USC Phi Beta Kappa

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Selection Criteria

Phi Beta Kappa is a national honor society recognizing outstanding academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Each year the University of South Carolina Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa initiates new undergraduate members into the society. In response to a number of inquiries, we take this opportunity to summarize the standards for election to Phi Beta Kappa.

Each year, all juniors and seniors who have successfully completed at least 75 academic hours are automatically considered for membership. There is no application process. At the start of each spring semester, the campus Chapter's Executive Council assesses student qualifications as provided in grade reports from USC's Office of the Registrar. Students with 75-89 hours must have a minimum grade point average of 3.85 on a 4.0 scale; students with 90 or more hours must have a minimum grade point average of 3.75. A minimum of 42 credit hours must have been earned in class on the Columbia campus. At the end of the review process, the Chapter sends letters to qualified students offering admission to the society. The Chapter uses the local address on file with the registrar's office for this mailing. Students who respond to the invitation, complete a data sheet, and participate in an initiation ceremony become members of Phi Beta Kappa.

Some factors automatically disqualify an individual from consideration for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. No student who has received a grade of F at any college or university may be considered for membership.

Approximately 60 percent of a student's academic work must be considered "liberal", i.e., emphasizing conceptual rather than applied material. Most courses in the traditional humanities, social science, science, or mathematics curricula are considered liberal. Applied or professional work is understood to include courses intended primarily to develop skills or vocational techniques.

Of course, a student should plan his or her college career with primary attention to the requirements of his or her major, not the requirements of a particular honor society. However, since many inquiries have been received concerning our standards for election, we wanted to make this information available.

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