Organization that recognizes excellence and leadership
"Honor Societies", illustration from the 1909 Tyee (
yearbook of the
University of Washington )
In the
United States , an honor society is generally an organization that recognizes excellence and leadership. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The
Order of the Arrow , for example, is the National Honor Society of the
Boy Scouts of America . Often, the term can refers to scholastic honor societies, those that recognize students who excel academically or as leaders, often within a specific academic discipline.
Many honor societies invite students to become members based on the scholastic rank (the top x% of a class) and/or
grade point averages , either overall or for classes taken within the discipline for which the honor society provides recognition. In cases where academic achievement would not be an appropriate criterion for membership, other standards may be required for membership (such as completion of a particular ceremony or training program). Scholastic honor societies commonly add a criterion relating to the student's character. Some honor societies are invitation-only, and membership in an honor society might be considered exclusive, i.e., a member of such an organization cannot join other honor societies representing the same field.
Academic robes and regalia identifying by color the degree, school, and other distinctions, are controlled under rules of a voluntary Intercollegiate Code. In addition, various colored devices such as
stoles ,
scarves ,
cords ,
tassels , and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society. Of these, cords and
mortarboard tassels are most often used to indicate membership. Most institutions allow honor cords, tassels and/or medallions for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are available for a few honor societies. Virtually all, if not all honor societies have chosen such colors and may sell these items of accessory regalia as a service or fundraiser.
Many honor societies are referred to by their membership or by non-members as
fraternities and sororities . Honor societies exist at the
high school ,
collegiate /
university ,
postgraduate and
professional levels, although university honor societies are by far the most prevalent. In America, the oldest academic society,
Phi Beta Kappa , was founded as a social and literary fraternity in 1776 at the
College of William and Mary and later organized as an honor society in 1898, following the establishment of the honor societies
Tau Beta Pi for Engineering (1885),
Sigma Xi for Scientific Research (1886), and
Phi Kappa Phi for all disciplines (1897).
Mortar Board was established in 1918, as the first national honor society for senior women, with chapters at four institutions:
Cornell University , the
University of Michigan ,
Ohio State University , and
Swarthmore College . Later, the society became
coeducational .
Scholastic honor societies
Notable national and international honor societies based in or at schools include the following:
General collegiate scholastic honor societies
These societies are open to all academic disciplines, though they may have other affinity requirements.
Alpha Chi , ΑΧ (all academic fields), colors: Emerald green and
Sapphire blue
Alpha Kappa Mu , ΑΚΜ (all academic fields)
Alpha Lambda Delta , ΑΛΔ (
freshman scholarship)
Alpha Sigma Lambda , ΑΣΛ (
non-traditional students ), colors:
Burgundy and Gold
Alpha Sigma Nu , ΑΣΝ (Scholarship, Loyalty and Service at
Jesuit institutions of higher education), colors: Maroon and Gold
Chi Alpha Sigma , ΧΑΣ (college student-athletes)
Delta Alpha Pi , ΔΑΠ (students with disabilities)
Delta Epsilon Sigma , ΔΕΣ (all academic fields at traditionally
Catholic colleges and universities)
Delta Epsilon Tau , ΔΕΤ (Distance Education Accrediting Commission institutions)
[1]
Epsilon Tau Pi , ΕΤΠ (General scholarship,
Eagle Scouts )
Golden Key International Honour Society (academics), colors: Blue and Gold
Mortar Board (Scholars chosen for Leadership united to Serve)
National Society of Collegiate Scholars , NSCS (scholarship/leadership/service), colors: Purple and Gold
Phi Eta Sigma , ΦΗΣ (freshman scholarship)
Phi Kappa Phi , ΦΚΦ (all academic fields)
Phi Sigma Pi , ΦΣΠ (all academic fields), colors: Purple and Gold
Phi Tau Phi , ΦΤΦ (all academic fields), colors: Blue and Gold
Tau Sigma , ΤΣ (
transfer students )
Lambda Sigma , ΛΣ (student leadership, scholarship, and service), colors: Blue and Gold
Order of Omega (
fraternities and sororities ), colors: Blue and Gold
Sigma Alpha Lambda , ΣΑΛ (all academic fields)
Leadership
These societies recognize leadership, with a scholarship component; multi-disciplinary.
Military
These are collegiate-based honor societies for students in the armed forces. Other non-collegiate honor societies serve military branches and are often listed as professional fraternities.
Liberal arts
These societies are open to the traditional liberal arts disciplines and may be department-specific. Some are grouped by discipline subheading.
