Advising Handbook for Faculty

Academic honors

Phi Beta Kappa -- To be considered for Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest honor society for undergraduates in the United States, students must have: a liberal arts major, grade-point averages of 3.5 for seniors and 3.8 for juniors, 1 year of foreign language study at or above the Intermediate level, 60 credits at Rutgers. Transfer students may be nominated in their senior year, if at the end of the fall semester of that year, they have earned 54 or more credits at Rutgers. Students are qualified through a careful screening process, then contacted to invite them to join the Rutgers chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Athenaeum -- The members of Athenaeum are elected from among the best scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences. Membership is limited to seniors who have earned at least 60 credits at the college with a cumulative grade-point average of no less than 3.5 and juniors who have earned at least 80 credits at the college with a cumulative grade-point average of no less than 3.7. Transfer students who will have at least 60 Rutgers credits by graduation may be considered for membership in their senior year if, at the beginning of the spring semester of that year, they have earned 54 or more credits at Rutgers.
Alpha Sigma Lambda -- Membership is open by invitation to students who have earned at least 75 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at Rutgers-Camden. Students must have a 3.5 or better cumulative grade-point average. There is a fee to join this national honor society.
Departmental honor societies – see website for information.
Dean’s list -- The dean's list recognizes current academic achievement. The list is published at the end of each term for full-time students and in August for part-time students. Full-time students are eligible if they have completed 12 or more credits for numerical grade credit with a term grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Part-time students are eligible if during the previous academic year they have completed 12 or more credits for numerical grade credit with a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.
Graduating with honors -- The bachelor's degree is conferred with Honors on all degree candidates with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5. The requirement for High Honors is a cumulative grade-point average of 3.75. The minimum requirement for Highest Honors is 3.9. To be eligible for an honors degree, a student must successfully complete at least 45 credits within Rutgers as a matriculated student. These averages are precise; there is no rounding up.
General Honors from the Honors College – To achieve General Honors students must have their successful participation in the Honors College program certified and approved by the Honors College office. Students must have a cumulative 3.0 average on graduation.