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The National Political Honor Society — Pi Sigma Alpha

The National Political Honor Society Pi Sigma Alpha (established at the University of Texas in 1920) is the only national honor society for political science students. Currently there are over 700 chapters nationwide and is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).

Membership Standards

Undergraduates

Please note The Pi Sigma Alpha standards will be that the student with a major in political science must be a junior or senior with 15 hours of PSC with at least 6 hours at 300 the level. You also must have an overall GPA and PSC GPA of 3.5 or higher. All applicants must have no misconduct reports. Please note that with your signature on the application you are agreeing to these requirements and a Misconduct History will be run through your UA records. 

Graduates

The student must be pursuing a graduate degree in political science and must have completed 9 hours of graduate-level PSC with a GPA of 3.5 and no grade less than a “B”.

Membership Invitations

Unlike in past years, students no longer need to apply to the department for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha. Here is how it works:

  1. In late January and early February, PSC Majors who meet the qualifications for Pi Sigma Alpha will be notified through their crimson e-mail address, and will be invited to join.
  2. The invitation email will contain detailed information about how, when, and where to apply for membership, including cost information (last year, the cost for a lifetime membership was about $36).
  3. If you receive an email, you will have until the end of February to accept the invitation.
  4. In March, students who are invited and who decide to join, including paying their dues, will be notified about the initiation ceremony, at which attendance is optional but strongly encouraged.

More Information

Please email the chapter advisor, Dr. Allen Linken, Director of Undergraduate Studies, at aelinken@ua.edu if you have any questions, or if you have not received an email invitation by March 15 but you nonetheless feel you meet the membership requirements.