Alpha Iota Sigma , ΑΙΣ (interdisciplinary studies)
Alpha Kappa Delta , ΑΚΔ (
sociology ), color: Teal
Alpha Upsilon Alpha , ΑΥΑ (reading and
language arts )
Chi Sigma Iota , ΧΣΙ (
counseling )
Delta Epsilon Chi , ΔΕΧ (divinity)
[3]
Eta Sigma Phi , ΗΣΦ (
classics )
Kappa Omicron Nu , ΚΟΝ (
human sciences ), colors: Burgundy and Cream
Lambda Alpha , ΛΑ (
anthropology )
Red ,
White and
Black
Lambda Iota Tau , ΛΙΤ (
literature )
Phi Alpha , ΦΑ (
social work ), colors: Blue and Gold
Phi Alpha Theta , ΦΑΘ (
history )
Phi Beta Kappa , ΦΒΚ (
undergraduate arts and sciences), colors: Pink and Sky blue
Phi Sigma Tau , ΦΣΤ (
philosophy )
Phi Upsilon Omicron , ΦΥΟ (
Family and consumer science ), colors: Violet, Gold and Cream
Pi Alpha Alpha , ΠΑΑ (
public administration ), colors: Blue and Gold
Pi Gamma Mu , ΠΓΜ (
social sciences )
Pi Sigma Alpha , ΠΣΑ (
political science )
Psi Chi , ΨΧ (
psychology ), colors: Navy blue and Platinum
Sigma Iota Rho , ΣΙΡ (
international relations )
Sigma Tau Delta , ΣΤΔ (
English )
Theta Alpha Kappa , ΘΑΚ , (Religious Studies/Theology/Philosophy)
Theta Chi Beta , ΘΧΒ (
religious studies )
Business
Alpha Iota Delta , ΑΙΔ (
decision sciences )
Alpha Mu Alpha , ΑΜΑ (
marketing ),
[4] color: Red
Beta Alpha Psi , ΒΑΨ (
accounting and
finance )
Beta Gamma Sigma , ΒΓΣ (
AACSB accredited
business programs), colors: Gold and
Yale Blue
Delta Mu Delta , ΔΜΔ (
ACBSP accredited
business programs)
Eta Sigma Delta , ΗΣΔ (International Hospitality Management Honor Society, ICHRIE)
[5]
Mu Kappa Tau , ΜΚΤ (
marketing ), colors: Blue and Gold
Nu Lambda Mu , ΝΛΜ (
nonprofit management )
[6]
Omega Rho , ΩΡ (
operations research ,
management science )
Omicron Delta Epsilon , ΟΔΕ (
economics ), colors: Blue and Gold
Sigma Beta Delta , ΣΒΔ (
business ,
management and
administration )
Sigma Nu Tau , ΣΝΤ (entrepreneurship)
[7]
Education
Fine arts
Alpha Psi Omega , ΑΨΩ (
theatre ), colors: Blue and Gold
Chi Tau Epsilon , ΧΤΕ (
dance )
[9]
[10]
Delta Phi Delta , ΔΦΔ (
art )
Kappa Pi , ΚΠ (
art )
Kappa Kappa Psi , ΚΚΨ (music - band), colors: Blue and Gold
Mu Beta Psi , ΜΒΨ (music)
Pi Kappa Lambda , ΠΚΛ (
music )
Pi Nu Epsilon , ΠΝΕ (
music )
Tau Beta Sigma , ΤΒΣ (
music - band), colors: Blue and Gold
Theta Alpha Phi , ΘΑΦ (
theatre )
Journalism and communications
Languages
Alpha Mu Gamma , ΑΜΓ (
foreign languages ), color: Gold
Delta Phi Alpha , ΔΦΑ - (
German ), colors: Black, Red and Gold
Pi Delta Phi , ΠΔΦ (
French ), colors: Blue, White and Red
Sigma Delta Pi , ΣΔΠ (
Spanish and
Portuguese ), colors: Red and Gold
Phi Sigma Iota , ΦΣΙ (modern foreign languages,
Classics ,
linguistics ,
philology ,
comparative literature ,
bilingual education ,
second language acquisition ), colors: Purple and White
Law
Sciences
These societies are open to students in the STEM disciplines, and may be department-specific. Some are grouped by discipline subheader.
Beta Beta Beta , ΒΒΒ (
biology ), colors: Blood red and Leaf green
Beta Kappa Chi , ΒΚΧ (
natural sciences /
mathematics ), colors: Blue and Gold
Chi Beta Phi , ΧΒΦ (
science and
mathematics )
Chi Epsilon Pi , ΧΕΠ (
meteorology )
Gamma Theta Upsilon , ΓΘΥ (
geography )
Gamma Sigma Epsilon , ΓΣΕ (
chemistry )
Iota Sigma Pi , ΙΣΠ (
chemistry and related fields, women's)
Phi Lambda Upsilon , ΦΛΥ (
chemistry )
Phi Sigma , ΦΣ (
biological sciences )
Phi Tau Sigma , ΦΤΣ (Food Science and Technology)
Pi Epsilon , ΠΕ (
environmental sciences )
Sigma Gamma Epsilon , ΣΓΕ (
geology /
Earth sciences ), colors: Gold, Blue, and Silver
Sigma Lambda Chi , ΣΛΧ (
construction management technology)
Sigma Pi Sigma , ΣΠΣ (
physics ,
astronomy ), colors: Forest Green and Ivory
Sigma Xi , ΣΞ (
Research in Science and Engineering ), colors:
Blue and Gold
Sigma Zeta , ΣΖ (
natural sciences /
mathematics /
computer science ), colors: Blue and Gold
Agriculture
Architecture
Engineering
Within the larger group of STEM disciplines, these societies serve engineering disciplines.
