Election Information

The Alpha of Florida Chapter elects new student members in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

Initiation Ceremonies are held in the Fall and the Spring, but not during the Summer semester (Summer graduates are initiated in the Fall).

The Chapter elects both juniors-in-course and graduating seniors. All students under consideration must meet the following requirements: 

  1. Exhibit scholarly achievement, good character, and varied intellectual and cultural interests. 
  2. Be completing requirements for a major in liberal subjects and studies. "Liberal subjects and studies" are those designated principally for knowledge or understanding, or appreciation of nature and society, as contrasted with training intended to develop skill or vocational techniques.

At Florida State, all major programs in the following list are inherently considered to be liberal in nature.

  • The College of Arts and Sciences 
  • The College of Social Sciences

Candidates from other programs including but not limited to those listed below are considered on an individual basis:

  • The College of Communications
  • The College of Music
  • The College of Fine Arts

The eligibility criteria for juniors-in-course and for seniors are decidedly different. 

Junior Checklist

Students in qualifying "Liberal Arts" majors who have a maintained a 3.90 GPA or higher at Florida State are automatically reviewed each semester.  Course distribution requirements are quite strict for election as a Junior, but otherwise eligible students who miss the Junior “window” are very likely to be elected as Seniors in the semester in which they graduate.  (Current enrollment is considered in satisfying all eligibility requirements)

  1. Does the student have at least 75 total college credits (FSU, exemption, transfer, etc.)?
  2. Is the student now enrolled in the first or second term after the attainment of the 75th college credit?
  3. Does the student have at least 45 hours of completed FSU course work (excluding exemption, transfer, etc.)?
  4. Are at least 40 of the completed FSU course credits in graded courses or honors seminars?
  5. Is at least 80% of all course work (including transfer) liberal in content?
  6. Does the student have at least a 3.9 GPA at FSU as well as a 3.9 overall (including transfer credits) GPA?             
  7. Has the student fulfilled the language requirement (or at least one course for students in majors for which a language is required for graduation)?
  8. Is the student’s transcript free of unusual grading patterns or other impediments to election?   

* As of Spring 2023, the GPA requirement for Juniors will be changed from 3.9 to 3.95. This was voted by all board members in Spring 2023.         

Senior Checklist       

A student must be enrolled and have registered to graduate in order to be considered in a given semester (current registration is included in determining eligibility). Senior election occurs only in the semester in which the eligible student graduates.

  1. Does the student have 90 hours in “liberal” content courses?* 
  2. Does the student have a 3.75* FSU GPA?
  3. Does the student have a 3.75* overall  GPA (FSU and transfer credits)?   
  4. Does the student have at least 45 hours of completed FSU course work (excluding exemption, transfer, etc.)?
  5. Is the student’s transcript free of unusual grading patterns or other impediments to election?
  6. Has the student fulfilled the Phi Beta Kappa language requirement of proficiency in a modern or ancient language equivalent to the completion of a 2000-level college language course. This requirement may be satisfied by course work (S/U grading is acceptable) or appropriate exemption exam.

* As of Spring 2023, the GPA requirement for Seniors will be changed from 3.75 to 3.8. This was voted by all board members in Spring 2023.

Students do not have to do anything to initiate their consideration for election other than meet these criteria. However, if a student is from a department or college or school other than Arts and Sciences and Social Studies, or if a student has questions because of anomalies in the transcripts, then the student should contact one of the Chapter officers, preferably during the first month of the semester.