Florida State University General Bulletin 1998-1999

University Honors Program and Honor Societies

The Florida State University has a long history of providing recognition and support for outstanding students. Through honors programs and honor societies, the University encourages excellence in all of its students. On Honors Night and throughout Honors Week, the University salutes students who have received institution-wide recognition for academic achievement.

The University’s tradition of holding a ceremony honoring students for their academic achievements extends back over 60 years. The first Honors Day was held on May 4, 1936, and Honors Night continues to be held on the Thursday of the next-to-last week of classes in each spring term. Students recognized include those elected to University-wide honor societies and those designated Outstanding Freshmen and Outstanding Upperclassmen. Special awards are bestowed by the societies. Honors Week is an extended period, centering on Honors Night, of scholarly awards and activities when departmental and college honor groups hold their individual recognition ceremonies. This cherished tradition is under the aegis of the Honors Week Committee, which comprises the student and faculty presidents of the honor societies.

Some students first achieve academic excellence in high school, some in community college, and some after choosing a challenging major at The Florida State University. The University has such a wide range of honors programs and honor societies that it has the flexibility to recognize and encourage at every stage those students who demonstrate high academic achievement. The information below provides a brief introduction to the academic honor societies and the honors curricula available.

University Honors Program

Director: R. Bruce Bickley, Jr.

Associate Director: Victor M. Williams, Jr.

Assistant Director: Diane J. Dowling

The Florida State University Honors Program is nourished by strong liberal arts roots planted in the early twentieth century. The Florida State University is the home of the first Phi Beta Kappa chapter in Florida, and the University Honors Program supports a tradition of academic excellence by offering two intellectually challenging curricula designed to serve the University’s top undergraduate students. The honors program is broadly and enthusiastically supported by the University.

The University Honors Program also provides opportunities for The Florida State University’s academically talented students to interact with each other. Students are invited to attend guest lectures, enjoy picnics and parties, and volunteer for worthy causes. The honors program staff helps to arrange these opportunities, but most of the planning is done by a student council elected by program students.

One of the benefits of being an honors student is that those who do very well in the freshman year are given advance notice in the sophomore year of postgraduate fellowship and scholarship opportunities. Prestigious awards such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Marshall, Mellon, Goldwater, McKnight, and Rotary require much advance preparation, and the honors program gives early encouragement to some of its most promising students.

The following students comprise the University Honors Program student body:

1. Students who become members of the Liberal Studies Honors Program (see below) automatically become members of the University Honors Program. If they complete the Liberal Studies Honors Program, they remain members of the University Honors Program until they graduate;
2. Students who pursue honors in the major (see below);
3. Students awarded National Merit by The Florida State University may choose to join the University Honors Program. They remain members for as long as they retain eligibility for scholarships and continue to state the wish to remain on the mailing list.

Honors students are visible within The Florida State University for their academic attainments. They are sometimes called upon to represent the student body at official University functions, to work with prospective students, and to serve in a variety of other ways.

Honors students have priority registration for all FSU courses, and receive advising and other support from the staff of the University Honors Program. Located in the University Center, the University Honors Program Office includes staff offices, a conference room, and a guest lounge. Numerous honors events are held at the Landis Honors Community. See the Honors Housing section of this General Bulletin for additional information concerning the Landis Honors Community.

Within the University Honors Program are two honors curricula. The Liberal Studies Honors Program provides challenging courses for students who are pursuing the liberal studies requirements. Typically, these students are freshmen and sophomores. Honors in the major provides a chance for students to do independent projects during their junior and senior years.

Both honors programs are designed to allow academically talented students to develop to their fullest potential. Both encourage independent thinking, tailor-made university experiences, and close interaction with The Florida State University faculty members.

Liberal Studies Honors Program

The Liberal Studies Honors Program allows academically talented students to choose special, limited enrollment courses, all of which fulfill liberal studies requirements. The three basic types of liberal studies honors courses open to all honors students are:

Honors Seminars. These are three (3) credit, special topics courses that count toward graduation and fulfill liberal studies requirements in the humanities (HUM 2937r), natural sciences (ISC 2937r), and social sciences (ISS 2937r). Each seminar enrolls about 15 honors students.

Honors Sections. These special sections of regularly scheduled liberal studies courses are offered to honors students only. Each section enrolls about 25 honors students.

