November 9, 2011
FlwApp
May 25, 2011
Homepage
About the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest honorary society, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is a recognition of academic achievement, especially in the acquisition of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. Indeed, Phi Beta Kappa offers exceptional future value — lifetime academic recognition for excellence in the humanities. The Greek letters Phi Beta Kappa are the first letters of the motto Philosophiae Biou Kubernetes (Love of wisdom–the guide of life).
The Spring Initiation was held in the Maud Fife Room, 315 Wheeler, May 3, 2011
Despite the demands of finals, at many new Phi Betes and their families assembled to welcome the new group of initiates including those who graduated in December. Our speaker was Professor of Art History Andrew Stewart.
The “Top 20” Juniors of 2011
Each year, based on GPA and course breadth, Alpha California selects the top twenty Juniors in the letters and sciences: We list them here to acknowledge their outstanding academic achievement:
Fei Bo, Economics; Karlie Marie Braufman, Theatre Performance Studies; Abishek S. Chawdhry, Business Administration / Economics; Dominic Leon Culver, Mathematics; Melanie Felarca Cutcheon, Dance & Performance Studies; Linda Xu Dong, Philosophy; Anne Elizabeth Elliott, Integrative Biology; Katia Margaux Johnston, Peace and Conflict Studies; Julia Rosina Lee-Rittell, Political Science; Paul Edmond Lerner; Marine Science; Danielle Catherine Maddix, Applied Mathematics; Berton Mahardia, Psychology; Hayden Nathaniel McFarlane, Political Science; Andrew Thienlan Nguyen, Computer Science / Linguistics; Kathryn Frances Pfaff, History; Alesandra Allois Roger, Italian Studies; Kian Tamaddoni, Political Science; Rx Cloud Uy, Political Science; Kelsey Quinn, English / French; Shane Richard Wo, Integrative Biology; Michael Wong, Planetary Science.
Fellowships for PBK Doctoral Students
Fellowship Requirements The Application Form for the 2012 Doctoral Fellowship Award is now available from the office. Request a copy by email to pbk@berkeley.edu
Thanks to the generous support of past Berkeley members of Phi Beta Kappa, each year the chapter is able to award a number of fellowships to members of Phi Beta Kappa currently enrolled as graduate students at UCB. The award is usually given to those in the final stages of writing a dissertation. In addition, the Northern California Association of alumni members of Phi Beta Kappa supports our program by awarding additional fellowships. All applications are based on the Alpha Chapter application form (see above). The 2012 Fellowship Committee members will be: Chair Daniel Melia, Anne de Luca, Mary Kay Duggan, and Linda von Hoene. The award in 2011 was $5000.
Fellowship Winners for Awards in 2011
Berkeley’s Alpha Chapter Award: Jason Steven Purchell, Political Science & International Relations and Batya Ungar-Sargon, English
Northern California Chapter Award: Maya deVries, Integrative Biology and Michael James Levien, Sociology.
Ph.D. Candidates Nominated to Phi Beta Kappa in 2011: In recognition of those deserving students who have not had the opportunity to join the Society.
Sean Paul Curran, Music and Stanley Lei Qi, Bioengineering
Past Initiations
Phi Beta Kappa
Alpha of California Chapter
University of California, Berkeley
Home | Office | Council | Criteria for membership | Past Fellowships | E-mail Messages
Phi Beta Kappa Members
The top ten percent of graduating seniors,selected by fixed criteria, are elected to the nation’s oldest scholastic honorary society because of their academic excellence and the inclusion in the course of their studies of a significant segment of work in the humanities. The students come from all disciplines, including philosophy and art as well as biology and engineering. According to the by-laws of the national organization of Phi Beta Kappa, in addition to seniors, the local chapter may select up to twenty juniors for early initiation because of the outstanding scholastic record.
Initiates receive an honorary 1-year membership in the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa, an alumni association with a newsletter, activities, and a Young Phi Betes group.
Spring Initiation, 2009
Provost and Professor Political Science George W. Breslauer enlightened us all with his analysis of “Russia Under Putin”, a most timely topic.
Spring Initiation, 2008
Professor of Integrative Biology Marian C. Diamond gave a fascinating presentation on the neurobiology of the brain and left us with great inspiration that it’s never too late to learn! Just remember to exercise, keep learning and enjoy life.
Spring Initiation, 2007
Professor of Physics Richard A. Muller spoke to us of the “Liberal Arts”. Prof. Muller is well known for his ability to communicate with non-scientists including “What every president should know about Physics.”
Spring Initiation, 2006
The speaker for the Initiation was Prof. Daniel F. Melia who entertained us with video clips and wisdom from TV’s quiz game “Jeopardy”.
Spring Initiation, 2005
The speaker for the initiation was Chanellor Robert J. Birgeneau who offered Congratulatory Remarks to the initiates.
Spring Initiation, 2004
The speaker for the initiation was Christina Maslach, U.C Berkeley Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education, who talked about “’The Berkeley Way’ in Undergraduate Education”
Spring Initiation, 2003
The speaker for initiation was University Librarian, Thomas C. Leonard who spoke on “The Disappearance of Information.”
Spring Initiation, 2002
The speaker for initiation was Prof. Ron Loewinsohn, Director of the American Studies Program at UC Berkeley. His address, “Does This Count for the Grade?”, challenged the initiates to pursue excellence for their own internal goals.
Spring Initiation, 2001
The speaker for initiation was former Chancellor I. Michael Heyman. His talk, “The Role of Museums as Education Institutions: Is the Smithsonian Another UC?” compared some of his administrative challenges in Washington with the environment on campus.
