Academic Honor Societies

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), promotes academic excellence and provides opportunities for growth, leadership development, and community service for the first-generation college students. All first-generation college students, graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni of CHC are eligible to join the Delta Zeta Chapter of the Tri-Alpha Honor Society. In order to be eligible, students must have earned at least 30 credits and have earned a 3.20 GPA. Neither of the student’s parents, stepparents or legal guardians have completed a bachelor’s degree.

Alpha Lambda Delta is the national society that honors high scholastic achievement during the first year in college. The Chestnut Hill College chapter of this society received national affiliation in 1993. Students with a CareerGPA of 3.50 at the end of their first or second semester are eligible for election to the College’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta. Students inducted into the chapter who maintain a Career GPA of 3.50 are honored by membership into the Alpha Lambda Delta Circle of Excellence during their graduation year.

Alpha Phi Sigma recognizes the academic excellence of undergraduate criminal justice students. Its mission is to promote analytical thinking, rigorous scholarship and lifelong learning; to keep abreast of the advances in scientific research; to elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice professions and to sustain in the public mind the benefit and necessity of education and professional training. Members must be enrolled in undergraduate programs of a regionally accredited institution at the time of initiation and must have declared a major or minor in Criminal Justice or a related field. Students must have completed at least four courses in the major/minor; have a minimum Career GPA of 3.20; and a GPA of 3.20 in Criminal Justice or related field courses. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Alpha Sigma Lambda is the National Honor Society that recognizes adult students (AADP) in higher education who have achieved academic excellence and leadership while fulfilling the many responsibilities of family, work, and community services. In 1987, the College received approval to establish a chapter (Epsilon Sigma). Potential inductees must be matriculated at Chestnut Hill College and have earned a minimum of thirty graded credit, fifteen of which must be in the liberal arts and outside the student’s major. Members shall be selected only from the highest 10% of the senior class and must have a minimum Career GPA of 3.60.

Chi Alpha Sigma is the first, and only, National Scholar-Athlete Honor Society for four-year collegiate student-athletes who have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition.

Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes undergraduate college student-athletes who participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fourth full time semester, and earn a 3.4 or higher cumulative grade point average. Student-athletes who compete for a collegiate club team are also eligible if the club team is overseen by the athletics department at the local chapter.  The Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma was established at Chestnut Hill in the Fall of 2017.

Chi Alpha Sigma also recognizes that it is part of an athletics community made of diverse groups and our values statement reflects those to celebrate everyone in our community.

Delta Epsilon Sigma the national scholastic honor society for students of Catholic colleges and universities, established its Alpha Upsilon Chapter at Chestnut Hill College in 1941. Eligibility for election to membership is limited to Juniors and Seniors with a Career GPA of 3.50 or above who have earned 50% of the credits necessary for graduation. Nomination is limited to the top 20% of the class. Once designated as eligible, the student must submit an application to the Honors Committee.

Epsilon Pi Tau is the International Honor Society for Technology. The Society recognizes academic excellence of students in fields devoted to the study of technology and the preparation of practitioners for the technology professions. Students need to complete at least 18 credits in Computer Science and/or Computer Technology and/or digital forensics courses and maintain a Career GPA of 3.00, and a GPA of 3.25 in the major. Eligible students must be ranked in the top 35% of their class and must be approved by department faculty.

Kappa Delta Epsilon is an honorary educational fraternity which supports the cause of education by fostering a spirit of fellowship, high standards of scholastic attainment and professional ideals among its members. This is an active group engaged in preparing members for the teaching profession. Requirements are an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher, Junior status, and formal acceptance into the Education Department. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Kappa Gamma Pi is the national Catholic college graduate honor society. Membership is based on scholarship, leadership, and service. To be eligible for membership, an individual must graduate from a regionally accredited four year college which has established an affiliation with Kappa Gamma Pi. Members are selected in recognition of past accomplishments and also in anticipation of future service. Once nominated, the student must submit an application to the Honors Committee. Members are selected in recognition of past accomplishments and also in anticipation of future service. In addition, no more than 10% of the graduating class may be elected to membership.

