Phi Beta Kappa

Nu of Massachusetts Chapter

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. Its members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 38 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, more than 150 Nobel Laureates, noted scientists and researchers, business and civic leaders, artists, and athletes, and it continues to honor students who achieve excellence in a broad-based exploration of the arts and sciences. The Greek letters stand for a phrase in Greek meaning “love of learning is the guide of life.” The gold key, a symbol of extraordinary achievement, bears three stars signifying friendship, morality, and learning, as well as a pointing hand representing scholarly ambition.

Our chapter is one of only 286 accredited by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, out of over 3000 colleges and universities in the United States. It was founded in 1965, following a three-year evaluation. Among the five campuses of the University of Massachusetts and the nine state universities in Massachusetts, only UMass Amherst has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. And among public universities in New England, UMass Amherst is one of only five approved to have chapters by the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

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.

Phi Beta Kappa, Nu of Massachusetts
Chapter Officers 2025-2026

President:

Professor Kirby Deater-Deckard, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Contact: kdeaterdeck@umass.edu

Vice-President:

Pending selection

Secretary:

Professor Alice Cheung, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Treasurer:

Professor Kirby Deater-Deckard, Psychological and Brain Sciences (interim)