Honors-Augmented Courses. These are regularly scheduled courses open to all students in which the professor has agreed to engage in special projects with honors students for honors credit. Honors-augmented opportunities are arranged in advance by the University Honors Program.

A fourth type of course, required for entering freshmen only, is the University Honors Colloquium. The weekly fall colloquium, HUM 2944 (one [1] semester hour), features faculty experts and open discussion on Complex Art and Inquiry in the Modern University.

Liberal studies honors students are sent a list of liberal studies honors courses before each registration. Additional copies are available in the University Honors Program Office. Honors-augmented courses are offered every term, including summer. Honors seminars and sections are normally offered only in the fall and spring terms.

Admission Requirements

High School Seniors. To participate at the beginning freshman level in the Liberal Studies Honors Program, a student must be extended an invitation by the program and must accept that invitation. Acceptance of the honors invitation means only that, if the student chooses to attend The Florida State University, then the student plans to pursue honors work.

All high school seniors who have been admitted to the University with at least a 3.8 weighted high school academic grade point average (GPA) and a test score of at least 1270 on the recentered SAT or a 28 on the ACT are considered for invitation. Normally, only averages from grades 9 through 11 and tests taken before January of the senior year are evaluated. The Honors Committee of the University’s Faculty Senate invites as many of the best qualified of these students as the Liberal Studies Honors Program can accommodate. National Merit finalists are automatically invited.

Currently Enrolled Florida State University Students

Freshmen with a 3.8 GPA on twelve (12) to eighteen (18) college credits are admitted to the Liberal Studies Honors Program upon request at the end of their first semester at The Florida State University. Freshmen should contact the University Honors Program Office as soon as the first-term grades are posted.

University students, including transfer students, with more than eighteen (18) college credits may ask about taking honors courses on a space-available basis if they have earned a 3.8 GPA after one college term or a 3.5 GPA after two or more terms.

Retention

Students may remain in the Liberal Studies Honors Program if they maintain at least a 3.2 GPA and make progress toward completion of the program.

Details about the Liberal Studies Honors Program and its registration and retention are given at an honors session during orientation.

Completion of Liberal Studies Honors

To finish the Liberal Studies Honors Program, a student normally completes eighteen (18) honors credits. However, freshman students entering The Florida State University who bring in twenty-four (24) or more credits of AP, college dual enrollment, International Baccalaureate, and other types of college credit are required to complete at least fifteen (15) honors credits. Typically, this will be sixteen (16) credit hours because of the one-hour required University Honors Colloquium for entering freshmen. Honors courses are also liberal studies courses, so students take honors courses at the same pace that they take liberal studies courses. Students in certain majors take up to four years to finish liberal studies and the Liberal Studies Honors Program; other students, especially those who bring in a significant amount of exemption credit or other college credit, finish liberal studies and the Liberal Studies Honors Program in one year. The majority of honors students complete the program in three or four semesters.

To count toward completion of the program, an honors course must have been finished with a grade of C or better. Honors-augmented courses will be counted toward completion if a grade of B or better is earned and an honors project is completed satisfactorily.

After completing eighteen (18) semester hours in honors courses (or fifteen [15] semester hours see Completion of Liberal Studies Honors section above for exception), the student must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 GPA in all honors courses that have counted toward completion.

Students who successfully finish eighteen (18) semester hours in honors courses (or fifteen [15] semester hours see the Completion of Liberal Studies Honors section above for exception) with a 3.0 honors GPA and a 3.2 overall GPA become Honors Finishers:

1. Finishers remain members of the University Honors Program until graduation;
2. They remain eligible for the Landis Honors Community (see below) until graduation;
3. Finishers will have honors completion noted on the transcript;
4. Students who have completed the Liberal Studies Honors Program remain eligible to take honors courses on a space-available basis. Check for available space with the University Honors Program Office during the last two days of the official drop/add period.

Honors Housing

The Landis Honors Community provides an excellent environment for honors students to get to know one another. Since many students share the same courses, study help can be readily available. Landis is also the setting for many honors extracurricular activities.

The honors community in Landis Hall is reserved for students who have accepted invitations to the Liberal Studies Honors Program and who remain eligible for or complete the program. Students who hope to join the Liberal Studies Honors Program may ask to be assigned to Landis, or they are free to choose other residence halls. Students who accept the honors invitation and request Landis will be assigned to the honors community on a first-come, first-served basis. Preference is determined by the order in which housing applications are received by the Office of University Housing.

