Honor society
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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
Many honor societies are referred to by their membership or by non-members as
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)
- non-traditional students), colors: Burgundyand Gold
- Jesuitinstitutions of higher education), colors: Maroon and Gold
- Chi Alpha Sigma, ΧΑΣ (college student-athletes)
- Delta Alpha Pi, ΔΑΠ (students with disabilities)
- Catholiccolleges and universities)
- Delta Epsilon Tau, ΔΕΤ (Distance Education Accrediting Commission institutions)[1]
- 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.
- Mortar Board (leadership), colors: Gold and Silver
- National Residence Hall Honorary, NRHH (Residence hall leadership/service)
- Omicron Delta Kappa, ΟΔΚ (leadership and academic; juniors, seniors, graduate students, alumni, faculty and staff, honorary)
- Sigma Alpha Lambda, ΣΑΛ (leadership)
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.
- Arnold Air Society (United States Air Force cadets)
- United States armed forces)
- SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society (veterans)[2]
- Scabbard and Blade (ROTC cadets and midshipmen)
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
- language arts)
- counseling)
- Delta Epsilon Chi, ΔΕΧ (divinity)[3]
- Eta Sigma Phi, ΗΣΦ (classics)
- 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 (undergraduatearts and sciences), colors: Pink and Sky blue
- Phi Sigma Tau, ΦΣΤ (philosophy)
- Family and consumer science), colors: Violet, Gold and Cream
- Pi Alpha Alpha, ΠΑΑ (public administration), colors: Blue and Gold
- 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
- decision sciences)
- color: Red
- Beta Alpha Psi, ΒΑΨ (accounting and finance)
- ACBSP accredited businessprograms)
- Eta Sigma Delta, ΗΣΔ (International Hospitality Management Honor Society, ICHRIE)[5]
- Mu Kappa Tau, ΜΚΤ (marketing), colors: Blue and Gold
- 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
- Kappa Delta Pi, ΚΔΠ (education), colors: Jade Green and Violet
- Pi Lambda Theta, ΠΛΘ (education), colors: Blue and Gold
- Pi Omega Pi, ΠΩΠ (business education)
- Phi Beta Delta, ΦΒΔ (international education)
- Eta Sigma Gamma, ΗΣΓ (health education)[8]
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
- Kappa Tau Alpha, ΚΤΑ (journalism/mass communication), colors: Blue and Gold
- Lambda Pi Eta, ΛΠΗ (communication)
- Society for Collegiate Journalists, (SCJ) (journalism)
Languages
- 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
- second language acquisition), colors: Purple and White
Law
- The Order of Barristers (law)
- Order of the Coif (law)
- Phi Delta Phi, ΦΔΦ, (law), colors: Garnet and Pearl blue
- Criminal Justice, law), colors: Blue and Gold
- Lambda Epsilon Chi, ΛΕΧ, (Paralegal)
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
- 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)
- environmental sciences)
- 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
- natural sciences/mathematics/computer science), colors: Blue and Gold
Agriculture
- Delta Tau Alpha, ΔΤΑ, (Honor Society of Agriculture)[11]
- Gamma Sigma Delta, ΓΣΔ, (Honor Society of Agriculture)[12] colors: Sand and Forest Green
- Pi Alpha Xi, ΠΑΞ (horticulture), colors: Nile green and Cerulean blue
- Xi Sigma Pi, ΞΣΠ (forestry), colors: Green and Gray
Architecture
- Sigma Lambda Alpha, ΣΛΑ (landscape architecture), colors: Gold and Green
- Tau Sigma Delta, ΤΣΔ (architecture), colors: White and Gold
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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
- library science/information science/information technology)
- Epsilon Pi Tau, ΕΠΤ (technology), colors: Blue and Gold
- Order of the Sword & Shield, ΟΣΣ (homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, and all protective studies)[23]
- information systems, computer science)
Mathematics
- Kappa Mu Epsilon, ΚΜΕ (mathematics)
- Mu Sigma Rho, ΜΣΡ (statistics)
- Pi Mu Epsilon, ΠΜΕ (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:
- University of St. Thomas
- Burning Spear Society at Florida State University
- Cap and Skull at Rutgers University
- Cannon and Castle at Yale University
- The College of William & Mary
- Florida Blue Key at University of Florida
- Friar Society at the University of Texas at Austin[24]
- Iron Arrow Honor Society at the University of Miami[25]
- LSV at the University of Missouri
- Matteo Ricci Society at Fordham University[26]
- Owl and Key at the University of Utah
- Phalanx Honor Society at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, also at Clarkson University. Separate groups?[27]
- Quill and Dagger at Cornell University
- QEBH at the University of Missouri
- Raven Society at the University of Virginia
- Society of Innocents at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln[28]
- Skull and Bones at the Pennsylvania State University[29]
- Skull and Dagger at University of Southern California[30]
- Sphinx Head at Cornell University
- Dean William Tate Society at the University of Georgia[31]
- Texnikoi Engineering Honorary at Ohio State University
Certificate, vocational, technical, and workforce education
Two-year colleges and community colleges
- two-year colleges)
- California community colleges)
- Delta Psi Omega, ΔΨΩ (theatre), colors: Blue and Gold
- two-year colleges)
- Community Colleges)
- Mu Alpha Theta, ΜΑΘ (mathematics, high school and two-year colleges), colors: Blue and Gold
- two-year colleges)
- Phi Theta Kappa, ΦΘΚ (All academic fields at community and junior colleges), colors: Blue and Gold
- two-year colleges), colors: Blue and Gold
- Sigma Kappa Delta, ΣΚΔ (English at community and junior colleges)
- natural sciences/mathematics/computer science - Associate membership available for community and junior colleges), colors: Blue and Gold
- two-year colleges)
Secondary school societies
Commonly referred to as high school societies.
