National Honor Societies
Alpha Sigma Nu — the honor society of the Jesuit institutions of higher education, is unique among honor societies in that it seeks to identify the most promising students who demonstrate an intelligent appreciation of and commitment to the ideals of Jesuit high education-intellectual, social, moral, and religious. Students who rank in the top 15 percent of their class may be considered for membership. Each chapter can nominate no more than four percent of a particular class. Selection is based on scholarship, loyalty, and service.
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Phi Beta Kappa — founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most prestigious national honor society of the liberal arts and sciences. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is recognition of academic achievement and is intended for students who have demonstrated particular breadth in their undergraduate program. Each year, the Holy Cross Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa nominates for membership fourth-year students from the top ten percent of their class who have completed one course in mathematics and have demonstrated language competence equivalent to the second semester of an intermediate-level language course (in addition to their common requirements). In addition, the Chapter nominates third-year students who have completed at least 20 semester courses and demonstrated an exceptional level of academic achievement.
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Disciplinary Honor Societies
Alpha Kappa Delta — the national honor society in sociology is an affiliate of the American Sociological Association and awards recognition to high scholarship in sociology.
Delta Phi Alpha — the national German honor society, devoted to recognizing excellence in the study of German, to providing an incentive for higher scholarship, to promoting the study of the German language, literature, and civilization and to emphasizing those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value and which contribute to the search for peace and truth.
Dobro Slovo — the National Slavic Honor Society serves as a means for recognition of academic excellence in the study of Slavic languages, literature and history.
Eta Sigma Phi — the national honorary society for students of Latin, Greek, and/or Classics. The purposes of the society, in the words of the Constitution, are “to develop and promote interest in classical study among the students of colleges and universities; to promote closer fraternal relationship among students who are interested in classical study, including inter-campus relationship; to engage generally in an effort to stimulate interest in classical study, and in the history, art, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome.”
Gamma Kappa Alpha — the Italian honor society, dedicated to promoting and sustaining excellence in the study of Italian language, literature and culture.
Omicron Delta Epsilon — the national society in economics, which selects as members students who have distinguished themselves in the study of economics.
Phi Alpha Theta — the national honor society in history, devoted to the promotion of the study of history by the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and thought among historians.
Phi Sigma Tau — the national honor society in philosophy, which awards distinction to students having high scholarship and personal interest in philosophy.
Pi Delta Phi — the national French honor society, devoted to recognizing outstanding scholarship in French language and literature, to increasing Americans' knowledge of and appreciation for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to stimulating and encouraging French cultural activities.
Pi Mu Epsilon — the national honor society in mathematics, which promotes scholarly activity in mathematics by electing members on an honorary basis according to their proficiency in mathematics.
Pi Sigma Alpha — the national honor society in political science, which selects students who have distinguished themselves in the study of the discipline.
Psi Chi — the national honor society in psychology and an affiliate of the American Psychological Association, which seeks to nurture student involvement in psychology.
Sigma Phi Omega — the national society seeks to recognize the excellence of those who study gerontology and aging as well as of the professional aging service personnel. The society seeks to promote scholarship, professionalism, friendship, and services to older persons, and to recognize exemplary attainment in gerontology/aging studies and related fields. Membership is open to students who have a concentration in gerontology/aging studies.
Sigma Pi Sigma — the national physics honor society, which seeks to recognize high scholarship in physics.
Sigma Tau Delta — the national English honor society, was established in 1987. Eligible English majors are elected to membership and actively engage in the promotion of English studies.
Theta Alpha Kappa — the national honor society in religious studies and theology embraces three areas of primary concern to students of religion: God, humanity and community. Its aims are to further the study of religion and theology at the graduate and undergraduate level; encourage excellence in research, learning, teaching and publication; and to foster the exchange of ideas among scholars.