Bess Ward Honors Travel Scholarships

Both liberal studies honors students (see above) and honors in the major students (see the next section) may be eligible to apply for Bess Ward Honors Travel Scholarships. These scholarships help cover travel costs and personal expenses for one semester for honors students attending The Florida State University centers in London, Florence, Costa Rica, Moscow, Paris, and Malaga, Spain. Guidelines are available in the honors office.

Honors in the Major

Many colleges, schools, and departments at The Florida State University offer an honors curriculum in the major. Honors work at the major level consists of a thesis or project, which the student completes over a period of two or three terms with the aid of the three faculty members whom the student chooses. Although the terms thesis and project are often used interchangeably in the program, a thesis is more precisely based on traditional library research and critical analysis and a project on primary research or creative activity such as that conducted by a scientist in a laboratory or an artist in a studio. An honors student who engages in empirical research is not expected to write a thesis, but a project report. Honors work is available only in a department from which the student plans to earn a bachelors degree.

Honors in the Major is designed to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. The program helps some students to decide whether they enjoy the independent work required in graduate study. Successful Honors-in-the-Major graduates find that the talents they develop are especially useful later in graduate and professional school and in their careers. Independent honors work in the major provides the opportunity to work closely with three faculty members, who get to know more about the honors student than they would during everyday classroom contact.

Honors in the Major is available in the following schools and departments: Accounting; American and Florida Studies; Anthropology; Art; Art Education; Art History; Asian Studies; Biological Science; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Classical Languages, Literature, and Civilization; Communication; Communication Disorders; Computer Science; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Curriculum and Instruction; Dance; Economics; Educational Theory and Practice (elementary education only); Electrical Engineering; English; Family and Child Sciences; Finance; Geography; Geology; History; Hospitality Administration; Humanities; Industrial Engineering; Interior Design; International Affairs; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Management; Management Information Systems; Marketing; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Meteorology; Modern Languages and Linguistics; Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts; Music; Nursing; Nutrition, Food, and Movement Sciences; Philosophy; Physics; Political Science; Psychology; Religion; Risk Management/Insurance and Real Estate; Russian and East European Studies; Social Science; Social Work; Sociology; Special Education; Statistics; Textiles and Consumer Sciences; Theatre; and Women’s Studies.

Admission Requirements

Since departments set higher requirements, students should also check with their academic major advisors. The University asks that the prospective honors student have at least sixty (60), typically seventy-five (75), college credits and a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Transfer students must have a 3.2 overall GPA, including all transfer work, and a 3.2 GPA on at least twelve (12) Florida State University credits. Older students should note that they may choose not to count credits that are five or more years old, as long as the most recent sixty (60) credits average 3.2 and the recent Florida State University GPA is at least 3.2 on twelve (12) credits.

The semester before starting the Honors in the Major Program, students are counseled by, and make formal application to, the University Honors Program. The application shows that the student has the required grades and credits, a proposed thesis topic, sufficient time prior to graduation to complete the project, a directing professor, and the support of the academic department.

As part of the application process, each student is referred to an honors liaison in the major department. The honors liaison is the faculty member in each department who gives advice on honors in the major, how the program fits into the major, and any additional requirements the individual department may have for its honors students.

Completion of the Honors Thesis or Project

Each Honors-in-the-Major student works on the thesis or project for two or three terms. Each term an honors student is in the program, the student enrolls in a three (3) credit honors thesis/project course. Honors in the major students earn six (6) or nine (9) honors credits that must average at least a B. Several departments have additional requirements.

Each honors student works with a directing professor from the major, one additional professor from the major, and one professor from another department. There are a few restrictions, but students are generally free to choose their professors. The directing professor is the official teacher of the honors thesis course, but all three professors contribute their expertise.

A prospectus is due to the University Honors Program Office the term before the thesis is finished. This is a short paper that states the nature of the honors project, its scope, and its methodology. The prospectus must be approved by all three professors.

The honors student defends the finished thesis or project in a meeting with all three faculty members. Following a successful defense, the student must submit two copies of the completed and bound thesis or project report to the University Honors Program office no later than the Tuesday (i.e., the fourth day) before the last day of classes of the term in which the student graduates. One copy must bear the faculty committee members original signatures. The program places one copy of the thesis in a permanent collection in the Strozier Library and one copy on display in the honors office. Further details and specific deadlines are available from the University Honors Program Office.