Nominees must meet the following requirements:

• • By the end of seven semesters or equivalent, they have attained a Career Grade Point Average of 3.60 or above
  • They have demonstrated a good record of service activities
  • They have shown outstanding leadership in extracurricular activities
  • They are currently matriculated students of the college
  • They desire to be members of the Society
  • They willingly accept the responsibility for individual leadership in church, civic and/or Kappa activities
  • Once nominated, the student must submit an application to the Honors Committee. Members are selected in recognition of past

Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). The national requirements for student membership include a 3.00 or higher Career GPA with 60 credits completed; a 3.25 or higher GPA for Communication courses with 12 credits completed, and rank in the highest 35% of their class. All elected members shall exhibit high standards of personal and professional character. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Phi Alpha Theta the History Honor Society, requires a Career GPA of 3.00 and a 3.10 GPA in History courses. Eligible candidates must have completed a minimum of 12 credits in History and must be in the top 35% of their class. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Phi Beta Delta promotes and recognizes scholarly achievement of international students and scholars, U.S. students who have studies abroad, and faculty and staff who are involved in international activities at Chestnut Hill College. The goals are to advance development of academic-based international programming and to provide a network on campus of faculty, staff, and students involved in international endeavors. Criteria for eligibility of election to membership requires a minimum Career GPA of 3.2 for undergraduates.

Phi Sigma Iota is the International Foreign Language Honor Society; it recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature, or culture. Undergraduate students enrolled in the institution represented by the chapter shall have completed at least one course in a foreign language at the third-year level or its equivalent (fifth semester or seventh quarter), have completed 45 credits, have a minimum Career GPA 3.00, and rank in the top 35% of their class. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Pi Sigma Alpha the National Political Science Honor Society, is an affiliate of the American Political Science Association and is the only honor society for college and university students of government in the United States. The mission of Pi Sigma Alpha is to stimulate scholarship and intelligent interest in political science as well as to promote the ideals of integrity and citizenship in local, national and global contexts. Student membership in the Alpha Theta Tau chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha at Chestnut Hill College requires a major or minor in political science, a ranking in the top third of the class, a minimum of junior status, a political science GPA of 3.2, and the completion of four or more political science courses. Faculty members who are trained political scientists in good standing with the profession may also be initiated. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Psi Chi the national honor society in Psychology, is an affiliate of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. Membership in the local chapter requires a major or minor in Psychology, a ranking in the top 35% of the class, a Career GPA of 3.20 or higher, a Psychology GPA of 3.50 or higher, Junior standing, and the completion of at least four Psychology courses. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Sigma Beta Delta the International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administration, encourages and recognizes scholarship and accomplishment among students of business, management and administration, established its Chapter at the College in 2006. Eligibility for election to membership is limited to students that rank in the upper 20% of their class who have achieved a minimum Career GPA of 3.50 at the time of invitation to membership following completion of at least one-half of the degree program in which they are enrolled. Transfer students who meet the qualifications for membership may be inducted after they have completed a minimum of one term of academic work. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Sigma Tau Delta is the international honor society for students of English language and literature. Membership in the local chapter requires a major or minor in English Literature or English Literature and Communications, a ranking in the top 35% of the class, a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the major or minor, completion of three semesters of coursework at the College, and completion of two courses in English (not including ENGL-101: College Writing). Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Sigma Zeta is the National Science and Mathematics Honor Society whose goal is to encourage and foster the attainment of knowledge in the Natural and Computer Sciences and Mathematics and to recognize the attainment of high scholarship among society members. Any college student whose major is in any of the Natural Sciences, Computer Science, or Mathematics, who has completed the equivalent of 25 credits towards the degree, including 15 credits in the Natural Sciences or Mathematics, and has a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the Sciences and Mathematics plus a minimum Career GPA of 3.00 shall be eligible for election to membership. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Rho Alpha Sigma recognizes the outstanding efforts of Resident Assistants around the country. Rho Alpha Sigma offers that opportunity to promote excellence, leadership, community and service within the Resident Assistant cadre, campus, and community. It was founded in 2002 and currently has 39 chapters across the United States. Each year, a designated percentage of the total Resident Assistant population on each campus may be selected for induction into Rho Alpha Sigma. While being a true honorary, each chapter is also encouraged to engage in service activities that benefit the student staff community, the residence life community, the institutional community, and the community at large.

Sigma Iota Rho is the honor society for international studies. It promotes and rewards scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs. Eligible students must have achieved junior standing, completed at least twenty-one (21) hours of international affairs-related course work, attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all courses, and a grade point average of at least 3.4 in international affairs-related courses.

Tau Upsilon Alpha the National Honor Society for Human Services, is an affiliate of the National Organization of Human Services. Membership in The Tau Alpha Chapter at Chestnut Hill College requires a major or minor in Human Services, a ranking in the top 35% of the class, a cumulative GPA of 3.25, Junior standing and the completion of three full-time semesters. Recipients must exemplify the leadership and ethical characteristics of the Ethical Standards of Human Services Professionals. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.

Theta Alpha Kappa the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology, was established in 1976 for the purpose of recognizing the academic achievements of religion and theology students, and the academic excellence of scholars in these fields. Induction into Theta Alpha Kappa requires nomination by the local chapter, a minimum 3.50 GPA in Religious Studies courses, and a minimum 3.00 Career GPA. Eligible students must be approved by the Department.