PHI BETA KAPPA was founded in 1776 and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society for undergraduates who excel in the liberal arts and sciences. The Greek letters ΦΒΚ stand for Philosophia Biou Kubermêtês, Love of Wisdom, Helmsman of Life. Nu Chapter of California, chartered at San Diego State in 1974, is one of 276 chapters and the first of only three chapters in The California State University system.
In addition to its spring initiation, Nu Chapter sponsors the annual SDSU Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Lecture. The chapter and Epsilon Association awards as much as $3,000 in scholarships for graduate study.
Membership
Only juniors and seniors who have completed or are completing two years in residence at SDSU and who have earned 45 semester units in residence are eligible for election by chapter members late in the spring semester. Students do not apply for membership; it is by invitation only, and that invitation is extended only once. To be considered, juniors must have a minimum 3.75 GPA in 75 semester units in appropriate coursework at SDSU, and seniors must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and show evidence of commitment to liberal education by having at least 90 semester units of coursework in the liberal arts and sciences. Coursework must demonstrate breadth outside the major, including college mathematics and proficiency in a foreign language corresponding to a third-semester university course for a BA and a second-semester university course for a BS degree. Juniors and seniors must have completed the Upper Division Writing Requirement by either course or exam.
National Website
www.pbk.org
Contacts
Dr. Carey G. Wall, Corresponding Secretary
wall@mail.sdsu.edu
Dr. Annalisa Bertta, President
aberta@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Student Activities and Campus Life: Honor Societies/Major-related Honor Societies
The Honors Council website is run out of the Division of Undergraduate Studies at SDSU.
Please contact the webmaster for problems relating to the website. Last update November 13, 2009