Students who participate in Honors in the Major become members of the University Honors Program and are eligible for all program activities and other benefits. They are also eligible, on a space-available basis, for honors-only liberal studies courses (see above). Students who finish the program are recognized on the transcript and at commencement.

Courses

The following is an alphabetical list of the officially approved courses that students take as they work on honors theses and projects.

Academic Honor Societies

The Florida State University sponsors chapters of many academic honor societies, some University-wide, and some specific to individual disciplines. These societies recognize students who have excelled academically and in some cases provide opportunities for service to the University and community.

For complete details of activities and membership requirements, contact the individual organization. University-wide honor societies can be found through the University Honors Program. Discipline-specific societies are under the jurisdiction of the appropriate college, school, or department.

University-Wide Honor Societies

Eight University-wide academic honor societies have joined together to form the Council of Honor Societies. Representatives meet together to discuss areas of common interest in an attempt to enhance the reputation and accessibility of honor societies at The Florida State University. The council is a registered student organization and has its own room in the Oglesby Union. All University honor societies are listed below.

Scholastic Societies

Phi Beta Kappa is a scholastic honor society for those in the liberal arts and sciences. The society was formed in 1776. The Florida State University chapter, chartered in 1934 and established in 1935, was the first in Florida. The chapters activities include recognition of outstanding graduating seniors and sponsorship of visiting speakers of University-wide interest. New members are automatically invited each fall and spring based on major, grades (minimum 3.8 GPA for juniors and 3.6 GPA for seniors), language study, and other criteria.

Phi Kappa Phi recognizes academic excellence among undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty in all fields. The society was founded in 1897; the University chapter was chartered in 1925. The chapter recognizes local scholars, artists, and students and recommends them for national awards. New members are automatically invited each spring. Juniors must rank in the upper five percent of their respective colleges or schools. Seniors must be in the upper 10 percent of their respective colleges or schools. Graduate and professional students must have at least twenty-four (24) credits at the University and rank in the upper 10 percent of their respective colleges or schools.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society. Students are invited to join if they have at least a 3.5 GPA at the close of any curricular period during their first year of college. The national organization was founded in 1923, the local chapter in 1955. The University chapter undertakes several service projects, including peer academic advising.

Golden Key National Honor Society honors undergraduate academic achievements. It was founded in 1977 and The Florida State University chapter in 1984. The University chapter awards the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award twice a year and regularly sponsors projects in local schools and a number of community service projects. The chapter has been named The Florida State University Campus Organization of the Year and has been recognized for excellence by the national organization. Every fall, the chapter automatically invites those students with at least sixty (60) semester hours [twenty-five (25) of which must be at The Florida State University] and in the top 15% of the junior or senior class.

The W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society, organized in 1991, is named for the black scholar, editor, and author of The Souls of Black Folk, who set high standards for educating African-Americans in the late 19th century and 20th century. The purpose of the DuBois Society is to recognize academic excellence among African-American students and to support, guide, and encourage their involvement in other leadership and honorary organizations on the campus of The Florida State University. All full-time sophomore and junior African-American students will be automatically reviewed for eligibility. If eligible, students will be invited to membership in the society. To qualify, candidates must have achieved a Florida State University 3.0 cumulative grade point average in at least twenty-four (24) FSU earned credits. Transfer students will be considered for eligibility on an individual basis. For more information, contact: Undergraduate Studies Deans Office, A3300 University Center, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2460, or e-mail MAPhonors@admin.fsu.edu.

Leadership/Scholastic Societies

Omicron Delta Kappa is the national leadership honor society for faculty and students. The society was founded in 1914 and came to The Florida State University in 1950. The society recognizes achievement in scholarship; athletics; social, service, and religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech, and mass media; and creative and performing arts. Annual activities include a homecoming breakfast honoring outstanding Florida State University alumni and a workshop that informs sophomores about undergraduate and graduate opportunities. The University group has been named outstanding circle in its province. Applications are sought twice a year, and members are chosen on the basis of scholarship (upper 30 percent of junior, senior, or graduate class), leadership, and character.

