Students do not apply to become members of Phi Beta Kappa.  Rather, the advisory committee of the Stony Brook chapter reviews students’ academic records and elects them membership.

 

Because election to Phi Beta Kappa marks students’ achievement for the entirety of their college experience, election to the Society takes place, as a rule, just before students graduate. 

 

The Stony Brook chapter elects students before May, summer, and December graduations.  Students who graduate at other times of the year should contact the chapter for information. 

 

Election process and Eligibility requirements

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Admission is by election, based on the breadth and balance of a student’s college record as well as superior academic performance.  By the rules of the national organization, chapters are allowed to elect no more than 10% of a graduating class.   From each graduating class, 90% will be elected as seniors and 10% as juniors.  Because student achievement varies from year to year, there is also some variability in the level of achievement that allows the chapter to elect students.  However, most recently, the minimum cumulative GPA for seniors was 3.87 and the minimum for juniors was 4.00.  To be elected, a student must have completed 60 credits at Stony Brook (excluding transfer, AP, or other test credits).  Seniors may only be elected when they have applied for graduation.  They must have completed their graduation requirements or be enrolled in courses that will enable them to complete those requirements.  To be elected as a junior, a student must have completed 15 upper division credits at Stony Brook in content courses (e.g., teaching assistant and research credits do not count toward the requirement).  In addition, students who have been found guilty of academic dishonesty are not eligible for Phi Beta Kappa.  

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The national organization provides a number of stipulations that guide elections for each chapter. Because Phi Beta Kappa stipulations focus on the liberal arts, the committee evaluates students who have enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, as well as select majors from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (i.e., AMS and Computer Science).

 

One stipulation requires particular emphasis: 

“Weight shall be given to the breadth and depth of study in the liberal arts and sciences, taking into account the number, variety, and level of courses taken outside the requirements of the major, and the proportion of the candidate’s overall program those courses constitute. Consideration shall also be given to the number of elective courses taken above the introductory, or general education, level.” 

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To meet Phi Beta Kappa’s stipulation for breadth and depth, the Stony Brook chapter has these requirements: 

1.  9 credits in QPS, SNW, or STEM+.

2.  9 credits in ARTS, HUM, or HFA+.

3.  6 credits in SBS or SBS+. 

 

No course may be counted twice toward these requirements. For example, a course that is double certified as ARTS and HUM would only count as three credits toward the requirement. Students may transfer in coursework to cover some of the requirements, but must complete at least ONE course at Stony Brook in each of the a, b, and c groups noted above. For example, a student may transfer in a QPS course and SNW course, but then must complete at least one QPS, SNW, or STEM+ course at Stony Brook.

In addition, students must have fulfilled the university’s LANG requirement or have language ability (through course work, AP or placement tests, or personal experience) equivalent to that requirement. 

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To begin the election process, the members of the Phi Beta Kappa selection committee (which involves faculty and staff who were themselves elected to Phi Beta Kappa) request records from the university.  

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Students who are elected to Phi Beta Kappa will receive an e-mail from the Secretary of the Chapter. To be considered for election, students must have applied for graduation by February 15, July 15, or October 15 (before each graduation). Students who believe they are eligible for election, but have applied for graduation after these deadlines, should contact the Chapter Secretary directly.

If students’ records provide evidence that they meet all the stipulations, they will receive a message that directly offers them membership.  If students’ records provide evidence that they meet all stipulations except the language requirement, they will receive a message asking them to provide information about their language achievement. Under those circumstances, the chapter works with students to assess their language ability. 

For more information, please feel free to contact the Secretary of Stony Brook’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Professor Emeritus Richard Gerrig,  richard.gerrig@stonybrook.edu. 

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