History Honors Society: Phi Alpha Theta

Phi Alpha Theta is a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.

At the Phi Alpha Theta biennial convention, undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to meet distinguished historians and to present their own research papers. Phi Alpha Theta is one of the few honor and professional historical societies that encourages student participation in all its functions. Prominent historians also appear on the program of every biennial convention, so that members of the society have the opportunity to learn of their contributions to historical scholarship. Students and professors have the opportunity to meet others interested in history, and in their own fields of specialization, while enjoying the social and intellectual dialogue that occurs. The biennial convention is highlighted by special events and tours of sites of historical interest.

Phi Alpha Theta presents special programs at the annual meetings of the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the Southern Historical Association, the Western History Association, the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association, Missouri Valley Historical Conference, the Southwestern Social Sciences Association, and many state historical associations. Phi Alpha Theta sponsors paper sessions at many of these professional conferences, enabling students to present their research and receive critical evaluation from faculty from a wide variety of institutions of higher learning. We are also currently establishing a closer relationship with the Society for Military History and the World History Association.

Undergraduate students must complete at least 12 semester hours in history (4 courses) with a GPA of at least 3.1 in history, have a GPA of 3.0 or better overall, and be in the top 35 percent of the class. Membership is not limited to history majors.

Graduate students should have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours towards their master's degree in history, have a GPA of better than 3.5, and shall have completed approximately 30 percent of the residence requirements for the master's degree.

Our one-time initiation fee of $50 per student is payable at the time of initiation. This fee includes a membership certificate and four issues of our journal, The Historian. Membership in Phi Alpha Theta is a lifetime membership.