Mortar Board is a national honor society of college seniors. The national organization was founded in 1918 and the University chapter in 1931. Each year Mortar Board sponsors activities to provide service, advance the spirit of scholarship, and facilitate cooperation among honor societies. Every spring, juniors in the upper 35 percent of their class are invited to apply. Members are selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Garnet Key Honor Society of the Panama City campus, founded in 1986, recognizes students primarily for service and scholarship, but also for spirit and leadership. Activities are generally service projects and functions for the Panama City campus. Applicants must have completed twelve (12) semester hours at that campus with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The Oscar Arias Sanchez Honor Society was formed in the fall term of 1992 to recognize academic excellence among students of Hispanic heritage. Membership into the O.A.S.H.S. shall be granted to those sophomores, juniors, seniors, and transfer students of Hispanic heritage who have attained a 3.0 GPA or above, and who have fulfilled the required service projects. The O.A.S.H.S. is a scholastic/leadership society. To become a member of this organization, contact Undergraduate Studies Deans Office, A3300 University Center, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2460 or e-mail MAPhonors@admin.fsu.edu.

Leadership Societies

Phi Theta Kappa is the honor fraternity of Americas two-year colleges. The National Alumni Association offers former active members the opportunity to remain affiliated after they transfer. Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918; The Florida State University has had an alumni chapter since 1982. Chapter activities include University and community service and activities that provide information to community college students and support to transfer students. The University chapter has received many awards, including best alumni chapter in Florida and in the country. Phi Theta Kappa members are inducted into the alumni chapter twice a year. They must apply and have a 3.0 GPA and a history of activities.

Gold Key is a leadership honorary society unique to The Florida State University. Founded over 50 years ago to recognize outstanding student leadership, the society’s annual activities include Torch Night, a ceremony recognizing the top 100 incoming freshmen for their proven leadership and The Ross Oglesby Award, which recognizes one outstanding faculty member who has dedicated 10 years of service to FSU, its students and various community service projects. Students may apply twice a year for membership, which is based both on grades (3.0 minimum GPA) and leadership abilities (at least two different areas of leadership).

Academic Honor Societies Specific to Certain Disciplines

College of Arts and Sciences

Anthropology students are eligible to join Pi Gamma Mu. See College of Social Sciences below.

The honors organization of the Department of Classical Languages, Literature, and Civilization is Eta Sigma Phi, founded in 1924 to promote the study and appreciation of classical languages and literature. The University chapter, organized in 1926, is the oldest active chapter in the United States. The chapter arranges lectures, poetry readings, and slide presentations. New members are invited twice a year, based on a B average in at least one year of Latin or Greek and at least a 2.5 overall GPA.

The Department of Computer Science sponsors a chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the honor society for the computing sciences. The society is student-run and works closely with the local student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Undergraduate majors must have completed sixty-four (64) hours of study, including eighteen (18) hours in computer science, and have at least a 3.2 GPA overall and within the major. Graduate students in computer science must have completed twelve (12) hours of graduate work with a GPA of 3.5 or better.

The Department of English sponsors a chapter of the Lambda Iota Tau literary honor society. The society is open to majors in English and Modern Languages and Linguistics who have GPAs of 3.0 and higher. The society is student-run, and activities change with student interests. Recent activities have included forums on applying to graduate and law schools, marathon readings of favorite texts, and an annual poetry contest for Leon County elementary schools.

The Department of History boasts the fourth chapter in the nation (founded in 1926) of Phi Alpha Theta, an honor and professional society dedicated to promoting the study of history. The chapter sponsors speakers, seminars, and publications. Students, who need not be history majors, may apply for membership twice a year. Undergraduates need twelve (12) credits in history with a 3.2 GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. Graduate students need twelve (12) credits in history and a 3.5 overall GPA.

The honors society of the Department of Mathematics is Pi Mu Epsilon, founded nationally in 1914 and at The Florida State University in 1956. Members are selected by invitation, based on national standards for mathematics credits and GPA, and overall GPA. Both undergraduate and graduate students are admitted. These exemplary students also participate in mathematics competitions and the departments three student organizations, The Florida State Mathematical Society, The Florida State Student Actuarial Society, and the student-led Graduate Student Seminar.

Chi Epsilon Pi is the honor society for outstanding students in the Department of Meteorology. The Florida State University chapter has existed since 1966. Graduate students must have nine (9) (thesis plan) or fifteen (15) (nonthesis plan) credits earned through the Department of Meteorology. The graduate student must also have a 3.25 or better GPA for meteorology courses and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Undergraduate students are eligible upon completion of seventeen (17) meteorology credits if their GPA in meteorology courses is 3.25 or higher. Other criteria exist for junior level and special students. Students are inducted each spring.

