Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is the oldest Greek-letter society in America and exists to promote liberal learning, to recognize academic excellence, and to support and encourage scholars in their work. The Gettysburg College chapter was chartered in 1923 and is today one of 270 Phi Beta Kappa chapters in American colleges and universities, twenty of which are in Pennsylvania. The Gettysburg College chapter elects to membership about ten to fifteen percent of the senior class who have distinguished academic records and exhibit high moral character and intellectual curiosity. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is perhaps the most widely recognized academic distinction in American higher education.
Other Academic Honorary Societies
The College promotes excellence in the academic program by supporting the following honorary societies for students with outstanding academic records in a particular major or area of study.
Alpha Kappa Delta: International sociology honor society, open to junior and senior students who have taken at least four courses in sociology, have a GPA of 3.2 or better in sociology and a 3.0 overall GPA, and are in the top 35 percent of their graduating class.
Ankh Maat Wedjau Honor Society: Non-secret, non-profit organization which promotes scholarly study, research, publication and other scholarly activity in the field of Africana Studies among students at academic institutions, and among academic professionals in the field of Africana studies.
Delta Phi Alpha: National honorary society that recognizes excellence in the study of German, provides incentives to higher scholarship, and promotes the study of the German language, literature, and civilization.
Eta Sigma Phi: Classics honorary society for students who have taken at least two courses in the Classics Department with a B or better average and who are enrolled in an additional classics course.
Kappa Delta Pi: International honor society in education. To qualify for membership, a student must meet the following criteria: a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater, have at least 6 credit hours in education course work completed; have completed at least 24 credits of collegiate course work.
Lambda Alpha: Honorary society for anthropology majors and minors. Student must have completed at least four anthropology courses, be a junior anthropology major or minor, have at least a 3.5 average in anthropology, have at least a 3.33 average overall, and be in the top 35 percent of his or her graduating class.
Omicron Delta Epsilon: This organization is the national economics honorary society. Students can be considered for membership once they have achieved the following: Taken at least four courses in Economics, including two Introductory Economics courses (101 and one course from those numbered 201-239), and the two Intermediate Theory courses (243 and 245). Achieved a grade point average of 3.2 or above in the major, and 3.1 or above overall.
Phi Alpha Theta: Honorary society that recognizes academic achievement in history and that actively carries on dialogue about history-related issues outside the classroom.
Phi Sigma Iota: Romance languages honorary society for junior and senior majors in French and/or Spanish with at least a B average in the major and overall.
Pi Lambda Sigma: National honorary society for majors in management, economics, and political science with at least five courses in their major with a GPA of 3.1 or better.
Pi Sigma Alpha: Nu Psi chapter of the national political science honor society for junior and senior majors in political science. To qualify for membership, a student must meet the following criteria: a 3.0 grade point average overall, a 3.2 grade point average in the major, completion of four courses in the major, and rank in the top third of his or her class. Student officers administer the organization and plan programs as well as social events.
Psi Chi: Honorary society in psychology that serves to advance the science of psychology; for students who have completed a minimum of three courses and are enrolled in their fourth and who have achieved an average of at least 3.0 in the major and overall.
Sigma Alpha Iota: International society for women in music, advocating and encouraging excellence in scholarship, advancement of the ideals and aims of the Alma Mater, and adherence to the highest standards of citizenship and democracy.
Sigma Pi Sigma: National honorary society that recognizes outstanding scholarship in physics, encourages interest in physics among students at all levels, and promotes an attitude of service of its members toward their fellow students, colleagues, and the public.
Theta Alpha Kappa is the national honor society for excellence in Religious Studies. To be admitted students must earn a Grade Point Average of 3.5 in at least four courses in Religious Studies, have an overall GPA of 3.0, and be ranked in at least the up 35% of their class at the time of induction.