Alpha Epsilon , ΑΕ (
agricultural /
food /
biological engineering )
Alpha Eta Mu Beta , ΑΗΜΒ (
biomedical engineering )
Alpha Nu Sigma , ΑΝΣ (
nuclear engineering )
[13]
Alpha Pi Mu , ΑΠΜ (
industrial engineering )
Alpha Sigma Mu , ΑΣΜ (
metallurgy /
materials engineering )
Chi Epsilon , ΧΕ (
civil engineering ), colors: Purple and White
Eta Kappa Nu , ΗΚΝ (
electrical engineering ,
computer engineering ), colors: Navy blue and Scarlet
Omega Chi Epsilon , ΩΧΕ (
chemical engineering ), colors: Maroon and White
Phi Alpha Epsilon , ΦΑΕ (
architectural engineering )
Pi Epsilon Tau , ΠΕΤ (
petroleum engineering and related fields)
[14] colors: Gold and Black
Pi Tau Sigma , ΠΤΣ (
mechanical engineering ), colors: Teal and Maroon
Rho Beta Epsilon , ΡΒΕ (
robotics ), colors: Crimson, Gold, and Black
[15]
Sigma Gamma Tau , ΣΓΤ (
aerospace engineering )
Tau Alpha Pi , ΤΑΠ (
engineering technology )
Tau Beta Pi , ΤΒΠ (engineering, all types), colors: Brown and White
Upsilon Pi Epsilon , ΥΠΕ (
computer science /
computer engineering )
Health sciences
This section includes all healthcare-related fields, including veterinary science.
Alpha Epsilon Delta , ΑΕΔ (
pre-medical ), colors: Red and Violet
Alpha Eta , ΑΗ (
allied health professions )
[16]
Alpha Omega Alpha , ΑΩΑ (
medical students and physicians ), Forest Green, Gold and White
Beta Sigma Kappa , ΒΣΚ (
Optometry )
[17]
Delta Omega , ΔΩ (
public health )
Iota Tau Alpha , ΙΤΑ (
Athletic Training )
[18]
Nu Rho Psi , ΝΡΨ (
Neuroscience )
Omicron Kappa Upsilon , ΟΚΥ (
Dentistry )
Phi Zeta , ΦΖ (
veterinary medicine )
Pi Delta , ΠΔ (
podiatry )
[19]
Pi Theta Epsilon , ΠΘΕ (
occupational therapy ), colors: Blue and Gold
Rho Chi , ΡΧ (
pharmacy ), colors: Purple and White
Sigma Theta Tau , ΣΘΤ (
nursing ), colors:
Orchid and White
Sigma Phi Alpha , ΣΦΑ (
dental hygiene )
[20]
Sigma Phi Omega , ΣΦΩ , (
Gerontology )
[21]
Sigma Sigma Phi , ΣΣΦ (
osteopathic medicine ) or (
medicine )
Tau Upsilon Alpha , ΤΥΑ (
human services )
[22]
Upsilon Phi Delta , ΥΦΔ (
health administration )
Information technology
Mathematics
Local honor societies
Some universities have their own independent, open honor societies, which are not affiliated with any national or international organization. Such organizations typically recognize students who have succeeded academically irrespective of their field of study. These include:
Certificate, vocational, technical, and workforce education
Two-year colleges and community colleges
Alpha Beta Gamma , ΑΒΓ (
business at
two-year colleges )
Alpha Gamma Sigma , ΑΓΣ (
California community colleges )
Delta Psi Omega , ΔΨΩ (
theatre ), colors: Blue and Gold
Epsilon Phi Delta , ΕΦΔ (
German at
two-year colleges )
Kappa Beta Delta , ΚΒΔ (
business at
Community Colleges )
Mu Alpha Theta , ΜΑΘ (
mathematics , high school and two-year colleges), colors: Blue and Gold
Phi Rho Pi , ΦΡΠ (
forensics at
two-year colleges )
Phi Theta Kappa , ΦΘΚ (All academic fields at
community and
junior colleges ), colors: Blue and Gold
Psi Beta , ΨΒ (
psychology at
two-year colleges ), colors: Blue and Gold
Sigma Kappa Delta , ΣΚΔ (
English at
community and
junior colleges )
Sigma Zeta , ΣΖ (
natural sciences /
mathematics /
computer science - Associate membership available for
community and
junior colleges ), colors: Blue and Gold
La Sociedad Honoraria de la Lengua Española (
Spanish at
two-year colleges )
Secondary school societies
Commonly referred to as high school societies.
General
Subject-specific
Non-scholastic honor societies
Boy Scouts
See also
References
External links
Distinctions (
Lists )
Ceremonies and events Related organisations Related concepts