The Department of Military Science fosters a chapter of the national organization Scabbard and Blade. The chapter participates in various civic and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) activities. Invitations are extended once a year based on membership in the Advanced ROTC Program, a B average, and standing in the top 50 percent of ROTC students. Initiation includes a service project.

The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics has five honor societies, each with a different language of focus:

French. Pi Delta Phi has long been established at The Florida State University and inducts major and minor students on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prospective members must have an overall GPA of 3.0 and 3.5 in French classes, with at least two classes on the 3000 level. The French faculty are all members of the society.

German. Delta Phi Alpha has had a chapter at the University since 1979. New members may apply once a year. Minimum requirements include a 3.5 GPA in German and a 3.0 overall GPA.

Italian. Gamma Kappa Alpha was organized in 1983; the University chapter followed in 1984. The chapter sponsors a weekly Italian Table for students. New members are invited each spring. Membership is open to undergraduate Italian majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Slavic (including Russian). Dobro Slovo was founded in 1926; the University has had a chapter since 1972. The chapter works with the Russian Club to sponsor a high school language competition, lectures, and movies. Each spring, students apply, or are invited, based on two years of study of Slavic languages and related subjects with a B+ average and an overall B average.

Spanish. Sigma Delta Pi has had a chapter at the University since 1935. The chapter sponsors cultural activities in Spanish. Students are initiated once a year. Undergraduates must have a 3.0 GPA in Spanish and must rank in the top 35 percent of their class. Graduate students are also eligible.

Sigma Pi Sigma is the national honor society in the Department of Physics. The organization was founded in 1921 and came to the University in 1954. New members are invited once a year, chosen from among physics majors who have at least a B average in physics as seniors or advanced juniors.

Alpha Epsilon Delta is the Pre-Health Professional honor society. The society welcomes members who are planning careers in medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry and pharmacy. To be invited into the society, students must be in the second semester of their sophomore year and have an overall and a science GPA of 3.0. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to participate in activities of the society. The Florida-beta chapter at The Florida State University was founded in 1946 and is one of the oldest chapters in the Southeast. The society invites speakers who represent the health professions, plans trips to area professional schools, and participates in community service.

The Department of Psychology fosters a chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society founded in 1929. The University chapter, in existence since 1959, has concentrated on activities that help majors with their future plans. The chapter has been recognized as The Florida State University Outstanding Small Student Organization of the Year. Students may apply for membership twice a year. Psychology majors or minors must have twelve (12) credits of psychology with a 3.2 GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. Graduate students majoring or minoring in psychology or a related discipline must maintain an overall B average.

College of Business

Beta Gamma Sigma was founded in 1913 and established at the University in 1962. Both undergraduate and graduate business students are eligible for election.

Beta Alpha Psi is the national honor society and scholastic and professional fraternity of the Department of Accounting; the University chapter was established in 1962. The society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in accounting, promotes the study of accounting, provides opportunities for interaction among members and practicing accountants, invites speakers from the profession, and undertakes campus and community service activities. Accounting majors, both undergraduate and graduate, who have completed at least two upper-level accounting courses and have met grade point requirements in accounting, and overall, may apply for membership. New members are initiated in the fall and spring semesters.

Majors in the Department of Hospitality Administration are eligible for Eta Sigma Delta, the international hospitality honor society. The society was founded in 1978 and came to the University in 1981. The local chapter emphasizes career preparation activities. Students who are hospitality majors in the junior year with a 3.2 overall GPA are eligible to apply at the beginning of each semester.

A chapter of Sigma Iota Epsilon, a management fraternity, has been sponsored by the Department of Management since 1969. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for membership. Undergraduates must have a 3.0 GPA and graduate students a 3.25 GPA, among other requirements.

College of Communication

Lambda Pi Eta, a national communication honor society, had its charter year at the college in 1989. The purposes of the society shall be to 1) foster and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in communication; 2) to stimulate interest in the field of communication; 3) to promote and encourage professional development among communication majors; 4) to provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication; 5) to establish and maintain closer relationships and mutual understanding between speech communication studies faculty and students; and 6) to explore options for graduate education in communication. The criteria for being a member require a student to be a communication or communication disorders major; to have completed at least fifteen (15) semester hours in communication; have a minimum of a 3.2 overall GPA; and have at least a 3.5 GPA within the College of Communication. New members are invited, at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semester.

