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Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha (ΠΣΑ) is the sole national honor society dedicated to recognizing academic excellence in political science, government, public administration, and related fields among college and university students in the United States.^[1]
Founded at the University of Texas at Austin in 1920, with its Alpha chapter formally chartered that October following initial conceptualization in late 1919, the society has expanded to nearly 850 chapters on campuses nationwide and has inducted over 300,000 members.^[2]
Membership eligibility requires undergraduates to complete at least ten semester credits in political science or allied subjects with a B average or better while ranking in the top third of their class, alongside similar scholarly standards for graduate students; faculty in relevant departments are automatically eligible.^[3]^[4]
Pi Sigma Alpha promotes scholarship through benefits including access to graduate study scholarships, Washington internships, a national undergraduate research conference, and chapter grants for extracurricular activities, thereby encouraging sustained engagement with political inquiry.^[1]

History

Founding at the University of Texas

Pi Sigma Alpha originated from discussions during a December 1919 monthly faculty meeting of the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, where professors sought to create an organization dedicated to advancing the study of government.^[2] Professor C. Perry Patterson, a key faculty member, was tasked with establishing the society and developed its foundational structure over the ensuing year.^[2] ^[5] The Alpha Chapter, representing the society's inaugural installation, was formally chartered in October 1920, solidifying Pi Sigma Alpha's establishment as a national honor society for political science.^[2] Patterson assumed the role of founding national president, serving from 1920 until 1932, while also acting as the chapter advisor at the University of Texas until 1933.^[6] The society's core objectives, as articulated in its early formulation, emphasized encouraging the scientific and practical study of government, promoting political reforms, and educating the electorate on governmental functions.^[2] Initial membership comprised both undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Texas, selected for their demonstrated excellence in political science coursework and interest in public affairs.^[2] Among the first inductees were individuals who later achieved prominence, including a future U.S. Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Attorney General, and U.S. Ambassador, underscoring the chapter's early emphasis on recognizing high-achieving scholars.^[2] This founding effort at the University of Texas laid the groundwork for Pi Sigma Alpha's expansion, prioritizing academic merit and engagement with political institutions over broader social or ideological affiliations.^[2]

Early Expansion and National Recognition

Following its chartering in October 1920 at the University of Texas at Austin, Pi Sigma Alpha experienced gradual expansion in the early 1920s, establishing its Beta chapter at the University of Oklahoma and Gamma chapter at the University of Kansas in 1922.^[2] In 1923, additional chapters formed at the University of Kentucky and the University of California, Los Angeles, while the society amalgamated with the smaller Alpha Pi Zeta honor group, broadening its national footprint and member base.^[7] By the late 1920s, chapters had been added at institutions including Southern Methodist University (1925), Washington University in St. Louis and the University of California, Berkeley (1926), the University of Southern California (1927), the University of Washington (1928), and Ohio State University (1929), reaching a total of 14 chapters.^[2]^[7] This period of growth was driven primarily by founding president C. Perry Patterson, who served until 1932 and actively promoted chapter development across diverse regions, emphasizing the society's role in fostering political science scholarship among students and faculty.^[2] Expansion continued steadily into the 1930s, with new chapters reflecting increasing institutional interest in recognizing political science excellence. By the decade's end, Pi Sigma Alpha had established 31 chapters nationwide and inducted 2,401 members, solidifying its presence beyond Texas and the Southwest.^[7] The society's multi-regional chapter network and amalgamation efforts marked its transition to a recognized national honor organization dedicated exclusively to political science, distinguishing it from general or discipline-agnostic societies of the era.^[7] This early national scope laid the foundation for formal acknowledgments, including its later status as the preeminent political science honor society, though full institutional affiliations such as with the Association of College Honor Societies occurred postwar in 1948.^[7]

