Honor Societies and Programs

All Academic Disciplines
Phi Beta Kappa has been one of the most respected societies in the world for more than 200 years. Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Virginia. Within a decade, chapters arose at Yale, Harvard, and Dartmouth. The Wyoming chapter received its charter in 1940, and today fewer than 270 colleges and universities in the United States meet the strict qualifications for housing a chapter. UW faculty and administrators annually elect to membership fewer than one‑tenth of the leading scholars of the senior class, candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. In exceptional cases a junior may be elected. In addition to having a distinguished academic record, a student eligible for Phi Beta Kappa must pursue a balanced and broad course of study, which would include a foreign language as well as courses in math, the sciences, and the humanities. At least 90 hours of the student’s course work must be in the liberal arts and sciences. Students are reviewed for eligibility and are notified by mail the spring of their election. Phi Beta Kappa promotes the ideal of a community of scholarship, and every year the Chapter sponsors an eminent visiting lecturer for the entire university.

The national honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, founded in 1897, recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all curricula of the colleges and divisions of the university. No other honor society has higher academic standards for admission. Good character is also an essential supporting attribute for those scholars elected to membership. The University of Wyoming chapter of Phi Kappa Phi sets minimum cumulative grade point requirements at 3.5 for seniors, 3.8 for juniors and 3.9 for graduate students. In addition, there are minimum requirements in terms of hours completed at UW. Since the chapter may initiate no more than ten percent of the number of seniors in each college, the actual grade point cutoff is often higher than these minimums. In the spring of each year, students’ records are reviewed and letters of invitation are sent to those eligible for election to the society. Supplementing the work of its chapter, the national society awards fellowships for graduate study.

College of Agriculture

Agriculture majors - Alpha Zeta is a national honorary for students in agriculture who demonstrate academic excellence, character and leadership. Applications for membership are sent to eligible students. Gamma Sigma Delta is a national honor society open to students in agriculture. Potential members are invited to membership based upon academic excellence.

 

Phi Upsilon Omicron is a national honor society in family and consumer sciences. Potential members are invited to membership based on academic excellence and leadership.

 
College of Arts and Sciences
Art - A Bachelor of Fine Arts in art is considered honorary.
Botany - This Honors Program is for students majoring in botany or biology with strong interests in botanical science and independent research. Application to the botany department may be made after completion of the sophomore year with a cumulative grade point average of 3.3.
Chemistry - American Chemical Society
Communication and Journalism - Lambda Pi Eta
Criminal Justice - Alpha Phi Sigma - Epsilon Omega Chapter, national administration honorary.
English - English Honors Program enables junior and senior English majors who carry a grade point average of 3.5 or better in their English courses to intensify and enhance their studies by working closely with a supervising faculty member to develop a senior honors project, a major piece of writing on a literary topic. Sigma Tau Delta - Alpha Mu Omicron Chapter, international English honor society.
Geography - Gamma Theta Upsilon - Eta Eta Chaptercandidates must have completed three semesters of college coursework and three courses in Geography, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for these courses. Contact department for more information.
Geology - Eligible students are Bachelor of Science degree holders with honors, majoring in geology or geophysics. They must meet an overall grade point average of 3.2, a grade point average of 3.2 in the major, and successful completion of an independent research project. Contact department for details.
History - Phi Alpha Theta
International Studies -Sigma Iota Rho; national honorary
Journalism - Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi
Languages - Phi Sigma Iota language honorary
Music - Presser Award is conferred by vote of the department faculty for outstanding senior in music. Pi Kappa Lambda, selected by faculty on the basis of outstanding scholarship and musical accomplishments.
Physics and Astronomy - Sigma Pi Sigma
Political Science - Pi Sigma Alpha, Epsilon Beta Chapter. Phi Alpha Alpha, national public administration honorary.
Psychology - Psi Chi
Sociology - Alpha Kappa Delta, the international honorary society for sociology. In addition, sociology majors with a 3.2 overall GPA, a 3.5 GPA in sociology courses and two 5000-level classes graduate with honors in sociology.

College of Business
Accounting - Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Alpha Chapter, is the UW chapter of the national accounting honorary. Membership in this very active student honorary is awarded only to the very best accounting students.
Business Administration - Beta Gamma Sigma is the national scholastic honor society. It is the arm of the accrediting group, AACSB International. Membership is very selective and based on class rank and grade point average.

College of Education
Kappa Delta Pi-Alpha Mu Chapter is the university chapter of the international honor society in education. The purpose of the society is to promote excellence in and recognize outstanding contributions to education. Invitation for membership is extended to those persons who exhibit commendable professional qualities, worthy educational ideals and sound scholarship.

Mu Na Tau Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, international honor society for students, professional counselors and counselor educators.

College of Engineering
Engineering majors - Tau Beta Pi is a national honor society for all engineering majors. The purposes of the society are to honor out-standing student scholarship and to provide a spirit of liberal culture in the College of Engineering. Membership is offered to outstanding junior, senior and graduate engineering students of high scholastic ability and exemplary character.

College of Health Sciences

Nursing - Sigma Theta Tau

Pharmacy - Rho Chi Society, Academic Honorary; Phi Lambda Sigma, Pharmacy Leadership Society

Social Work - Phi Alpha

Alpha Epsilon Delta - Preprofessional honorary for those interested in health care careers.

College of Law
Law majors - Order of the Coif is an honorary society which recognizes legal scholastic excellence. Each year, the chapter may initiate into membership those students who graduate in the highest ten percent of their class.


Outreach
University of Wyoming/Casper College Center - The Round Table Honor Society - Open to UW/CC undergraduate students in all colleges with a 3.3 or higher GPA. Recognizes scholastic achievement and provides an opportunity for the development of leadership and service.

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Last Change: 05/09/07