Honor Societies

Montclair State University has a proud history of academic excellence. The University partners with renown national honor societies to recognize those students, from various disciplines, who have achieved academic distinction.

Below is a list of our University-wide honor societies and those with specific college affiliation:

University-wide

Golden Key Honor Society: Golden Key is the world’s largest collegiate honor society. Membership into the Society is by invitation only and applies to the top 15% of college and university sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as top-performing graduate students in all fields of study, based solely on their academic achievements. Golden Key enables members to realize their potential through the advancement of academics, leadership and service. For further information contact: Jeffrey Schonfeld, schonfeldj@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4376.
Alpha Alpha Alpha: Alpha Alpha Alpha or Tri-Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes undergraduate and graduate first-generation college students for their outstanding academic achievement in college. Staff, Faculty and Alumni who were first-generation students at MSU are also welcome to apply. Undergraduate students who have earned 30 or more credits and have a grade point average of 3.2 or better as well as graduate students who have earned 9 or more credits and have a grade point average of 3.5 or better are eligible for a lifetime membership with this prestigious organization. Tri-Alpha offers many opportunities for mentorship, leadership and building community amongst first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni. For further information visit the official Alpha Alpha Alpha website at www.1stgenhonors.org or contact: Natalie López, lopezna@shorinji-kempo.net or Duane Williams, williamsdu@shorinji-kempo.net
Alpha Lambda Delta: Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes freshmen students for outstanding academic achievement during the first year in college. Full-time freshmen students who are working on a bachelor’s degree and who earn a grade point average of 3.5 or better during their first semester or first year are eligible for a lifetime membership with this prestigious organization. Alpha Lambda Delta offers many opportunities for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, awards and certificates for students who maintain the required GPA throughout their college career. For further information visit the official ALD website at www.nationalald.org or contact us at ald@shorinji-kempo.net.
Chi Alpha Epsilon: Chi Alpha Epsilon was formed to recognize the academic achievement of scholars admitted through Educational Opportunity Fund Programs. EOF scholars in full compliance and good academic/social standing who earn two consecutive full-time semesters of at least a 3.0 grade point average are eligible for consideration. The purpose of our chapter is to promote continued high standards, to foster increased communication among members and to honor academic excellence. Inductees have the opportunity to network with alumni and develop programs to enhance the community. For further information contact: Lorraine Whitaker, whitakerl@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7016.
National Society for Collegiate Scholars (NSCS): The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honor society that engages high-achieving first- and second-year students in the top 20% of their class. NSCS has established chapters at more than 300 schools across the country and more than 800,000 members. National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. NSCS encourages academic achievement and provides opportunities for members to develop leadership skills, positively change their campuses and communities, and prepare for future endeavors (internship, grad school and career). Members often make valuable connections that can last a lifetime and make college a more rewarding experience. For further information contact us at nscs@shorinji-kempo.net.
National College Athlete Honor Society (Chi Alpha Sigma Chapter): National College Athlete Honor Society recognizes college student-athletes who earn a varsity letter in at least one sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA throughout their junior and senior years. The mission of NCAHS is to encourage and reward high academic scholarship of college athletes at four-year accredited colleges and universities; to recognize outstanding academic achievement by intercollegiate varsity letter winners; to encourage good citizenship, moral character and friendship among the high academic achievers in college athletics; to recognize and honor the individual athlete, his/her team, sport, athletic department and college or university, and to mentor and to provide leadership to other athletes. For further information contact: Tara Rienecker, rieneckert@shorinji-kempo.net, Phone: 973-655-5125.
Phi Kappa Phi (currently inactive): Phi Kappa Phi’s mission is “to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” In honoring “those persons of good character who have excelled in scholarship, in whatever field, it will stimulate others to strive for excellence.”
Pi Epsilon Pi: Uniting professional communication and rhetorical studies, our dedicated faculty of scholars and working writers prepare and empower students to be dynamic thinkers and writers in the 21st century. Writing Studies is an essential foundation for a diversity of careers in professional, civic, technical, and scientific writing, and key preparation for graduate studies in writing. The Montclair Redhawk Chapter was established in 2020. For further information please contact: Dr. Caroline Dadas, First Year Writing Program Director at dadasc@shorinji-kempo.net.
Tau Sigma: Tau Sigma is a national academic honor society designed specifically to recognize and promote academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. Full-time students must transfer to a four year institution from another academic institution with at least one full years’ academic credits and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or better during their first semester in order to be eligible for lifetime membership.For further information contact us at tausigma@shorinji-kempo.net.

College of the Arts (CART)

Television and Digital Media, Communications Studies, Filmmaking

Lambda Pi Eta: Lambda Pi Eta is the Communication Studies Honor Society of the National Communication Association (NCA). LPH was founded to support a range of goals and connectedness in the field, including recognizing, fostering and rewarding outstanding scholastic achievement in communication studies, as well as stimulating interest in the field of communication and promotion and encouraging professional development among communication majors. Lambda Pi Eta provides opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication, establish and maintain closer relationships between faculty and students and explore options for graduate education in communication studies. For further information email LPHMontclair@gmail.com.