Post-War Growth and Modern Developments

Following World War II, Pi Sigma Alpha experienced accelerated expansion, driven by the broader growth in American higher education and increased enrollment in political science programs. The first new chapter established after the war was at Utah State University, with 15 chapters added overall by the end of 1949.^[7] In 1948, the society joined the Association of College Honor Societies, enhancing its national recognition and prestige.^[7] The 1950s marked a surge with 49 new chapters and 3,727 inductees, followed by further growth in subsequent decades amid rising interest in civic education and political engagement.^[7] By the 1960s, 38 chapters were added alongside 10,334 new members; the 1970s saw 108 chapters and 30,832 inductees; the 1980s added 152 chapters with 41,315 members; the 1990s contributed 128 chapters and approximately 56,000 inductees; the 2000s established 176 chapters and inducted 79,163 members; and the 2010s added 135 chapters with 70,774 inductees.^[7] Organizational changes supported this trajectory, including the creation of an executive director position in 1960, a shift from "fraternity" to "society" nomenclature to reflect its honor society focus, and the relaunch of student essay competitions in 1953.^[7] In the modern era, Pi Sigma Alpha has sustained its expansion, reaching approximately 850 chapters by 2022 across U.S. colleges and universities, with over 315,000 total inductees by 2018 and around 8,000 new members annually in recent years.^[2]^[7] Developments have emphasized scalability and student involvement, such as the introduction of chapter activity grants in 1981, scholarships in 1995, and the inaugural National Student Research Conference in 2014, which grew to host about 200 participants by 2019.^[7] Regional conferences began in 2017, further decentralizing opportunities while maintaining national standards for academic excellence in political science.^[7]

Purpose and Mission

Core Objectives

Pi Sigma Alpha's primary objective is to recognize academic excellence in political science and related disciplines among undergraduate and graduate students, conferring membership as a mark of superior scholastic achievement typically requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 in political science courses and overall academic standing.^[2] This recognition extends to honoring outstanding performance through awards, such as best undergraduate paper and thesis competitions, which incentivize rigorous research and intellectual contribution in the field.^[8] A central goal is to stimulate scholarship and interest in politics, government, and democracy by facilitating access to resources like the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, which publishes student work to promote innovative inquiry across subfields.^[2] ^[9] The society provides leadership opportunities, including chapter governance roles and national council participation, to develop practical skills in organizational management and public affairs.^[2] The mission also emphasizes supporting civic engagement through curricular and extracurricular activities that foster informed dialogue on governmental issues, aligning with the founding intent established in 1919 to encourage scientific study of government problems, advocate practical reforms, and educate citizens on policy matters.^[2] Contemporary objectives include promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in political science, though empirical evidence on the causal impact of such efforts on scholarly output remains limited and debated in academic literature.^[2] These aims are pursued via funding for internships, conferences, and grants totaling over $100,000 annually, enabling members to engage directly with political processes in Washington, D.C., and beyond.^[8]

Relation to Political Science Discipline

Pi Sigma Alpha functions as the sole national honor society dedicated exclusively to undergraduate and graduate students excelling in political science and related fields such as government, international relations, public administration, public policy, and public affairs.^[3] Membership eligibility emphasizes superior performance in discipline-specific coursework, typically requiring completion of a set number of political science courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in those classes and an overall institutional GPA of at least 3.0, thereby directly rewarding academic rigor within the political science curriculum.^[3] This selective recognition mechanism aligns with the discipline's emphasis on analytical skills, empirical inquiry, and understanding of political institutions and processes, distinguishing it from broader honor societies that span multiple fields.^[10] Within political science education, Pi Sigma Alpha chapters embedded in university departments facilitate extracurricular engagement that complements formal coursework, including discussions of current political events, guest lectures from faculty and practitioners, and collaborative research projects tailored to subfields like American politics, comparative government, and international relations.^[11] These activities cultivate a scholarly community that extends classroom learning into practical applications, such as policy analysis and civic participation, thereby reinforcing the discipline's dual focus on theoretical foundations and real-world governance challenges.^[12] By requiring active involvement in chapter initiatives for full member benefits, the society encourages students to apply political science methodologies—ranging from qualitative case studies to quantitative data analysis—in group settings, enhancing skills essential for advanced study or professional roles in government and academia.^[13] The society's national programs further integrate it into the broader political science ecosystem, including sponsorship of student paper presentations and speakers at American Political Science Association (APSA) annual meetings, which expose members to cutting-edge research and professional networks within the field.^[1] It also supports undergraduate research through initiatives like the national student research conference, where participants present empirical studies on topics such as electoral systems, policy outcomes, and institutional design, thereby bridging undergraduate education with graduate-level scholarship and disciplinary journals.^[8] This alignment promotes the discipline's core objectives of fostering evidence-based inquiry into power dynamics, institutional behavior, and public decision-making, while providing tangible incentives like scholarships for political science graduate programs that sustain talent pipelines into academia and policy arenas.^[14]

