Phi Beta Kappa (ΦBK) is a National Honors Fraternity for Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Since that time, its rigorous and comprehensive standards have made election to it a premier sign of excellence. The Sigma of Pennsylvania Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was created at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova in April 1986.
The Phi Beta Kappa standards reflect the highest ideals of liberal education at Villanova: education that is concerned with values and facts, as well as wisdom and knowledge; education that seeks freedom from ignorance, alienation, and inhumanity; that values intellectual integrity and tolerance over expediency, and breadth of scholarly achievement over specialized expertise.
Juniors and seniors who are candidates for a degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose academic achievements reflect the goals of Phi Beta Kappa, and who meet the following specific criteria shall be eligible for consideration for election to Phi Beta Kappa.
At least three-fourths of a candidate's academic work must have been taken in the liberal arts and sciences, as distinct from applied or professional work.
The Chapter chooses candidates with evidence of academic achievement that is of exceptional distinction, and gives weight to the breadth and the quality of the overall program of courses taken by each candidate.
Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is wholly within the discretion of the members of the Chapter, subject only to the limitations imposed by its Constitution and By-Laws. Fulfillment of the minimum qualifications does not assure election to the membership.
For more information about Phi Beta Kappa, please contact the Office of the Dean at 610.519.4600.
