Phi Beta Kappa Introduces New Language Proficiency Requirement for Wesleyan Students, from Zaynah Almasri ’27

By Zaynah Almasri ’27

Wesleyan students hoping to be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), one of the oldest and most prestigious academic honor societies in the United States, will now be required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. The change, which takes effect this academic year, is part of a broader national policy aimed at reinforcing the importance of a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Professor Ben Elling, President of Wesleyan’s Connecticut Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and a professor of chemistry, explained that the organization recognizes students who demonstrate not only academic excellence in their chosen fields, but also a commitment to exploring disciplines beyond their majors.

“Phi Beta Kappa hopes to honor students who have shown that they’re not only excellent scholars in their chosen field, but that they really embody the spirit of a liberal arts education,” Elling explained.

For Wesleyan students, this means fulfilling general education expectations and taking advantage of the interdisciplinary opportunities that a liberal arts institution offers.

Why is the requirement changing?

Although the language proficiency requirement is new to Wesleyan’s chapter, it is not a recent development within the national organization. In 2011, Phi Beta Kappa introduced expectations that students demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English and complete at least one course involving quantitative analysis.

However, as one of the organization’s longstanding chapters, Wesleyan was previously exempt from implementing these requirements. That changed in 2025, when the national organization voted to make both requirements mandatory for all chapters, including those that had previously been exempt.

“This is a thing that is out of our hands. This is a national chapter decision,” Elling clarified.

In addition to the language and quantitative analysis requirements, the maximum percentage of each graduating class eligible for induction has decreased from 12% to 10%.

What counts as language proficiency?

For students wondering whether they meet the new language requirement, Elling emphasized that Wesleyan’s chapter intends to recognize a variety of language-learning experiences, rather than requiring everyone to complete additional coursework.

Students can demonstrate proficiency through several pathways:

  • Multilingual backgrounds: Students who speak a language other than English at home or whose first language is not English can satisfy the requirement.
  • Wesleyan language coursework: Students who have taken language courses at Wesleyan can demonstrate proficiency through their studies.
  • Language placement exams: Students who have passed a language placement exam at Wesleyan, regardless of when they took it, can meet the requirement.
  • High school examinations: Students who earned a score of 3 or higher on an AP language exam or 4 or higher on an IB language exam can also qualify.
  • Other language experiences: Students whose language backgrounds do not fit these categories may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Elling explained that the chapter is open to recognizing languages and experiences that might not fall within conventional academic language-learning pathways.

Rather than having the Phi Beta Kappa committee independently verify every student’s language proficiency, much of the responsibility will fall to individual academic departments. Department chairs will receive information about students who meet the existing academic criteria, along with available records indicating whether they have fulfilled the new requirements.

What does this mean for students?

The changes take effect during the current academic year, meaning students being considered for Phi Beta Kappa induction will now need to meet both the language proficiency and quantitative analysis requirements.

Despite the additional criteria, Elling does not anticipate that the changes will significantly affect the number of students who would otherwise qualify.

“It’s very rare to see that a Wesleyan student has had no kind of second language experience before,” he noted.

Similarly, he explained that most students have already completed coursework involving quantitative analysis, making that requirement relatively straightforward to fulfill.

However, students should be proactive about ensuring their academic departments are aware of their qualifications, particularly if their language proficiency comes from experiences outside the classroom.

“If they think they are someone who might be a strong Phi Beta Kappa person, talk to your department chair,” Elling advised.

He also encouraged students who have questions or concerns about their eligibility to reach out to him directly. Additional information about the requirements and their implementation will be shared with academic departments in the coming months.

Language Learning and the Liberal Arts

While the new requirements introduce additional considerations into the Phi Beta Kappa selection process, they also reinforce the importance of multilingualism and academic exploration within a liberal arts education. Elling emphasized that these changes are unlikely to significantly affect students’ eligibility, as many already possess the necessary qualifications. As Wesleyan begins implementing the new requirements, students are encouraged to ensure their language proficiency is recognized by their academic departments. For any questions or concerns regarding eligibility, students are welcome to contact Professor Ben Elling directly at belling@wesleyan.edu.