Criteria for Membership 2008-2009

Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is intended for students who have excelled in a broad array of undergraduate courses in the liberal arts and sciences. Each PBK-accredited campus chapter is allowed to select the highest 10 percent of the graduating class for initiation. The Council of the UC Berkeley Alpha California chapter determines specific requirements for election on this campus. In addition to seniors, a limited number of juniors and doctoral candidates are elected in the Spring of each year. Specific Requirements, including a current Berkeley GPA of 3.78, are as follows:

Seniors:

95-100 Total Units completed at the end of the first semester of your senior year should include

At least 75 Letters & Science units—from L&S departments or approved courses that satisfy the L&S breadth requirements (including language) but are not included in a non-L&S major (see current L&S Announcement Earning Your Degree).
45 Letters & Science units must be letter-graded. They may be earned from any UC campus.

Senior Transfer Students:

At the end of the first semester of your senior year, three or more semesters completed at Berkeley, L& Requirements or IGETC/UC Reciprocity (see Earning Your Degree) and

At least 75 Letters & Science units. To complete this requirement, transfer students who lack the required L&S units from Berkeley may submit transcripts from non-UC institutions to demonstrate equivalent L&S course work.
45 of these Letters & Science units must be letter-graded. They 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 semester, candidates must have completed at least 65 UC Letters & Science letter-graded units and no more than 90 overall units.

All Candidates, Note:

UC Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grades count for Total Units.
Total and L&S Units may include units from other institutions. Transcripts must be submitted for review.
Breadth courses cannot be counted for L&S units if they are counted toward a non-L&S major.
Total GPA is based on courses taken at Berkeley and UCB-acceptable equivalents, such as Berkeley’s EAP. Call the office if you have any questions.
Advanced Placement (AP) units are not accepted in calculating unit requirements.

Applied or professional courses primarily intended to impart skills development or vocational technique do not meet L&S requirements for the first 75 units.

Doctoral Students:

Candidates are nominated by departments in January/February. Nominations identify outstanding students who did not have the 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 only invited in the Spring.

Uninvited Seniors or Recent Graduates

If you think you are eligible for membership, you may submit a transcript from the UC Berkeley Registrar to the Phi Beta Kappa office listed above. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable--preferably photocopies of official transcripts. If you use Bear Facts print-outs, please also include your major, your SID, and complete contact information.