Organizational Structure

Governance and Leadership

Pi Sigma Alpha is governed by an Executive Council that functions as the organization's board of directors, overseeing its affairs and adopting resolutions to advance its purposes.^[15]^[4] The Council comprises the President, President-Elect, Treasurer, two most recent past presidents, the faculty advisor to the Undergraduate Journal of Politics, the Executive Director, and twelve elected members, six of whom are elected biennially by chapter advisors or their delegates for four-year terms during formal business meetings held in even-numbered years.^[15]^[4] The President and President-Elect serve two-year terms, after which the President transitions to a four-year role as past president; the Treasurer serves a four-year term; and the Executive Director serves at the Council's discretion.^[4] A Nominating Committee, appointed by the President, proposes candidates at least 30 days prior to annual meetings to facilitate these elections.^[4] An Executive Committee, consisting of the President, President-Elect, Treasurer, the most recent past president, the Executive Director, and three members selected by the Council, handles operational management between full Council meetings, which occur at least twice annually in spring and fall.^[15]^[4] Annual business meetings, often aligned with the American Political Science Association's annual meeting or conducted virtually, include receptions and formal sessions for voting and deliberation.^[15] The Executive Director manages day-to-day operations, with Tanya Schwarz holding the position since 2021; she previously directed teaching and learning initiatives at the American Political Science Association and holds a PhD in political science from the University of California, Irvine.^[16] Recent Council elections for the 2024-2028 term added members including Dr. Amy Below (California State University, East Bay), Dr. Mary Manjikian (Regent University), Dr. Paul Musgrave (Georgetown University in Qatar), and others, primarily political science faculty serving as chapter advisors.^[17]

Membership Criteria and Categories

Pi Sigma Alpha maintains three categories of membership: student, faculty, and honorary.^[4] Student membership is divided between undergraduates and graduate students enrolled at institutions hosting a chapter. Undergraduates must have completed at least half the credits required for a baccalaureate degree, along with 10 semester hours or 15 quarter hours in political science—including at least one upper-level course—while achieving a B average or higher in those courses and ranking in the upper third of their class based on overall scholarship.^[4] Graduate students qualify by completing at least 9 graduate credits in political science with no grade below a B.^[4] Individual chapters may impose additional academic requirements, such as elevated GPA thresholds, but cannot lower national standards or introduce non-academic criteria like service obligations or subjective evaluations.^[3] Faculty membership extends to any instructor in the department, school, or division hosting a chapter, with initiation requiring no formal election; members hold the same privileges and duties as students, and chapter advisors receive complimentary national membership.^[4]^[3] Honorary membership honors individuals of demonstrated excellence in political science and is conferred either by a chapter—limited to two per year via a two-thirds vote of voting members present—or by the national organization itself; those eligible for but failing to meet student criteria are ineligible for this category.^[4]^[3]

Chapters and Geographic Distribution

Pi Sigma Alpha maintains chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States, with at least one chapter in every state, the District of Columbia, and select territories.^[18] As of the latest official listing, the organization supports 607 active chapters domestically and internationally.^[18] This widespread presence ensures accessibility for political science students nationwide, reflecting the society's mission to recognize academic excellence across diverse institutions.^[1] Geographic distribution correlates strongly with state population and the density of higher education institutions offering political science majors. Pennsylvania leads with 54 chapters, followed by California and New York with 47 each; Texas has 39, while Illinois and Ohio each host 33.^[18] Less populous states typically have fewer chapters, such as Wyoming, Guam, and Puerto Rico with one each, and Alaska, Delaware, and Nevada with two each.^[18] Territories like Guam (1 chapter) and Puerto Rico (1 chapter) extend the society's reach beyond the contiguous states.^[18] Internationally, Pi Sigma Alpha has a limited footprint, with one chapter in Mexico at Universidad de las Américas.^[18] Some sources reference an additional chapter in Canada, though it is not enumerated in the primary official directory.^[19] The concentration in high-enrollment states underscores the society's alignment with major centers of political science education, while universal state coverage promotes equitable opportunities for membership.^[18]

Programs and Activities

National Conferences and Research Opportunities

Pi Sigma Alpha organizes the annual National Student Research Conference, which serves as the organization's primary national event for undergraduate and master's-level members to present original political science research.^[20] Held typically in February in Washington, D.C., at host universities such as George Washington University or American University, the conference features 100 to 175 paper presentations across multiple panels, along with poster sessions in select years.^[21] ^[22] It accommodates both in-person and virtual participation, attracting 300 to 350 attendees including students, faculty discussants, and professionals.^[23] The conference provides structured feedback opportunities, with each panel moderated by faculty experts who offer critiques and suggestions to refine student work.^[20] Professional development components include career workshops, graduate and law school fairs, networking receptions, and keynote addresses on topics such as race and political communication.^[24] ^[23] Registration is free for eligible Pi Sigma Alpha members, who submit abstracts by late fall deadlines, with acceptance based on research quality and relevance to political science subfields.^[22] The event, now in its thirteenth iteration for 2026, originated around 2014 as a platform to foster scholarly engagement beyond chapter activities.^[25] ^[26] Beyond the conference, Pi Sigma Alpha supports research dissemination through national-level awards, including best paper recognitions at the American Political Science Association's annual meeting and regional political science association gatherings.^[27] These awards incentivize high-quality undergraduate submissions, providing monetary prizes and visibility to emerging scholars.^[27] Such initiatives emphasize empirical rigor and original analysis, aligning with the society's mission to recognize excellence in political inquiry.^[20]

