Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society

PurposeBiology Honor Society seal

The Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society is a society for students, particularly for undergraduates. It seeks to encourage scholarly attainment in this field of learning by reserving its Regular membership for those who achieve superior academic records and who indicate special aptitude for and major interest in the life sciences. It desires to cultivate intellectual interest in the natural sciences and to promote better appreciation of the value of biological study, and thus welcomes into Associate membership all those students who are interested in biology. Beta Beta Beta also endeavors to extend the boundaries of our knowledge of nature by encouraging new discoveries through scientific investigation, and to this end encourages undergraduate students to begin research work and report their findings in the quarterly journal of the society, BIOS.

Since its founding in 1922, Beta Beta Beta has accepted more than 200,000 individuals into lifetime membership, and more than 626 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Membership Eligibility

Beta Beta Beta membership is by invitation only. Undergraduate Biology majors shall be eligible for Regular membership if they

  • have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum or its equivalent,
  • have completed at least three semester courses in biological science, of which at least one is not an introductory course, with an average grade of B or higher in those biology courses,
  • have a B average in all courses, and
  • are in good academic standing.

Only Regular members may hold the constitutionally specified Chapter offices, vote on Chapter membership nominations and national questions, and represent the Chapter or vote at national conventions.

Research Grants and Awards

The Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation Program offers grants annually to Regular undergraduate members for deserving research projects. Students who present their research at a district or national Beta Beta Beta meeting are eligible for certain awards:

  • The McClung Award for most outstanding paper published in BIOS
  • The Frank G. Brooks award for most outstanding oral research presentation
  • The John C. Johnson award for most outstanding poster presentation

For more information on these and other Society awards, visit the Beta Beta Beta website.

The Framingham State Chapter: Chi Omega

The Framingham State Biology Department’s application for a chapter of Beta Beta Beta was approved in September 2015. Installation of the Chi Omega Chapter took place in the D. Justin McCarthy Campus Center on Friday, April 6, 2018. Charter members inducted that day included Chapter Faculty Advisor Aline Davis, PhD, and twenty-one students.

Current Chapter Officers

President:  Chloe Chapdelaine
Vice-President:  Gwendolyn Carpenter

Chapter Email:  tribeta@framingham.edu

Faculty Advisor:  Dr. Aline Davis, adavis@framingham.edu