About Phi Beta Kappa

The Phi Beta Kappa Society publishes The American Scholar. Founded on December 5, 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 290 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence.

The Phi Beta Kappa Society offers a variety of programs that support its mission, including the National Arts & Sciences Initiative, the Visiting Scholar Program, Key Connections networking events, various awards and fellowships, and programming on topics that include free expression.

In addition to The American Scholar and the Smarty Pants podcast, Phi Beta Kappa publishes its membership quarterly, The Key Reporter. It also produces the Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa podcast, featuring in-depth conversations between Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary/CEO of the Society, and Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholars.

Represented by a signature gold key and three Greek letters, Phi Beta Kappa offers a credential that has national recognition. Membership affirms its motto “Love of learning is the guide of life,” derived from the Greek Φιλοσοφία Βίου Κυβερνήτης (ΦΒΚ).