Scholarships, Grants, and Awards

Pi Sigma Alpha offers the Howard Penniman Scholarships for Graduate Study, providing up to five $2,000 awards annually to inducted members entering graduate programs in political science, excluding law school or second-year students.^[28] Nominations by chapter advisors require applicant statements on society involvement and career goals, two faculty recommendations, a nomination letter, and official transcripts, with applications due May 1 and notifications in mid-July.^[28] Funds are disbursed upon verification of enrollment.^[28] The Nancy McManus Washington Internship Scholarships similarly award five $2,000 stipends each year to members in political science internships in Washington, D.C., with at least one reserved for The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars participants.^[29] Academic excellence is recognized through best undergraduate and graduate paper and thesis awards, offered to members submitting outstanding work for national evaluation.^[8] Pi Sigma Alpha also supports sponsored awards via partnerships, including funding the $750 Franklin L. Burdette/Pi Sigma Alpha Award for the best paper at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting.^[30]^[31] Chapters receive funding through Activity Grants, capped at $2,000 per award from a $85,000 budget for 2025-26, to host on-campus events such as guest speakers, excluding travel expenses.^[32] Proposals detailing budgets and scopes are due October 31, reviewed by a faculty committee in November, with grantees required to report expenditures by June 15.^[32] Additional speaker grants of up to $1,000 supplement notable off-campus presenters.^[32]

Chapter-Level Initiatives

Pi Sigma Alpha chapters organize diverse on-campus initiatives to advance political science scholarship, encourage student engagement, and build networks among members, faculty, and external experts. Common activities include guest speaker events, panel discussions on contemporary political issues, debates, film screenings, and collaborative roundtables with other campus groups.^[33] ^[34] These efforts often extend to social gatherings, such as networking receptions or informal meetups, aimed at fostering mentorship and community.^[35] Chapters also host annual induction ceremonies to recognize new members, which may incorporate academic programming like thesis presentations.^[36] The national organization bolsters these initiatives via Chapter Activity Grants, initiated in 1981 to fund non-routine events excluding travel (discontinued for funding in 2023).^[32] Grants prioritize innovative proposals, with a maximum award of $2,000 per chapter and an annual budget of $85,000 for 2025-26; applications are due October 31, with decisions by November.^[32] Eligible expenses cover publicity, refreshments, and speaker honoraria, supplemented in one case annually by the $1,000 Nancy McManus Speaker Grant.^[32] Grantees must submit expenditure reports by June 15 following the funded year.^[32] A dedicated Civic Engagement Chapter Activity Grants program, launched to enhance democratic participation, supports events like voter registration drives and educational workshops on civic holidays.^[37] Funding mirrors general grants at up to $2,000, but targets activities increasing student voting and community involvement; proposals are accepted in two cycles, closing September 15 and October 31, 2025.^[37] This distinguishes it from broader activity grants by emphasizing measurable civic outcomes.^[37] Chapters document their initiatives in required annual reports, which inform Best Chapter Awards—up to six per enrollment category, each granting $500 for future programming and $200 to advisors.^[38] These awards recognize sustained activity levels, incentivizing consistent engagement beyond one-off events.^[38]

