Pikeville College - Student Services - Honor Societies

Honor Societies

Qualified Pikeville College students are provided the opportunity to participate in the following honor societies:

Phi Eta Sigma

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honorary for students who excelled academically during their freshman year. Eligibility is determined by grade point average, with a 3.5 GPA during either of the first two semesters (excluding semesters in which developmental courses are taken) of college work required for membership. Those who qualify receive a lifetime membership in a respected organization whose members go on to serve in leadership positions in academic, business and professional life. The Pikeville College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma has also been active in local community service, including tutoring for both college and high school students and in basic literacy programs throughout Eastern Kentucky.

Lambda Sigma

Lambda Sigma is a national honor society for second-year college students dedicated to fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service among its members as they promote the interests of the colleges and universities they represent. Candidates for membership are those first-year students who have placed in the top 35% of the class academically at the time of selection and who have shown strong evidence of leadership. Students meeting these qualifications are eligible for selection in the spring term following completion of at least one academic term. Members are selected in the spring and are active members during their second year. Membership consists of not more than 50 students nor fewer than 15 students.

Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta’s central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.

One of the largest members of the Association of College Honor Societies, Sigma Tau Delta has over 600 active chapters, more than 900 faculty sponsors and inducts approximately 7,000 members annually. Our members have the opportunity to be recognized for their outstanding achievements, enrich their education, help them make career choices and advance their careers.

The Pikeville College chapter was installed in the spring of 2004. Students with a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English, who rank at least in the highest thirty-five percent of their class in general scholarship and who have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college work are eligible. Full-time faculty members who sponsor a chapter are also eligible.

Associate membership is available to currently enrolled students, undergraduate or graduate, who have the requisite academic background but who are not majoring or minoring in English. In addition, non-sponsoring faculty members with a degree in English may be associate members.

Membership in Sigma Tau Delta is by invitation, extended through a local chapter on behalf of the international organization. Students who meet the qualifications for membership must apply through the chapter on their campus. Once a student contacts the local chapter, the sponsor will check the qualifications and recommend that student for membership.

Sigma Zeta

Sigma Zeta is a national honor society that encourages and fosters the attainment of greater knowledge in the fields of science and mathematics and recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement through active, graduate and honorary memberships. The Beta Xi Chapter was installed in the spring of 1999. Membership is open to students who have declared majors in mathematics, computer science and natural science, completed at least 15 semester hours in these areas with at least a 3.0 GPA and earned an overall GPA of 2.75.

Theta Alpha Kappa

Theta Alpha Kappa, the religion honor society, is the only national honor society serving the needs of those involved in the study of religion and/or theology at both the baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate levels of higher education. Honoring excellence in these academic fields is its primary purpose, and it currently hosts over 200 local chapters throughout the United States at institutions both large and small, public and private. Undergraduate students who have been enrolled in an institution with a TAK chapter for three semesters, have completed 12 hours in religion, have a 3.5 GPA in their religion courses and a 3.0 GPA overall and who are in the top 35% of their class qualify. The Alpha Eta Alpha Chapter was installed in the spring semester of 2004.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology, founded in 1929, for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Psi Chi has chapters located in more than 940 colleges and universities. The Pikeville College chapter was installed in the fall of 2000. Membership is open to psychology majors and minors who have completed nine semester hours of psychology, achieved a cumulative and psychology GPA of at least 3.0 and ranked in the upper 35% of their class in general scholarship.