Honor Societies
The University encourages participation in various clubs and honor societies of particular interest to the individual student. The social and intellectual benefits of membership in these organizations can be extremely meaningful.
ALPHA CHI: The purpose of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is to recognize and promote academic excellence among college and university students in all academic disciplines and to nurture those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good. Alpha Chi holds a national convention each spring and offers scholarships, fellowships, and opportunities for publication in Alethia, the Alpha Chi Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. Members and potential inductees are held to high standards for good character and excellence in scholarship. Membership shall be limited to students with junior or senior standing, who rank in the top 5 percent or top 10 percent of their class, respectively, and have at least 24 credit hours at UT Southern at the time of invitation to membership.
CHI ALPHA SIGMA: The National College Athlete Honor Society recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition. Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime. In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).
KAPPA DELTA PI: The international Honor Society in Education recognizes scholarship and excellence in education, promotes the development and dissemination of worthy educational ideas and practices, enhances continuous growth and leadership, and fosters inquiry and reflection on significant educational issues. Membership is open to students in education programs who have attained sophomore standing, who have completed or are enrolled in at least 12 semesters of education courses, and who possess a minimum GPA of 3.0.
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA: The National Leadership Honor Society was founded with the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in worthwhile endeavors, and that outstanding students, faculty, and administrations should meet on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness. The first national college honor society to recognize and honor meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of campus citizenship, student inductees must be juniors or seniors, in the top 35 percent of their class, and show leadership in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service; social or religious activities, campus government; journalism, speech, mass media; or creative and performing arts.
PHI ALPHA THETA: An American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history, the society, established in 1921, has over 350,000 members and 860 local chapters. UT Southern's chapter, Alpha Pi Gamma, was established in 2015 with nine charter members. For consideration, undergraduates must have 18 hours in history and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
PI GAMMA MU: The International Social Science Honor Society encourages excellence in the social sciences, providing recognition for scholastic achievement and offering enrichment opportunities through service projects, publications, scholarships and lectureship grants. Membership is limited to those of high scholarship and good moral character. Juniors and seniors who rank in the upper 35 percent of their class at the time of invitation to membership, maintain a grade average of “B” or better, and have 20 hours in social science courses may be inducted into membership.
SIGMA BETA DELTA: An honor society for students of business, management, or administration who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees, its purposes are to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishment among students of business, management, and administration, and to encourage and promote aspirations toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind. Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, membership is limited to those of high scholarship and good moral character. Candidates in the upper 20 percent of their class at the time of invitation to membership may be inducted following completion of at least one-half of the degree program in which they are enrolled.
SIGMA TAU DELTA: The International English Honor Society has served the English discipline for more than 75 years. With more than 600 chapters worldwide, it is the most active honor organization in the field. Sigma Tau Delta fosters excellence in all areas of English and literature studies; encourages further achievement in the field; promotes creative and analytical writing; offers scholarships, new-teacher awards, writing awards, internships in publishing houses; and gives students a forum for publishing their scholarly and creative works in an award-winning journal The Rectangle. Sigma Tau Delta holds regional conventions and an international convention every spring. Prospective members must maintain a 3.3 grade point average in English courses and have had at least two courses above the freshman level; they must be in the upper 35 percent of their class after at least three semesters in college.