Phi Alpha Theta is a national honors society specifically for history students. The Sigma Kappa Chapter located at SIUC has a membership of over 30 students, representing undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates. Many of the SIUC History Department faculty participated as members of Phi Alpha Theta as students.
There are many social advantages to membership. The diversity of our membership allows undergraduate students and graduate students to interact and exchange ideas in a social setting. Many of our functions throughout the year include the history department faculty. Our monthly meetings provide guest lecturers, who speak on a variety of subjects of interest to history students. We also take trips and are involved in the university and local communities. In addition to being an important addition to an academic resume, membership in Phi Alpha Theta will automatically advance a new government employee two grades upon hire in a civil service position (which means a higher salary!). Phi Alpha Theta also offers several prizes and scholarships.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
MEMBERSHIP: Membership requires at least 12 credit hours completed, or to be completed, by the end of the semester in which you apply for admission. National members must have a 3.0 GPA in the history courses they have already taken.
FEES: National membership is a one-time fee of fifty dollars, paid through the local chapter to national, for which a candidate receives national membership, a certificate of initiation, and a year's subscription to The Historian, Phi Alpha Theta's history journal. Ten of the fifty dollars contributes to the maintenance (snacks, travel, the banquet) of our branch, Sigma Kappa.
We are not only a national honor society, but also a group of people passionate about the past. We are a history club as well, and we invite all members of the university community to participate in our activities.
If you are a history major, or just have an interest in history, we would welcome the chance to discuss our society with you. Prospective members are welcome to attend our meetings, held on the second Wednesday of every month at 4:00 in Faner 2302. For upcoming events see the Phi Alpha Theta bulletin board outside the History Department office at Faner 3374. Please feel free to contact any one of our officers, or our faculty advisor.
