Phi Beta Kappa Eligibility
This page reviews the eligibility requirements for Vanderbilt University’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Note that requirements are different for juniors and seniors, as explained below.
Only juniors and seniors are eligible for election to Phi Beta Kappa. All students who graduate in August, December, or May of a given academic year (e.g., 2024 – 2025) are considered “seniors.” Students who intend to graduate the following academic year (e.g., 2025 – 2026), are considered “juniors,” regardless of standing according to the registrar.
Seniors in the College of Arts and Science who have an earned cumulative grade point average of 3.65 or higher in their Arts & Sciences courses are eligible for consideration for election as members-in-course. The total number of students elected from any senior class will not exceed 10 percent of the graduating class in the College of Arts and Science.
Seniors from other schools or colleges at Vanderbilt who will graduate with a second major in the College of Arts and Science may also be eligible. Such students must have completed at least 60 semester hours in the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt and must have an earned overall grade point average of at least 3.75.
Transfer students who are candidates for graduation must be in at least their fourth semester of residence at Vanderbilt and must have completed, on graduation, at least 60 semester hours in the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt. The overall grade point average for these courses must be at least 3.75.
Juniors in the College of Arts and Science must be in at least the sixth semester of residence at Vanderbilt and must have completed at least 70 semester hours in the College of Arts and Sciences with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.90 as of the end of the fifth semester. No more than six juniors are elected in any year.
The above residence and credit hour requirements may not be satisfied by test, AP, or transfer credit, but may be satisfied by study abroad programs controlled or approved by Vanderbilt.
Attainment of the minimum required grade point average does not guarantee election. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is based on a demonstration of scholarly achievements, broad cultural interests, and high moral character. The scholarly work of a member-in-course must emphasize liberal rather than applied or professional studies. As a guideline, for seniors at least 90 hours must qualify as pertaining to the liberal arts, with 60 hours in Arts & Sciences from Vanderbilt. AP credits can count toward the 90 overall hours required within the Arts & Sciences. Grades earned in applied (vocational) or professional work are not counted in computing the grade point average.
The breadth of a candidate’s program is also considered. In this regard, there are specific requirements in mathematical reasoning and foreign language, detailed below, that must be satisfied. Juniors must have completed these requirements as well as most AXLE requirements by the end of their junior year. Juniors who are abroad in foreign study programs may be considered for election if they meet all the criteria and apply on time. For calculating semester hours and judging residence requirements, the chapter treats foreign study programs in the same manner as does the College of Arts and Science.
Mathematical Reasoning and Foreign Language Requirements
Phi Beta Kappa has long emphasized the importance of mathematics and foreign language in a liberal education. In keeping with this tradition, our chapter requires prospective members to demonstrate proficiency in these areas beyond the AXLE graduation requirements. Foreign language proficiency is typically demonstrated by taking a course in a language at a level at least one semester beyond the AXLE requirement. Mathematics proficiency may be demonstrated by completing two semesters of calculus or one semester of calculus and one semester of a statistics course. Courses must be taken on a graded rather than a P/F basis.
Examples are shown below, but other options may be possible. The mathematics requirement may be met only through Vanderbilt course credit that appears on a student’s academic record; that credit may be earned through courses taken at Vanderbilt or at another institution of higher learning or AP, IB, or A-level exam credit that has been applied to a student’s record as Vanderbilt course credit. The foreign language requirement may be met through the same means as for the mathematics requirement, or through a suitable score on the SAT-II exam or on the Tennessee Language Center tests (written and oral) in the language. Those taking the Tennessee Language Center tests should be certain that the tests are completed and scored by the application deadline.
Examples of courses that qualify
Mathematics/Statistics
Mathematics 1200-1201, or
Mathematics 1300-1301, or
Mathematics 1100 {or any other single semester of calculus} with a statistics course:
ECON 1500, ECON 1510, SOC 2100, MATH 1011, MATH 2810, BSCI 3270, PSY 2100, PSY-PC 2110, DS 2100, DS 3100, BME 2400, CE 3300
Foreign Language
Credit for a third-semester or higher-level course in a foreign language. Typically these are 2201- or 2203-level courses. for example:
Arabic 2201
Chinese 2201
Creole 2201 (taught through the Duke-UVa-Vanderbilt language partnership)
French 2203
German 2201
Greek 2201
Hebrew 2201
Hindi 2201
Italian 2203
Japanese 2201
K’iche’ 2201
Korean 2201
Latin 2201
Portuguese 2203
Russian 2201
Spanish 2201
Tibetan 2201 (taught through the Duke-UVa-Vanderbilt language partnership)
Questions about membership should be directed to the Membership Chair.
Transfer students and Non-A&S Students
A transfer student or a student from a school or college other than the College of Arts & Science who is a candidate for graduation and who will have been in residence at least four semesters by the time of graduation may be elected provided the student has a grade point average of 3.75 or higher and that a minimum of 60 semester hours in the College of Arts and Science will have been completed at graduation. At least 90 hours of the student’s total program must be in a liberal arts direction, rather than applied or professional in nature. The breadth of a candidate’s program, as shown by the number and variety of courses taken outside the major, is considered. Grades earned in applied (vocational) and professional work are not counted in computing the grade point average.
Special Instructions for Juniors
To be considered for membership, complete the following steps:
Complete the application form.
Ask a professor to write a letter of recommendation for you. This letter should be addressed to the Membership Committee of the Alpha of Tennessee Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and sent to David Golann via email at david.golann@vanderbilt.edu.
Phi Beta Kappa emphasizes the scholarly achievements, broad cultural interests, and high moral character of its members. In a short essay (500 words or fewer) for inclusion with your Information Release Form, discuss the role these principles have played in your life or academic career. Attach this essay to your online application.