Who We AreThe Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society

Founded in 1920, Phi Kappa Phi has a long history at OSU and our mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." In 1897 at the University of Maine, ten senior students, two faculty members, and the school president created an honor society that was different from the few others then in existence. They created a society that recognized and honored excellence in all academic disciplines. Under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann, the group formed the Lambda Sigma Eta Society, which was later renamed Phi Kappa Phi from the initial letters of the Greek words forming its adopted motto:Philosophìa Krateìto Photôn, "Let the love of learning rule humanity."

OUR HISTORY

Phi Kappa Phi is more than a line on a résumé. The nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society initiates approximately 25,000 members a year on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. More than 1.5 million members have joined its ranks since Phi Kappa Phi’s founding in 1897 at the University of Maine. It is a global network of the best and brightest, a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for all generations.

Officers and Members

Meet the officers and fellow members of the honor society.

Our Members

Frequently asked questions

What are the academic requirements for membership?
Seniors must rank in the top 10 percent of their class. Graduate students must rank in the upper 10 percent of their class. Juniors must have completed at least seventy-two credit hours and rank scholastically in the top 7.5 percent of their class. Eligibility may be determined separately for each academic unit within a member institution, e.g., department, school or college. Transfer credits are considered in determining class rank. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also may be eligible for membership.
Who is eligible for membership?
Undergraduate students in any department of a college or university having a Phi Kappa Phi chapter who have completed at least twenty-four (24) semester hours or the equivalent at that institution.
Do I need to be a particular major to qualify for membership?
Because Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields of higher education, one's field of study may be in any discipline.