Purpose of Phi Beta Kappa

Five students at the College of William and Mary founded The Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1776 during the American Revolution. For more than two and a quarter centuries, the Society has embraced the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression. Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) stands for Φιλοσοφία Βίου Κυβερνήτης in Greek (PhilosAriophia Biou Cybernētēs in Latin letters), which means "Love of learning is the guide of life," the motto of the Society. These ideas, symbolized on Phi Beta Kappa's distinctive gold key, still lay the foundations of personal freedom, scientific inquiry, liberty of conscience, and creative endeavor.

Today, the Phi Beta Kappa Society celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Phi Beta Kappa chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at 296 leading U.S. colleges and universities. Only about 10 percent of the nation's institutions of higher learning have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and only about 10 percent of the arts and sciences graduates of these distinguished institutions are invited to join The Phi Beta Kappa Society, which makes the invitation process one of the most selective in the nation.

At the University of Minnesota and many other large universities, the principal activity of the chapter is to identify students whose excellent achievements in the pursuit of a liberal education qualifies them for membership in the society. PBK membership on your résumé or graduate school application identifies you as one of the top 10% of your graduating class, with a broad liberal education from a university with high academic standards. It provides a way to underscore your academic accomplishments.

Membership also offers an opportunity for more active membership later, either as a chapter member while in academia, or as a member of a local Phi Beta Kappa association, such as the Twin Cities Association of Phi Beta Kappa.