Beta Gamma Sigma is a national scholastic honor society dedicated to principles and ideals essential to a worthy life as well as to a commendable business career. In 1963 Beta Gamma Sigma celebrated its 50th birthday with 102 chapters and approximately 43,000 members. It now boasts of a membership of 360,000 of business' brightest and best.
Beta Gamma Sigma was first organized in 1907, at the University of Wisconsin, to encourage and reward scholarship and accomplishment in the field of business studies at the University. Then, in 1913, having become aware of their coexistence and common purpose, representatives of societies from the University of Illinois and the University of California met to consummate a merger which made Beta Gamma Sigma into a national organization.
Action was initiated in 1919 to establish Beta Gamma Sigma as the only scholastic honor society recognized by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This Assembly includes in its membership collegiate schools of business which meet high standards of eligibility required of accredited member institutions with respect to curricula, teaching staff, teaching loads, library, and laboratory facilities.
Only those business programs accredited by the AACSB are invited to establish chapters of Beta Gamma Sigma. Of the approximately 1,400 institutions in the baccalaureate and graduate level, only 300 have Beta Gamma Sigma chapters and can invite students to membership. An invitation to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma indicates a student's placement in the top 10% of the undergraduate program or top 20% of the master's program.
The mission of Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement and personal excellence in the study and practice of business. The objective is to foster in each member an enduring commitment to the Society's principles and values: honor and integrity, pursuit of wisdom, and earnestness. Benefits of membership include: scholarships and awards, educational tours, the BGS credit card, career networking, opportunities for lifelong learning.