Honor Societies in Biology
Tri-Beta
Beta Beta Beta (BBB) Biological Society is a national honor society for undergraduate students in the biological sciences. All students who are interested in biology are welcome. Members have achieved superior academic records and shown special aptitude and interest in the life sciences. BBB cultivates intellectual interest in the natural sciences. It emphasizes stimulation of scholarship, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and promotion of biological research. BBB encourages undergraduate students to begin research work and report their findings in the Journal of the Society, BIOS.
The chapter at Wake Forest meets semi-monthly for chapter business and programs originating with its own members or with occasional outside speakers. In addition to its meeting, the chapter carries on several projects of educational or scientific value and participates in one or more activities sponsored by the national organization. All members will be required to attend the initiation meeting and one additional meeting per semester. Failure to comply will result in suspension of membership.
There are two types of membership. Active members must be an undergraduate major or potential major in biology, have completed at least three semester-long courses in biology with a GPA of at least 3.0 in these courses, and have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses taken. Associate members must have completed one semester-long courses in biology with a GPA of at least 3.0 in this course, have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses taken, and show a high degree of interest in biology. Associate members are elevated to active membership status when they have met the requirements for active membership.
Upon acceptance to the Society, students are required to pay a one-time membership fee.
Students who have joined BBB are members of the North Carolina Collegiate Academy of Science. They can participate in field trips, research presentations, projects and workshops sponsored by that organization. The district and regional BBB chapters also sponsor events. Nationally there is a biennial convention. The national office helps defray travel costs of members through grants to chapters that send delegates to the national meeting.
Contact Dr. Andrew St. James via email if you have questions about BBB.
Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society
The North Carolina Gamma chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta is the pre-medical honor society for undergraduate students. Membership is open to any Wake Forest student, regardless of major, who fulfills the entry requirements. Applicants for membership must be at least second-semester sophomores who have completed at least three science and/or mathematics courses. An overall college GPA of 3.2 and a science GPA (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics) of 3.2 are the only scholastic requirements. Application forms can be downloaded from the chapter’s web page
(https://sites.google.com/a/wfu.edu/wfuaed/home)
The objectives of AED are to “encourage excellence in premedical scholarship, to stimulate appreciation of the importance of premedical education in the study of medicine, to promote education in the study of medicine, to promote cooperation and contacts between medical and pre-medical students and educators in developing an adequate program of pre-medical education, and to bind together similarly interested students.” AED is a forum for students interested in, or committed to, the health professions. Meetings aim to inform the membership of the procedures, requirements, and steps necessary to being a successful candidate for health professions school (medical, dental, veterinary, and allied health programs). Speakers from specialized areas of the health professions are invited to describe their area of expertise and lifestyle. The medical student panel brings four to five medical students to the membership to share their experiences in applying to, and attending, medical school. Other programs of AED include an important volunteer program and a large mentoring program. AED is affiliated with the Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Science and participates in its field trips and a research workshop.