Tau Beta Pi
The Engineering Honor Society
Joining Tau Beta Pi
Membership in Tau Beta Pi marks you as an exceptional engineering student or practicing engineer with exemplary character. Membership also offers unique and valuable leadership opportunities and a chance to interact with peers from all engineering disciplines. Tau Beta Pi membership is for life and by becoming a member of this honor society, you join others with similar interests and high achievements.
To become a Tau Beta Pi member, you must meet both our scholastic and exemplary character requirements, be elected by a student chapter, pay a one-time membership fee, and attend an initiation ceremony. If, after reviewing the scholastic requirements below, you believe you are eligible, contact the leaders at the student chapter on your campus. If there is no chapter at your school, download this PDF for for detailed instructions and requirements to start a new Tau Beta Pi chapter and contact with any questions.
Each chapter has its own method for determining whether a candidate meets the exemplary character requirements. This often includes attending an interview, completing a quiz, obtaining member signatures, or participating in a chapter-sponsored activity or project! The intent of these activities is to provide current members the opportunity to meet and get to know you and for you to learn about Tau Beta Pi and demonstrate your interest in joining the Association.
Why Join
To be recognized by your peers as being a distinguished scholar with exemplary character.
Who Can Join
Learn the scholastic requirements to join as an undergraduate or graduate student, alumni, or practicing engineer.
How to Join
You must be invited by a chapter and be a junior (top 1/8) or senior (top 1/5) in your engineering class.
Benefits of Membership
Want to learn about becoming a member?
Please complete our form to receive more information about Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. We will respond promptly to your questions. Thank you!
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Eligible Candidate Categories
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1
Undergraduate students
Most members are initiated as undergraduate students, and candidates must be in the upper eighth of the junior class or upper fifth of the senior class. Candidates are typically contacted by the chapter's leaders, advisors, or the dean's office when a candidate is eligible. Contact the chapter leaders on your campus if you believe you are eligible, but did not receive an invitation.
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2
Graduate students
Candidates at the graduate level must be in the upper fifth of the class. If class rank cannot be determined, candidates must obtain a letter of recommendation from a faculty or academic advisor certifying a candidate is doing graduate work of the quality expected of a member of Tau Beta Pi. In either case, a candidate must have completed at least 50 percent of the degree requirements, including coursework and research.
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3
Chapter Alumni
Engineering alumni of a chapter's institution whose scholastic record placed them in the upper fifth of their class may be elected to membership. Such candidates are usually recommended to the chapter by a member who knows them.
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4
Other Alumni
Engineering alumni of another recognized institution whose scholastic record placed them in the top fifth of their class may be elected to membership. Such candidates are usually recommended to the chapter by a member who knows them.
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5
Eminent Engineers
Engineers who have achieved eminence in engineering may be elected to membership without regard to collegiate records. If they graduated from a recognized engineering college, they must have been involved in engineering for at least 10 years; if not, they must have practiced engineering for at least 15 years. Such candidates are usually recommended by members who know them. The required degree of eminent achievement is left to a chapter to research and recommend action on, but eligibility approval must be obtained by a chapter's Advisory Board and Tau Beta Pi Headquarters prior to considering a candidate.