Requirements for Initiation

Membership in PBK can come only through election and initiation by the local chapter.

Elections are held in the spring of each academic year. Graduating seniors and Ph.D. candidates in the College of Arts and Sciences are automatically considered for membership every year. Requirements include evidence of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement in the liberal arts and sciences, and good character. Direct application for membership by the student is not necessary, and letters of recommendation are not required.

1. Only seniors graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences or graduates from the college from the preceding August or December will be considered. Students who complete their college coursework at the end of the summer session and become eligible at that time may be considered with the eligible group of the next academic year.

2. The candidate shall be majoring in liberal subjects and studies and taking a course program expected to include at least 90 semester hours of liberal work among the 124 hours required for the bachelor's degree. Transfer students are considered, but as a minimum requirement all candidates must have completed at least 3 semesters (45 hours) of residence at Baylor University and be registered for a fourth semester.

3. The candidate shall have demonstrated a knowledge of mathematics and a foreign language at least minimally appropriate for a liberal education.

4. The number of undergraduates elected from any class shall not exceed a percentage, as determined by the chapter, of the undergraduates expected to receive liberal bachelor's degrees in that class. This percentage shall not exceed 10 percent of the class nor be less than 5 percent. Grades earned in applied or professional work shall not be counted in computing the grade point average for the purpose of eligibility. Grades in liberal subjects which have been transferred from other universities will be considered in the evaluation of the candidate. An overall grade point average of at least 3.75 is usually required for serious consideration of any candidate.

5. Graduate students shall be elected to membership in course only in strict accord with the provisions outlined above. The number of graduate students elected in any year shall be limited to a percentage of the candidates for doctor's degrees in liberal fields. This percentage will be determined by the chapter.

6. Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is wholly within the discretion of the chapter and no right to election shall adhere to any student solely by reason of fulfillment of the minimum grade point average for election.