, juniors may be invited with a 3.9 GPA.
  
• Demonstrate “depth and breadth” in the study of liberal arts and sciences: Your student record must demonstrate "depth and breadth" in the study of liberal arts and sciences, considering the number, variety and level of courses taken outside the requirements of your major and the proportion of your overall program that those courses constitute. Consideration shall also be given to the number of elective courses taken above the introductory, or general education, level.
  
• Have completed a language class at the 202 level or higher: Academic study of a non-native language (other than English), minimally appropriate for a liberal education (no less than completion of intermediate college level or the equivalent), is required. Completion of a language course at the 202 Level minimally satisfies this criterion.
  
• Have taken at least one college-level math, logic or statistics class: At least one course in college-level mathematics, logic or statistics, with content appropriate to liberal arts and sciences is required. It should introduce students to mathematical ideas, abstract thinking, proofs and axiomatic character.
  
• Maintain good moral character: In keeping with the Founders’ interest in fostering not only academic excellence but also friendship and morality, invitation to Phi Beta Kappa should be extended only to persons of good moral character.

Joining Phi Beta Kappa

If you receive an email invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa, you can follow these steps to join.

1. Respond to the email invitation and indicate that you accept!
2. Fill out the survey that will be sent to you with biographical and academic information for the induction ceremony and recognition at graduation.

An induction ceremony is held each spring. You and your family and friends will be invited to attend. At this ceremony, you will be formally recognized as a new Phi Beta Kappa member, receive your certificate and honor cord (which you can wear at graduation), and have the opportunity to sign the Chapter’s membership roster.

All induction fees will be paid by the Chapter, so there will be no cost to you, and you will be a Phi Beta Kappa member for life.

About Psi Chapter of California

Chapman University has the honor of being one of fewer than 300 colleges/universities in the United States (10% of those in the country) to host a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Our chapter is the Psi Chapter of California. 

Psi Chapter of California was established in 2018. Since then, dozens of Chapman students have been awarded the honor of Phi Beta Kappa membership in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.

Chapman graduates who join Psi Chapter of California become part of  a community of over 500,000 Phi Beta Kappa members worldwide.

Psi Chapter of California hosts events for Phi Beta Kappa members and alumni, as well as events for the larger Chapman community.

Psi Chapter events

• We participate in the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program. The Visiting Scholar Program gives the Chapman community the chance to meet and learn from distinguished visiting scholars right on campus.
• We also host social and professional networking events.
• View photos and videos from past events, as well as access the membership roster, on Chapman University Digital Commons.

Board of Officers

• Heather Breen, President and Secretary
  
• Kristin Dressner, Appointed Executive Committee Member
  
• Kristin Laughtin-Dunker, Historian
  
• Mary Platt, Historian
• Katherine Roth, Representative Volunteer Member