College of Education

Kappa Delta Pi has had a chapter at the University since 1925. Students are invited twice a year, or may apply. They must have twelve (12) credits of professional education courses. Undergraduates must have a B in all college work and graduates a B+. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is requried for initiation.

Phi Delta Kappa has had a chapter at the University since 1953. The group sometimes participates in national research projects in education. Students are invited or may apply once a year. Members must have obtained a baccalaureate degree and be admitted to a graduate degree program or have five years successful professional experience. Members must have as their primary outcome professional involvement in education.

College of Engineering

Tau Beta Pi, the College of Engineering’s most prestigious honor society was formed in 1985 as the Engineering Honor Society. It was chartered and installed at the FAMUFSU College of Engineering on February 29, 1992 as the Florida Eta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi. The Tau Beta Pi Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarship and exemplary character, with emphasis on community service and upholding the engineering cannon of ethics. New members are invited twice a year to join Tau Beta Pi based on academic standards and exemplary character. They must be in the upper one-fifth of all engineering seniors of upper one-eighth of engineering juniors.

College of Human Sciences

Kappa Omicron Nu was established in 1990 with the consolidation of Kappa Omicron Phi and Omicron Nu. Omicron Nu was established at the University in 1922. The local chapter is Pi Chapter. Kappa Omicron Nu recognizes and encourages excellence in scholarship, research, and leadership. Undergraduates must have sixty (60) credits [at least fifteen (15) of which were completed at The Florida State University] with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Graduate students must have twelve (12) credits with a minimum 3.5 GPA. New members are initiated at least once a year.

School of Information Studies

Beta Phi Mu, founded in 1948, has been represented at the University since 1957. New members are invited once a year based on a 3.75 GPA and ranking in the top 25 percent of that years graduating class. The international headquarters of Beta Phi Mu is located at The Florida State University.

College of Law

The Order of the Coif was founded in 1902 and came to the University in 1979. New members are invited once a year from the top 10 percent of the graduating class.

School of Music

Pi Kappa Lambda was founded in 1918 and has had a Phi Chapter at the University since 1943. New members are chosen once a year based on scholarly achievement and musicianship. Juniors must be in the top 10 percent of the class, seniors in the top 20 percent; graduate students must have an A in at least two-thirds of their courses.

School of Nursing

Sigma Theta Tau International, the scholastic honor society of nursing, was established in 1922. The University chapter, Beta Pi, was chartered in 1974. The society promotes health and illness prevention through the advancement of nursing leadership, scholarship, and administration. The society offers scholarships to graduate and undergraduate nursing students and lends partial support for alumni and faculty research and continuing education. Undergraduate nursing students are eligible for consideration once they have completed one-half of the nursing program and must rank in the upper 35% of their class, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Graduate students are eligible for consideration once they have completed one-fourth of the graduate nursing program, provided they have a GPA of 3.5 or better.

College of Social Sciences

Pi Gamma Mu is open to students in anthropology, Asian studies, economics, geography, history, international affairs, political science, public administration, Russian and East European studies, social science, sociology, and urban and regional planning. The University chapter was founded in 1975. Students must have twenty (20) credits in the above subjects with a 3.0 GPA and, except for graduate students, must be in the upper 35 percent of their classes. Prospective members are also expected to have extracurricular activities related to the social sciences.

The Department of Economics has a chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon international honor society. Undergraduate requirements for membership are: junior or senior classification, a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of economics courses completed; a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; and a minimum 3.0 GPA in economics courses. Graduate students must have completed at least one semester of graduate work with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants from all majors are welcome.

Gamma Theta Upsilon is the honor society in the Department of Geography. The society was founded in 1931 and came to the University in the mid-1950s. The local chapter organizes lectures and field trips. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, and invitations go out twice a year. A student must have a 3.0 overall GPA, must have a B in geography in at least three courses, and must have completed at least three semesters of college course work.

The honor society of the Department of Political Science is Pi Sigma Alpha. The society was founded in 1920 and a chapter was established at the University in 1954. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply if they have at least twelve (12) hours in political science (including public administration) with a 3.2 GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA.

Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honor society for the field of Public Administration. Twice a year new members in the top 10% of their class are invited.

School of Social Work

The School of Social Work was the national founding chapter of Phi Alpha honor society. Chapter members work for the benefit of community social service organizations. Applications are taken twice a year. Undergraduates must have a 3.25 overall GPA with twelve (12) credits completed in social work. Graduate students must have a 3.5 overall GPA with nine (9) credits completed in social work.