General
- California Scholarship Federation, colors: Blue and Gold
- Cum Laude Society, colors: Blue and Gold
- National Beta Club
- high school), colors: Blue and Gold
- National Junior Honor Society (middle school), colors: Blue and Gold
Subject-specific
- Computer Science Honor Society (computer science)
- German National Honor Society-Delta Epsilon Phi (Deutsche Ehrenverbindung) (German)
- International Thespian Society (theatre), colors: Blue and Gold
- Mu Alpha Theta, ΜΑΘ (mathematics), colors: Blue and Gold
- National Art Honor Society (visual arts)
- National English Honor Society (English)
- National Honor Society for Dance Arts(dance)
- National Junior Classical League (Latin and Greek)
- National Speech and Debate Association (public speaking), colors: Red and Silver
- National Technical Honor Society (vocational education)
- Quill and Scroll (journalism), colors: Blue and Gold
- Rho Kappa, ΡΚ (social studies)
- Science National Honor Society (science)
- Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) (Spanish and Portuguese)
- Société Honoraire de Français (French)
- Technology Student Association (STEM), colors: Red blue White
- Tri-M Music Honor Society, MMM (music), colors: Pink
Non-scholastic honor societies
Boy Scouts
- Order of the Arrow, National BSA Honor Society
- Pony Express Council
- Firecrafter, Crossroads of America Council
See also
- Professional fraternities and sororities
- Honor Society Caucus
- Honor Cords
- Association of College Honor Societies
References
- ^ "Honor Society, Academic Organization". www.deths.org. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Home". salute.colostate.edu.
- ^ "Honor Society". Association for Biblical Higher Education. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "Alpha Mu Alpha". www.ama.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
- ^ "Home - International CHRIE". www.chrie.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-15. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ "Nu Lambda Mu". Nonprofit Academic Centers Council.
- ^ "Home". sigmanutau.org.
- ^ "Eta Sigma Gamma". Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Home". chitauepsilon.dance.
- ^ "Chi Tau Epsilon Dance Honor Society | ULM University of Louisiana at Monroe". www.ulm.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "National Delta Tau Alpha". Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "Gamma Sigma Delta – The Honor Society of Agriculture". www.gammasigmadelta.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ Alpha Nu Sigma's web page Archived 2016-12-07 at the Wayback Machine notes the Society was established in 1979. Reference accessed 28 Nov 2016.
- ^ "About PET". Pi Epsilon Tau at UT. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Rho Beta Epsilon – The Robotics Engineering Honor Society". Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Home". alphaeta.net.
- ^ "Home". betasigmakappa.net.
- ^ "Iota Tau Alpha: The Athletic Training Honor Society". NATA. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Pi Delta National Honor Society | Kent State University". www.kent.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Sigma Phi Alpha - National Dental Hygiene Honor Society". sigma-phi-alpha.org. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Sigma Phi Omega - Gerontology Honor Society". Sigma Phi Omega. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "TUA Home". www.nationalhumanservices.org. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Order of the Sword & Shield". Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society. Archived from the original on 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
- ^ Friar Society website Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Friar Society Website
- ^ "Miami magazine - Arrow Heads". 2009-11-20. Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ Fordham. "The Matteo Ricci Society". www.fordham.edu. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ Phalanx and White Key Society website Archived 2010-07-10 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2010-07-04.
- ^ U of Nebraska student organization list Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 May 2014.
- ^ "Skull and Bones Senior HAT Society". Skull and Bones Senior HAT Society. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Home". Skull & Dagger Society. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Tate Society | Home". tatesociety.uga.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-03.