Publications

Undergraduate Journal of Politics

The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics (ISSN 1556-2034) is a peer-reviewed academic publication dedicated to showcasing original research by undergraduate students in political science and related fields. Founded in spring 2001 by the Delta Omega Chapter at Purdue University, the journal emerged as a platform to elevate undergraduate scholarship amid limited outlets for such work at the time.^[39]^[40] It accepts submissions from undergraduates regardless of major or year, with particular encouragement for members of Pi Sigma Alpha, and covers diverse subfields including American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory.^[41]^[42] Operated as a student-led initiative with faculty oversight, the journal employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process involving both undergraduate peers and faculty experts to ensure scholarly quality.^[40] Articles typically range from empirical analyses to theoretical essays, selected for originality, methodological soundness, and contribution to political discourse. Published biannually in spring and fall editions since its inception, it has issued volumes continuously through at least spring 2025, available online via the Pi Sigma Alpha website.^[43]^[44] This structure provides participants with hands-on experience in academic publishing, from submission guidelines requiring anonymized manuscripts and adherence to style manuals like the Chicago Manual of Style to editorial decisions emphasizing constructive feedback.^[41] The journal's operations rotate among host institutions affiliated with Pi Sigma Alpha chapters, typically on three-year terms, to distribute administrative responsibilities and foster chapter involvement. Purdue hosted the inaugural period, followed by subsequent hosts including Union College and, since fall 2020, Elon University's Department of Political Science and Policy Studies.^[45]^[46] As of October 2025, Pi Sigma Alpha seeks a new host commencing July 1, 2026, reflecting the society's model of decentralized yet nationally coordinated undergraduate engagement.^[9] This rotational hosting has sustained the journal's growth into a recognized venue for emerging political science talent, with over two decades of issues archiving student contributions without institutional bias toward specific ideologies.^[47]

Newsletters and Handbooks

Pi Sigma Alpha publishes the Newsletter of Pi Sigma Alpha twice annually, in fall and spring editions, distributed by the national office in Washington, D.C.^[48]^[10] The publication facilitates communication across chapters by including national announcements, chapter-specific updates, scholarship opportunities, and event highlights, with submissions encouraged from members via email to the national office.^[49]^[50] Archival issues, spanning from 1949 to at least 2007, are available as PDFs on the organization's website, documenting historical developments such as chapter installations and leadership transitions.^[51]^[52]^[53] In addition to the newsletter, Pi Sigma Alpha issues specialized handbooks to support chapter operations and governance. The Chapter Advisor Handbook, updated as of August 2023, outlines the advisor's role as the primary liaison between local chapters and the national organization, providing detailed guidance on membership induction, reactivation processes, and compliance with society bylaws.^[54]^[55] Complementing this, the Student Officer Handbook & Social Media Guide—with editions for 2023–2024 and 2025–2026—advises chapter officers on maintaining bylaws, organizing events, and leveraging platforms like Twitter with the society's logo for visibility, emphasizing student-led initiatives to recognize high-achieving political science students.^[56]^[57] These resources, referenced in broader descriptions of Pi Sigma Alpha's outputs, aim to standardize practices across its network of over 900 chapters while promoting engagement in political science scholarship.^[27]

Impact and Reception

Achievements and Contributions to Scholarship

Pi Sigma Alpha has significantly advanced political science scholarship by recognizing and supporting outstanding undergraduate and graduate students through targeted awards and funding mechanisms. Since its founding in 1920, the society has inducted over 315,000 members across nearly 850 chapters, fostering a network that promotes rigorous academic inquiry into government and politics.^[7]^[2] This recognition extends to notable figures, including U.S. President Bill Clinton, three Supreme Court justices, and numerous members of Congress, whose subsequent contributions to policy analysis and governance reflect the society's emphasis on scholarly excellence.^[2] The society's funding programs have disbursed over $1 million in chapter activity grants, enabling research initiatives, lectures, and professional development events that enhance empirical and theoretical work in political science.^[7] Annual awards such as the Howard Penniman Graduate Scholarships—over 100 granted since 1995 at up to $2,000 each—support members pursuing advanced degrees, thereby sustaining a pipeline of scholars contributing to peer-reviewed research and academic publications.^[58] Similarly, the Nancy McManus Washington Internship Scholarships, totaling 70 awards since 2004, provide practical experience in policy environments, bridging theoretical scholarship with real-world application and influencing evidence-based policymaking.^[29]^[7] Through its National Student Research Conference, initiated in 2014, Pi Sigma Alpha has facilitated presentations by hundreds of undergraduates, culminating in over 450 participants between 2014 and 2019, which cultivates original research and peer review skills essential for advancing causal understandings of political phenomena.^[7] Best paper and thesis awards, alongside best chapter grants (12 awarded in 2021-22), incentivize high-quality empirical studies and chapter-level innovations in scholarship dissemination.^[8]^[7] These efforts have notably supported diversity in the field, with chapters at historically Black colleges and universities since 1956, broadening the empirical perspectives incorporated into political science discourse.^[7] Overall, Pi Sigma Alpha's initiatives have professionalized student research, yielding long-term impacts on academic careers and the intellectual rigor of the discipline.^[59]