Spring Initiation, 2000
The speaker for initiation was Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl. Eighteen junior, over two hundred senior, and nine doctoral candidates were initiated.
Spring Initiation, 1999
The stirring address was given by Prof. Ralph J. Hexter, Dean of Humanities, College of Letters and Science.
Spring Initiation, 1998
The address, “Is Excellence Dangerous?”, was given by Prof. Randolph Starn, Director of the Doreen Townsend Center. Prof. Starn is a member of the Department of History and has written a number of books on the cultural history of medieval and Renaissance Italy. Over three hundred graduating seniors and sixteen juniors were initiated.
Office
We can be found in the lower Mezzanine at the North end of Wheeler Hall. There is no signage so look for our suite mates The College Writing Program, the Berkeley Scientific Journal and the UCDC Program. Thanks so much.� When the office is closed you can leave paperwork under the door or in the PBK mailbox in M112, the College Writing Program office.�� NB: don’t forget to leave contact information.
M 14 Wheeler Hall
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2500
(510) 642-1912 (telephone)
Office Manager: Tedi Crawford
pbk@berkeley.edu
Office hours: Wednesdays only:� 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 3 p.m.
Mailing Address
M14 Wheeler Hall, MC 2500
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2500
The Website is being reinstalled so please call the office if you have questions. And, thanks for your patience. We hope to be back soon.
Fellowship Application
Phi Beta Kappa Society, Alpha Chapter of California
M14 Wheeler Hall, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-2500
Telephone: (510) 642-1912
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-12 a.m.& 1-3 p.m.
Application for Phi Beta Kappa Graduate Fellowship 2012
To request a Fellowship Application, please email the office ( pbk@berkeley.edu) or ask your graduate adviser for a copy.
PBK Council
Council Members, 2011-2012
President: Richard Calendar Molecular & Cell Biology
rishard@socrates.berkeley.edu
Secretary, Mary Kay Duggan, Music
mkduggan@sims.berkeley.edu
Co-Treasurer, Robert Dister, Optometry
rdister@berkeley.edu
Co-Treasurer, Carol D’Onofrio,
cnd@berkeley.edu
Georjana Barnes, Molecular & Cell Biology
gbarnes@berkeley.edu
Anne De Luca, Registrar
adeluca@berkeley.edu
Leonard W. Johnson, French Language & Literature lwjohnsn@berkeley.edu
Linda von Hoene, Grad. Div- GSI Teaching Resources
vonhoene@berkeley.edu
Richard White, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science rwhite@eecs.berkeley.edu
On Sabbatical
Marianne Constable, Rhetoric, is on sabbatical until Fall 2011
Daniel F. Melia, Rhetoric, is on sabbatical until Summer 2011
Criteria
Criteria
Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha California
Criteria for Membership 2011-2012
Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is intended for students who, as seniors, have exhibited academic excellence and rigor in a broad array of undergraduate courses in the liberal arts and sciences. Units earned in applied or professional work shall not be counted in computing basic eligibility. While each PBK-accredited campus chapter may elect the highest 10 percent of its graduating class, UC Berkeley’s Alpha California chapter determines specific requirements on this campus including those for a limited number of juniors and doctoral candidates who are elected in the Spring. The following Berkeley requirements include a current 3.78 GPA.
Seniors:
95-100 units completed the first semester of your senior year and at least 120 total units at graduation should include:
- A minimum of 75 Letters & Science units—from L&S departments or approved courses that satisfy the L&S 7-Course Breadth requirements (including foreign language) but are not included in a non-L&S major (see current L&S Announcement Earning Your Degree).
- 45 of these L&S units must be letter graded and may be earned at any UC campus.
Senior Transfer Students:
For Eligibility, students must complete 95-100 units by the first semester of your senior year and at least 120 total units at graduation. These include:
- Three or more semesters completed at Berkeley or another UC campus that reflect the L&S 7-Course Breadth or IGETC/UC Reciprocity requirements (see Earning Your Degree).
- At least 75 Letters & Science units. Transfer students will be requested to submit unofficial transcripts from other UC or non-UC institutions to demonstrate equivalent L&S course work.
- 45 of these L&S units must be letter-graded (and may be earned at any UC campus).
Juniors:
Since only the top 20 juniors are elected, standards are far more stringent. By the end of the Fall (or 5th semester) candidates must have completed the L&S Requirements and at least 65 UC Letters & Science letter-graded units but no more than a total of 90 units.
All Candidates, Note:
- Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) units do not count in calculating units.
- Applied or professional courses, those that primarily impart skills development or vocational technique, only count after completion of 75 L&S academic units.
- UC Pass/No Pass grades count toward “Total Units”.
- Breadth courses taken in other colleges ( e.g., Engineering) are not considered “L&S units”.
- Total and L&S Units may be earned at other institutions if Berkeley approved. [NB: Unofficial, hard-copy transcripts from those institutions must be submitted to verify course content.]
- Total GPA is based on courses taken at Berkeley, other UC campuses, and UCB-acceptable alternatives, such as Berkeley’s EAP. Please call the office if you have any questions.
Doctoral Students:
Candidates are nominated by departments in January/February. Nominations identify outstanding students who did not have an undergraduate opportunity to qualify for Phi Beta Kappa.
Seasons of Selection:
Seniors are invited to join the society in both the Fall and Spring.
Juniors and doctoral students are invited only in the Spring.
Uninvited Seniors or Recent Graduates:
If you think you are eligible for membership, we encourage you to submit a hard copy of your UC Berkeley transcript to the Phi Beta Kappa office at M14 Wheeler, MC 2500. Photocopies of official transcripts or Bear Facts print-outs are acceptable. Please also include your major, your SID, and current contact information.