Eligibility Criteria

Phi Beta Kappa membership is open to students in the Arts and Sciences (the Colleges of Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences). Students in the professional schools are not ordinarily eligible for membership, but may be if they can meet the criteria listed below, which are required for all members.

For Seniors:

  1. Liberal Arts GPA 3.85 minimum
  2. Minimum of 90 graded liberal arts credits
  3. Recalculated GPA includes liberal arts courses taken elsewhere
  4. Minimum of 120 graduation credits including final semester enrollment
  5. Minimum of 60 graduation credits taken at UMass of which at least 45 must be liberal arts.
  6. Minimum of four semesters in residence at UMass
    (study abroad through a UMass recognized or sponsored program counts as "in residence")
  7. Grades/courses in applied or professional work not counted in GPA and for purposes of eligibility.

For Juniors:

  1. Liberal Arts GPA 3.95 minimum
  2. Minimum of 60 graded liberal arts credits
  3. Recalculated GPA includes liberal arts courses taken elsewhere
  4. Minimum of 90 graduation credits including enrollment in second half of junior year
  5. Minimum of 60 graduation credits taken at UMass of which at least 45 must be liberal arts.
  6. Minimum of four semesters in residence at UMass
    (study abroad through a UMass recognized or sponsored program counts as "in residence")
  7. Grades/courses in applied or professional work not counted in GPA and for purposes of eligibility.