Criticisms and Limitations

While Pi Sigma Alpha is recognized as a legitimate honor society, some prospective members question its value relative to the one-time national membership fee of $35, plus any chapter-specific dues, arguing that benefits such as resume notation and graduation recognition do not substantially enhance career prospects or networking opportunities for most participants.^[8]^[60] Active involvement in chapter activities may yield greater returns, such as leadership experience or access to scholarships, but passive membership often provides minimal practical advantages beyond symbolic prestige.^[61] Critics of discipline-specific honor societies like Pi Sigma Alpha highlight their inherently selective criteria—typically requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 in political science courses and junior standing—which can foster perceptions of elitism by privileging high achievers in an academic field already characterized by ideological skews toward liberal perspectives, potentially limiting broader ideological diversity among inductees.^[62] This exclusivity may disadvantage students from underrepresented backgrounds who lack equivalent access to rigorous coursework or advising, though empirical evidence on disparate impacts remains anecdotal.^[63] As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Pi Sigma Alpha faces statutory restrictions on lobbying or partisan activities, constraining its ability to directly influence policy or engage in applied political advocacy, which limits its scope compared to more activist-oriented student organizations.^[64] Broader research on honor societies indicates mixed career outcomes; while leadership roles correlate with higher graduate school acceptance rates, general membership shows negligible effects on job placement or salary trajectories in competitive fields like political science.^[65]^[66]

