McDaniel College proudly participates in national and international honor societies which recognize academic accomplishment in specific fields and disciplines. Faculty commitment to supporting you in earning these honors designations begins early in your academic career; we encourage all students to identify their interest in achieving these honors designations as part of their My Design course.
ALPHA KAPPA DELTA (SOCIOLOGY HONORS)
The purposes of AKD are to seek to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of Sociology, research social problems and engage in social activities that will improve the human condition. Each candidate must be at least a junior in credit standing, have taken at least 4 Sociology courses at McDaniel, have maintained a 3.0 average GPA in those courses, as well as a 3.0 overall GPA, and rank in the top 35% of their class.
ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA (FIRST YEAR SEMINAR)
Recognizes students who completed their freshman year with a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Its mission is to encourage superior academic achievement, promote intelligent living and continued high standards, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.
ALPHA PSI OMEGA (THEATRE DRAMATIC ARTS)
Aims to encourage dramatic production at every step in a person’s academic career. The chapter’s major areas of effort are advocacy and membership development. Pledging criteria include noteworthy participation in the Theatre Arts department, cumulative GPA of 2.5, and a Theatre Arts department GPA of 2.8. They also must have been involved in at least 3 McDaniel productions, during which they performed in at least two of the following categories: performance, technical theatre and design, theatre management, or literary contributions.
BETA BETA BETA (BIOLOGY)
Its goals are to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the Biological Sciences, and to inform students of the possibilities for achievement in the Biological Sciences. Associate members must complete 4 credits in Biology with a 3.0 GPA in Biology courses and a 2.75 overall. Active members must complete 12 credits in Biology with a 3.25 in Biology courses and a 3.0 overall.
EIKON TEXNH E' EKPHRASIS (ART HISTORY)
ETE is a McDaniel College-only honor society that promotes excellence in the field of art history, and seeks to foster an environment suitable for further research, study, and critique of works of art. Minimum requirements for membership include completion of 12 semester hours of art history, rank in the top 35% of the class, average GPA in Art History courses of 3.5, and overall GPA of 3.0.
GAMMA SIGMA EPSILON (CHEMISTRY)
Gamma Sigma Epsilon is a national Chemistry honor society for the purpose of fostering a more comprehensive and cooperative study of Chemistry and its immediately allied studies. To be eligible, students must have completed a minimum of 16 credits in chemistry with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in those courses, as well as a 3.0 GPA overall.
KAPPA DELTA PI (EDUCATION)
As an international honor society in Education, its mission is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence, advancing scholarship, leadership and service. To be eligible for membership you must have completed at least 30 credit hours of collegiate course work, have at least 12 credit hours in Education course work, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.
KAPPA MU EPSILON (MATH)
Purposes include helping students to realize the important role mathematics has played in the development of civilization and familiarizing its members with the current progress in this area of human interest. New members must have completed at least three semesters of college, completed at least three courses in mathematics (including at least one semester of calculus, attained an average of B or better in these courses, and rank in the upper 35% of the graduating class.
LAMBDA PI ETA (SPEECH COMMUNICATION)
Goals include stimulation of interest in field of Communication, encouragement of professional development among Communication majors, and discussion and exchange of ideas. Requirements include 60 credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.0, upper 35% of academic class, 3.25 GPA in Communication courses, and completion of 12 credit hours in Communication.
OMICRON DELTA EPSILON (ECONOMICS)
Omicron Delta Epsilon internationally recognizes scholastic achievement in Economics. It also works to establish closer ties between students and faculty in Economics within and among colleges and universities. To be accepted, a student must have taken 9 semester hours of economics courses, attain at least a B average in these courses, and maintain a 3.0 GPA overall.
PHI ALPHA (SOCIAL WORK)
The purpose of this society is to provide a closer bond among students of Social Work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Eligibility requirements include declared Social Work as a major, achieved sophomore status, completed 12 semester hours and achieved a 3.25 GPA* in required Social Work courses and place in the top one-third of their whole class.
*Note: Effective Spring 2020, eligibility requirements for membership in Phi Alpha (Social Work) will be as follows: Students will need to have completed 12 credit hours in required Social Work courses and must have completed 37.5 percent of the required coursework toward the degree. Phi Alpha is no longer using a pre-determined GPA for membership qualification; students whose overall GPA is in the top 35 percent of all Social Work majors in the program are now invited into membership.
PHI ALPHA DELTA (PRE-LAW)
An international pre-law fraternity and student-run organization. Past programs have included a moot court presented by American Constitutional Law Class, visits to area law schools and law fairs, and appearances by members of the practicing Bar and a sitting judge.
PHI ALPHA THETA (HISTORY)
A professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of ideas. Students are nominated and selected by faculty of the History department. To be eligible, students must be a History major or minor, complete a minimum of four courses in History, achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, achieve a minimum GPA of 3.1 in history courses taken at McDaniel, and must be in the top 35% of their class.
PHI SIGMA IOTA (FOREIGN LANGUAGES)
An international society that recognizes accomplishment in the study or teaching of any academic fields related to foreign language, literature, or culture. Juniors and Seniors pursing a major or minor in Classics, French, Spanish or Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies are eligible. Eligibility criteria include completion of at least one course in a foreign language at the third-year level, 45 semester hours, ranked in the top 35% of the class, and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
PHI SIGMA TAU (PHILOSOPHY)
Award distinction to students having high scholarship in Philosophy and promotes student interest in research in this field. Undergraduate students are eligible for active membership after completing three semesters of college, rank in the upper 30% of their class, and have completed at least four semester courses in philosophy, with an overall GPA above 3.2.
PI SIGMA ALPHA (POLITICAL SCIENCE)
Political Science majors in the areas of government, political science, public administration, and international relations are eligible to be candidates for admission to Pi Sigma Alpha once they have completed at least one-half the credits required by McDaniel College for the baccalaureate degree; they must have completed at least ten semester-credits of work in political science including at least one upper-division course, with an average grade of B+ (3.2 GPA) or higher in those courses; they must have achieved an overall GPA placing them in the top one-third of their whole class (e.g., junior or senior class).
PI GAMMA MU (SOCIAL SCIENCE)
The mission of Pi Gamma Mu is to encourage and promote excellence in the social sciences and to uphold the ideals of scholarship and service. A junior, senior or graduate student in the upper 35 percent of the class must have at least 20 semester hours in social sciences and an average grade therein of "B" or better.
PSI CHI (PSYCHOLOGY)
Promotes excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of Psychology. Students are eligible if they are in the top third of their graduating class, maintain a GPA in psychology courses of at least 3.2, and have completed three Psychology course beyond Introduction to Psychology at McDaniel College, one of which must be "Psychological Methods and Statistics I".
SIGMA PI SIGMA (PHYSICS)
Sigma Pi Sigma recognizes outstanding scholarship in Physics and serves to promote the four dimensions of Honor, Encouragement, Service, and Fellowship. Undergraduate candidates must have a weighted average GPA of 3.5 in the Physics major and overall. In addition, students must write an honors thesis in Physics.
SOCIETY FOR COLLEGIATE JOURNALISTS
Eligibility Requirements include minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least one semester of significant experience with some arm of campus media.
TRUMPETERS (LEADERSHIP)
The Trumpeters is a leadership honor society that recognizes exemplary qualities of leadership, integrity, and sincerity. Those selected are called to serve as positive examples of the campus by devoting themselves to academics, extracurricular activities, and service. Students may apply for membership in the spring semester of their junior year.
GREEK SOCIETIES
Two societies recognize Greek leadership: Gamma Sigma Alpha and Order of Omega.
