Several national and international academic honor societies are represented at UCLA.
Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma are national honor societies that recognize high-achieving first-year students. Membership is based solely on academic achievement and is by invitation only. To be eligible, students must have a 3.5 grade-point average with 12 graded UC units in the first quarter of their first year at UCLA, or a cumulative 3.5 GPA at the end of the first year. For more information, send e-mail to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Golden Key is an international interdisciplinary academic honors organization dedicated to excellence. Students qualify on the basis of objective academic criteria. To be eligible, students must have a UC grade-point average of 3.6 after their first quarter at UCLA; and have sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time of invitation.
The society recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence in all undergraduate fields of study. It unites with collegiate faculties, staff, and administrators in developing and maintaining high standards of education, and promotes scholastic achievement and altruistic conduct through voluntary service. Invitations are issued annually. For more information, send e-mail to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Mortar Board is a national honor society for college seniors that recognizes outstanding and continual scholarship, leadership, and service to the campus community.
To be considered for membership, candidates must have completed 90 units and must have attained at least a B average or be in the highest 35 percent scholastically of the junior class, whichever is higher. Applications are available online early in spring quarter and are due by mid-April. Approximately 35 members are selected each spring by the outgoing chapter. For more information, contact the Student Organizations, Leadership, and Engagement (SOLE) office, 105 Kerckhoff Hall.
Phi Beta Kappa is a national academic honors society in the humanities, liberal arts, and sciences, founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Membership is conferred for high scholastic standing and is determined by vote of the UCLA Eta Chapter Committee on Members in Course according to scholarship records. Students do not apply for Phi Beta Kappa membership.
At UCLA, only graduating seniors and selected juniors are elected to membership. The annual election is held in late April, with the initiation ceremony in June. At present, the minimum grade-point average considered is 3.85 (for 140 or more UC units); the minimum number of UC units considered is 80 (students at the 80-unit level must have at least a 3.90 GPA).
A reasonable distribution of courses in the humanities and sciences is also required, as is a foreign language course at the intermediate level (one level above the UCLA language requirement for graduation) or above. A Passed grade is computed approximately as a B, depending on number of courses taken and graded units. Elected students are notified through MyUCLA.
For more information, see the website, or contact Phi Beta Kappa in the UCLA Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment, 233 Covel Commons.
Tau Sigma is a national honor society that recognizes the high academic achievement of first-year transfer students. To become a member, UCLA students must have a 3.5 grade-point average or better during their first term at UCLA after transferring either from a community college or a four-year institution (summer quarter not typically included). Invitations are issued after each regular academic term.
Tau Sigma honors the large UCLA transfer community for its academic achievement. The society also holds leadership, networking, and social activities. For more information, send e-mail to Tau Sigma or contact the Office of the Dean of Students.