References

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Pi Sigma Alpha – The National Political Science Honor Society
Recognition of academic excellence, right to wear honor regalia, national student research conference, scholarships for graduate study and internships in DC.Membership CriteriaMember BenefitsChapter ListHistory & MissionRegalia and Swag Merchandise
[2]
History & Mission - Pi Sigma Alpha
The Alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha was formally chartered in October 1920. The first class of members were undergrads and graduate students.
[3]
Membership Criteria – Pi Sigma Alpha
Undergraduates need 10 credits in related field with B or higher and top 1/3 GPA. Faculty are automatically eligible. Chapters may add criteria.
[4]
[PDF] Constitution of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor ...
Constitution. The Constitution may also be referred to as the Corporation's bylaws and shall constitute the Corporation's bylaws. ARTICLE II. Membership.
[5]
Patterson, Caleb Perry - Texas State Historical Association
May 1, 1995 · ... founded Pi Sigma Alpha, a national honorary scholarship society in political science. In 1953 the Texas legislature commended Patterson for ...
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Presidents of Pi Sigma Alpha
CHARLES GROVE HAINES. University of California, Los Angeles | 1934-36. Part of driving force for creation of Pi Sigma Alpha while faculty member at UT ...<|separator|>
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[PDF] A Centennial History - Pi Sigma Alpha
Founded at the University of Texas at Austin in 1920,. Pi Sigma Alpha is one of the country's oldest and largest academic honor societies. Over 315,000 women ...
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Member Benefits - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha provides funding to members and chapters through scholarships for graduate school and internships in Washington, DC, best paper and thesis awards ...
[9]
PSA Journal Home – Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is looking for a new institutional host for the Undergraduate Journal of Politics with a three-year term beginning July 1, 2026.
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RSO - Pi Sigma Alpha | Political Science - University of Arkansas
The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha is to stimulate scholarship and interest in the subject of government by providing tangible recognition to students who have ...
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Pi Sigma Alpha at BYU–Hawaii - Faculty of Business & Government
Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honor society. The BYU-Hawaii chapter meets to discuss current events, network, and connect with faculty.
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Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science) - Monmouth College
The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha was first described in 1919: “to encourage the scientific and practical study of problems of government, to foster reforms in our ...
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Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA) | Political Science Department
The PSA offers an opportunity for students to contribute to their campus community as emerging political scientists. In the past, the PSA has played a formative ...
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Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science - University of Florida
The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha is to encourage and recognize superior achievement in the study of government and politics at the undergraduate and graduate ...
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Governance – Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is governed by an Executive Council (acting as the organizational board) consisting of the current officers (President, Treasurer, President- ...Missing: leadership | Show results with:leadership
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Staff – Pi Sigma Alpha
Tanya Schwarz, PhD. Executive Director Prior to joining Pi Sigma Alpha in 2021, Tanya served as Director of Teaching & Learning at the American Political ...Missing: leadership officers<|separator|>
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New Executive Council Members Elected for 2024-2028 Term
Pi Sigma Alpha announced the election of Dr. Amy Below, Dr. Marilyn Davis, Dr. Sharron Herron-Williams, Dr. Mary Manjikian, Dr. Paul Musgrave, and Dr. Judith ...
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List of Chapters – Pi Sigma Alpha
List of Pi Sigma Alpha chapters by location · Alabama. Alabama A&M University · Arizona. Arizona State University · Colorado. Adams State University · Connecticut.Missing: current | Show results with:current
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Pi Sigma Alpha | Department of Political Science
Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society, founded in 1920 at the University of Texas. It is open to graduate and upper-level ...<|separator|>
[20]
National Student Research Conference - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is home to close to 850 chapters, and the diversity of those chapters is on display at the conference. Attendees from major research institutions ...
[21]
2025 National Student Research Conference - Pi Sigma Alpha
The twelfth annual Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference includes in-person panels, career events, and some virtual panels.Missing: modern | Show results with:modern
[22]
2024 National Student Research Conference - Pi Sigma Alpha
The eleventh annual Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference includes in-person panels, a poster session, and career activities, as well as some ...
[23]
2025 National Student Research Conference - Pi Sigma Alpha
Saturday and early Sunday featured 176 research presentations across 44 panels by Pi Sigma Alpha undergraduate and Master's student members from across the ...
[24]
Professional Development Resources - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha keeps a running list of relevant events, awards, and activities to help political science undergraduate and graduate students prepare for their ...Missing: modern | Show results with:modern
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2026 National Student Research Conference - Pi Sigma Alpha
The thirteenth annual Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference includes in-person panels featuring undergraduates and master's students, ...
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Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference
The tenth annual Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference will take place Friday-Sunday, February 17-19, 2023 and will include in-person panels ...<|separator|>
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Pi Sigma Alpha - American Political Science Association (APSA)
Founded in 1920, PSA has grown to over 500 chapters on campuses across the country. Pi Sigma Alpha programs for members and chapters include grants for ...
[28]
Howard Penniman Scholarships for Graduate Study - Pi Sigma Alpha
Howard Penniman Scholarships for Graduate Study are awarded annually to up to 5 members entering graduate school in political science in the upcoming academic ...
[29]
Nancy McManus Washington Internship Scholarship - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha awards five McManus Washington Internship Scholarships annually to members participating in political science internship programs in Washington, ...
[30]
Sponsored Awards & Events – Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha provides funds to support the Lena Harris Stromile Student Leadership Award and the Sammy Younge Best Student Paper Award. The Stromile Award ...
[31]
Franklin L. Burdette/Pi Sigma Alpha Award
The Burdette/Pi Sigma Alpha Award honors the best paper presented at the previous year's APSA Annual Meeting.
[32]
Chapter Activity Grants - Pi Sigma Alpha
One of the great benefits of the Chapter Activity Grant program is the practice it gives students in proposal-writing. A good proposal will clearly describe the ...
[33]
Sample Activity Grant Proposal: Speaker Series - Pi Sigma Alpha
Programming will be divided into two events: the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Teach-In and a speaker series event.Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[34]
