Resources - Pi Sigma Alpha
PI SIGMA ALPHA: POLITICAL SCIENCE HONORARY SOCIETY
Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1920 at the University of Texas for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Professor C. Perry Patterson was an early leader of the first chapter and served as national president of PSA from 1920 until 1932. The success of the honor society at the University of Texas prompted other institutions to apply for chapters, with the Universities of Oklahoma and Kansas establishing chapters by 1922. In March of that year the society held its first national convention at the University of Oklahoma.
Growth in the honor society was gradual throughout the 'twenties and 'thirties and accelerated after the Second World War. Today there are over 460 chapters throughout the country. There is at least one college or university with a PSA chapter in every state and the District of Columbia and the U. S. territory of Guam.
The national political science honor society, has chapters at accredited colleges and universities that offer a prescribed minimum amount of course work in political science. Political science majors are eligible if they have demonstrated academic excellence in political science and other academic work, irrespective of their membership in other social or honorary organizations.
The Pi Sigma Alpha national office encourages local chapters to be active, "functioning as an integral part of the Political Science Department in the promotion of worthwhile extracurricular activities related to public affairs." Gamma Mu, the chapter at Illinois, was established in 1956. The Illinois chapter has engaged in a variety of activities over its history. From time to time it sponsors brown bag lunches with faculty to discuss their areas of interest and to explore graduate school options. Members of the chapter also assist with advising during advance enrollment, and select the faculty recipient for the Pi Sigma Alpha/Clarence A. Berdahl Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
The scholastic requirements for Gamma Mu are higher than the national minimum. To be invited to join Pi Sigma Alpha at Illinois, a student must have junior standing with at least a 3.00 all-university grade-point average, a 3.25 average in political science courses, and have completed at least nine hours of advanced course work (300- and 400-level courses) in political science. To begin the application process print out the application form and return it to the Undergraduate Studies Office.