Phi Beta Kappa

The best in the liberal arts

University of the Pacific is among just 10 percent of colleges and universities in the United States to host a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's oldest and most well-known academic honor society. Each year, Pacific’s Chi Chapter of California inducts some of the university’s best liberal arts students into the distinguished society.

As a champion of education in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, Phi Beta Kappa's recognition of Pacific underscores our success at delivering the best that a liberal arts education offers.

Throughout the year, Pacific’s Chi Chapter sponsors and co-sponsors lectures, theatre and arts productions, and other events that celebrate the liberal arts on campus.

Membership Benefits

Distinction & Prestige

Acknowledgement of your academic achievements, providing you with distinction in job and graduate school markets.

Extracurricular Activities

Pacific’s Chi chapter sponsors lectures, theatre and arts productions, and other events that celebrate the liberal arts on campus.

Alumni Opportunities

After graduating from college, members can join Phi Beta Kappa associations and chapters in their communities, which offer social, cultural, educational and networking opportunities.

Elite Membership

Sign of Dedication

"I think that being part of such an amazing society will open doors for you. It stands out on resumes to employers just because it shows that kind of dedication to your studies and your school, it shows not only academic dedication and excellence but also an interest in a wide range of subjects, which I think is unique.” — Sarah Hess ’21, history major

How to get in

Membership is by invitation, and typically those invited to join are within the top 5% of their graduating class. Students must have junior or senior academic standing. Members also have a strong liberal arts education with demonstrated fluency in a second language, demonstrated study of literature and facility with math at the college level.

Pacific GPA ≥ 3.7 for seniors

Pacific GPA ≥ 3.9 for juniors

The mathematics requirement is met by passing a pre-calculus course or its equivalent with a letter grade option (not pass/fail).

This can be met in many ways:

MATH 007, 037, 041, 051, 053, 055, 057 with a C- or better
MTHC ≥ 72 and MTHD ≥ 50
MTHE ≥ 34
SAT II Math 1 ≥ 590
Any AP calculus test ≥ 3
Any IB calculus test ≥ 4

The foreign language requirement is met by completing the fourth semester of a college level foreign language, or its equivalent with a letter grade option (not pass/fail).

This can be met by:

CHIN 025, GERM 025, RUSS 025, FREN 025, JAPN 025, SPAN 025, LTN 025, GREK 025
Any AP foreign language test = 5
Any IB foreign language test = 7

The literature course may be any one of the following (not pass/fail):

ENGL 025, 041, 043, 051, 053, 122, 123, 125, 127, 131, 133, 135, 141, 143, 151, 153, 161, 163
FREN 051, 114, 116, 118, 122, 124, 126, 128, 191, 193
JAPN 170, 172, 180
SPAN 103, 112, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 133, 135, 191
RUSS 073
GERM 128
ASIA 130
RELI 172
CLAS 110, 112
INTL 123
Any AP literature test ≥ 4
Any IB literature test ≥ 5