Sample Activity Grant Proposal: Collaboration - Pi Sigma Alpha
The first co-sponsored event was a roundtable discussion on African Politics on the CSUSB campus, followed by a joint gathering at a pizza place that included ...Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[35]
Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society for Political Science
In past years, the chapter has played an active role in the department, putting on panel discussions, inviting guest speakers to campus, hosting social events, ...
[36]
Sample Activity Grant Proposal: Initiation Ceremony - Pi Sigma Alpha
Consider this letter as our chapter's formal proposal for the 33rd Annual Chapter Activity Grant Competition, in the Academic category.Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[37]
Civic Engagement Chapter Activity Grants – Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is providing funds to support chapter activities specifically focused on civic engagement. We encourage proposals from all active chapters ...
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Programs - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha seeks to promote excellence in the study of political science through a variety of programs for student members and local chapters.Missing: modern | Show results with:modern
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About the Journal - Pi Sigma Alpha
The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics was founded in 2001, is published bi-annually online, and is funded by Pi Sigma Alpha.<|separator|>
[40]
Learning through Peer Reviewing and Publishing in the Pi Sigma ...
Mar 12, 2021 · The PSAJ is a student-run, peer-reviewed, and faculty-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing exceptional undergraduate research in all ...
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Journal Submissions - Pi Sigma Alpha
The Journal welcomes submissions from undergraduates of any class or major; submissions from Pi Sigma Alpha members are especially encouraged.
[42]
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The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics is an online, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the publication of undergraduate student research from all ...
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Past Journal Issues · Spring 2025 · Fall 2024 · Spring 2024 · Spring 2001.
[44]
[PDF] UNDERGRADUATE JOURNAL OF POLITICS - Pi Sigma Alpha
Feb 14, 2025 · The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics (ISSN 1556-2034) is published biannually by the Sigma Upsilon Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha ...
[45]
Purdue University Pi Sigma Alpha
The Journal has become the foremost arena for undergraduate academic research in all areas of political science. It was a privilege and unparalleled opportunity ...<|separator|>
[46]
In political science, Pi Sigma Alpha journal's well-oiled machine gets ...
Jul 27, 2023 · Elon's Department of Political Science and Policy Studies has hosted the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics since fall 2020.
[47]
Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics
The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics (ISSN: 1556-2034) was founded in the spring of 2001 by the Delta Omega Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha at ...
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Pi Sigma Alpha - University of Southern Indiana
The national office of Pi Sigma Alpha in Washington, D.C. publishes Pi Sigma Alpha Newsletter twice yearly. In addition, it offers scholarships for ...
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Newsroom - Pi Sigma Alpha
If you or your chapter has a news item you would like to submit to be featured, please email a link and a brief description to office@pisigmaalpha.org.
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[PDF] Untitled - Pi Sigma Alpha
ACHS sets the standards for eligibility criteria, governance, and chapter structure for legitimate honor societies, and represents the honor societies ...
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[PDF] a NEWSLETTER - Pi Sigma Alpha
It is recognized as the sole national honor society in political science, and every,chapter' conse- quentlyshould keep secondary activities' in true proportion.
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[PDF] Newsletter of Pi Sigma Alpha
The Newsletter of Pi Sigma Alpha is published four times a year. Ronald Al. Dick, Managing Editor. National Officers. PRESIDENT. Marshall E. Dimock ...
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[PDF] Untitled - Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha Newsletter. Note from James I. Lengle, Executive Director. 3. This issue of the Pi Sigma Alpha Newsletter marks the end of John Tierney's ...
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[PDF] PI SIGMA ALPHA CHAPTER ADVISOR HANDBOOK
Aug 15, 2023 · What does it mean to be a Pi Sigma Alpha chapter advisor? The chapter advisor is the link between the national PSA organization and the ...
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Resources for Chapter Advisors - Pi Sigma Alpha
Are you a faculty chapter advisor searching for chapter event ideas, best chapter practices, or general information about your duties and responsibilities?
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[PDF] Pi Sigma Alpha Student Officer Handbook
Chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha are designed as a means for a department to recognize its highest achieving students and create a vehicle for those students to ...
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[PDF] Pi Sigma Alpha Student Officer Handbook & Social Media Guide
Each active chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha must maintain a set of bylaws. The bylaws are your guiding document to the official management of the chapter. If your ...
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Penniman Graduate Scholarship History - Pi Sigma Alpha
Since 1995, Pi Sigma Alpha has honored the legacy of former national Executive Director Howard Penniman by awarding a scholarship named in his honor.
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Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society | Arlington & Fairfax VA - Schar School
Eligible to apply for the Pi Sigma Alpha Howard Penniman Scholarships for Graduate Study in Political Science, the Nancy McManus Washington Internship ...
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Is Pi Sigma Alpha worth it? : r/PoliticalScience - Reddit
Mar 8, 2023 · It is legitimate, I use it as a resume credit, and you get some accolades at graduation for it. Would recommend.
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How important are college honor societies?
Jun 5, 2015 · The ones I'm looking into are Pi Gamma Mu and Pi Sigma Alpha. ... If you are just joining to list it on your resume, it's probably not worth it.
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Pi Sigma Alpha: 2024 Review and Inclusivity Report
The society has been accused of being too exclusive and elitist, which can create barriers for students from underrepresented groups who may not have access to ...Missing: elitism | Show results with:elitism
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What is Pi Sigma Alpha? Is it Prestigious? - Honor Society Museum
Pi Sigma Alpha is a prestigious honor society for students studying political science. Founded in 1920, it is the only honor society for political science ...Missing: elitism | Show results with:elitism
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[PDF] Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society
Article III: Purpose, Vision, Mission, Aims, Functions. Section 1. Purpose and Mission. The purpose of the organization is to recognize excellence in academic ...Missing: structure | Show results with:structure
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Should I Join an Academic Honor Society? | Psychology Today
Feb 18, 2021 · We found that membership led to grad school acceptance, and officers were more likely accepted to doctoral programs. The portfolio skills that ...
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Are honor societies important to employers? - Quora
Oct 9, 2022 · It really depends on the employer and the role. Most employers would rather employ a highly qualified candidate.