Texas Tech University

Election Criteria

Download this document: .docx | .pdf

Lambda of Texas Eligibility Guidelines

Election to Phi Beta Kappa is a privilege that may be conferred upon a select number of students with records of outstanding performance in the liberal arts and sciences. No more than ten percent of the annual number of graduates from the liberal arts and sciences (as interpreted by the Phi Beta Kappa Society) can be elected each year.

Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is wholly within the discretion of the members of the local chapter, subject only to the limitations established by the national Phi Beta Kappa Society.  There is no right to election solely by reason of fulfillment of a minimum grade point average or of completion of other minimum eligibility requirements in part or in total. Although the honor bestowed by membership in the Society recognizes academic achievement, the qualifications for election to Phi Beta Kappa are independent of the academic policies of Texas Tech University, and it should not be assumed that fulfillment of any university requirements, including, for example, requirements for graduation with honors, will guarantee election to Phi Beta Kappa.

Students who meet the minimum criteria described herein and whose majors are in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, or the Honors College need not apply for membership consideration; their records will be automatically reviewed. 

Students who meet the minimum criteria described herein but whose majors are not in A&S, V&PA, or Honors must provide transcripts and other relevant materials for review.  Such students or their advisors must contact the Chapter President in writing for guidance before January 30th. 

Any eligible students who have reason to think their university records may not provide adequate evidence of their eligibility may contact the Chapter President and ask to present additional evidence of eligibility.  Requests of this nature must be initiated in writing before January 30th.

Election is based upon evidence of cultural and intellectual interests, scholarly achievement, and good character.  Candidates for membership should have a distinguished record of performance in liberal arts courses, exclusive of professional and vocational training, internships, and so on.  Candidates should demonstrate a broad exposure to the liberal arts, including the fine arts, humanities, languages, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements (Must Be Completed Prior to Phi Beta Kappa Consideration at TTU):

  • Completion of all requirements as stipulated by the Phi Beta Kappa Society (see “Stipulations Concerning Eligibility for Membership in Course” at www.pbk.org).
  • Minimum GPA of 3.7 for seniors (90 hours or more) or 3.8 for juniors (75-89 hours).
  • For transfer students, completion of at least 36 credit hours at Texas Tech beyond whatever credit hours may have been transferred from another institution.
  • Satisfactory completion of two university math classes at or above the level of 1320 OR one math class at or above 1320 and one class from the second portion of the TTU mathematics core curriculum.
  • Satisfactory completion of the fourth university semester or above of a foreign language. Courses taught in English and courses that focus on culture or literature in translation are valuable classes but will not fulfill this minimum language requirement.  Courses intended to satisfy the university's language requirement in a highly condensed manner, such as, for example, in the case of 16 hours of language credit granted for a single semester of study abroad, may not fulfill this minimum requirement.
  • Satisfactory completion of at least two 3000 or above level courses outside the student's major.
  • For students with 90 hours or more of earned credit, in-progress coursework may be considered as completed for the purposes of satisfying minimum election criteria.

Participation in Honors courses, undergraduate research, service learning, and study abroad programs, as well as other indications of cultural and intellectual interests, scholarly achievement, and good character, will be considered favorably by reviewers.  Indications of a lack of cultural and intellectual interests, scholarly achievement, and good character will be considered negatively by reviewers.

Adopted 7 December 2006; Amended 25 March 2008; Amended 5 November 2018; Amended 6 November 2019

Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda of Texas Chapter