Theatre

Theta Alpha Phi (Theatre): Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honor Fraternity is an American recognition honor society that accepts members who achieve excellence in the art of theatre. Membership is available to undergraduates and graduate students at member institutions. It confers nationally recognized honor on graduate and undergraduate students who earn a specified high level of quality in theater study and production at over 36 accredited colleges and universities in 22 states. Theta Alpha Phi is the only honorary theater organization restricted entirely to that level of education where students can be expected to have a serious purpose in theater work and study. It charters only four-year-or-more, Class “A” colleges and universities, has no branches or subsidiaries, and admits to membership only students of sophomore standing or above. For further information, please email: Neil Baldwin, baldwinn@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4217.

Music

Sigma Alpha Iota (Music Fraternity-Women Only): Sigma Alpha Iota is an organization which promotes interaction among those who share a commitment to music. Members of SAI are active in all areas of campus music and campus life, working closely with faculty, administration, campus and community groups, music professionals and patrons. In addition to personal encouragement and support, members may receive scholarships, loans and awards in many areas and at all levels of music-related study. Sigma Alpha Iota has long been recognized as a leader in the field of music and provides a lifetime of fraternity contact. For further information email: Loren Fortna, fortnal@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7212.

College for Education and Engaged Learning (CEEL)

Kappa Delta Pi (Gamma Epsilon Chapter): Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society in education with the purpose of promoting excellence in future professionals and recognizing the outstanding contributions made to education. The organization endeavors to maintain a high degree of professional fellowship among its members, quicken professional growth, and honor achievement in education work. Membership is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude which assures the member’s steady growth in the field of education. Membership requirements include a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, admission to the Teacher Licensure Program, and the recommendation of a faculty member, who is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi. For further information contact: Monica Taylor, taylorm@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-6952

College for Community Health (CCHL)

Counseling

Chi Sigma Iota (CSI): Chi Sigma Iota is the international academic and professional honor society of professional counseling. It was established for counselors-in-training, counselor educators, and professional counselors who are committed to research and service through professional counseling. Its mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling. The Chi Sigma Mu chapter of CSI was established at Montclair State University in 2006. Eligible students will receive a formal invitation from the chapter to apply for membership. For questions specific to this chapter’s membership and activities, please contact the Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Angela I. Sheely-Moore at sheelya@shorinji-kempo.net.

Family Science and Human Development

Omicron Beta Theta (Kappa Omicron Nu Chapter): Omicron Beta Theta is the leading honor society for students in the human sciences. Chapter members are undergraduate and graduate students who major in one of the specializations and meet the high standards of scholarship. Candidates must have earned one or more degrees in the human sciences or are working in the field and had the minimum class rank as a student. For further information contact: Pearl Stewart, stewartp@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-6840.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)

Anthropology

Lambda Alpha: Lambda Alpha is the national honor society in anthropology. The Department of Anthropology at Montclair State University inducts students once per year to the local chapter, Beta Chapter of New Jersey. Membership is prestigious and there is an annually awarded national scholarship of $5000 to a graduating senior major in anthropology. For further information contact: Elaine Gerber, gerbere@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-3433.

English

Sigma Tau Delta: Sigma Tau Delta (ΣΤΔ) is an English honor society for students at accredited colleges and universities that grant baccalaureate or higher degrees. Established in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature and writing, it is dedicated to fostering literacy and all aspects of the discipline of English. The Montclair State chapter of ΣΤΔ is called Alpha Chi Mu (ΑΧμ). To qualify, students must meet particular academic criteria, including a 3.7 grade point average and junior or senior status. Eligible students are invited twice a year to apply. For more information, please contact faculty sponsors Naomi Liebler or Jonathan Greenberg.

French

Pi Delta Phi (Gamma Kappa Chapter): The purpose of the Pi Delta Phi society is to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literatures, to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to stimulate and to encourage French and francophone cultural activities. For further information contact: Rabia Redouane, redouaner@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7421.

History

Phi Alpha Theta (Upsilon Sigma Chapter): 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. The honor society seeks to bring students and teachers together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by members in a variety of ways. For further information contact: Jeffrey Strickland, stricklandj@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4124

Italian

Gamma Kappa Alpha: The Italian Honor Society Gamma Kappa Alpha was formed to acknowledge outstanding academic performance in Italian Studies at higher learning institutions in both the United States and Canada. It encourages college students to acquire a greater interest in, and a deeper understanding of, the Italian language, culture and history around the world by recognizing academic achievements and fostering lively exchange on campus. The Society is open to all juniors and seniors who meet the selective eligibility criteria defined by the National Society. For further information contact: Dr. Teresa Fiore (Professor of Italian and Inserra Endowed Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies), fiorete@shorinji-kempo.net

Paralegal Studies

Lambda Epsilon Chi: Lambda Epsilon Chi is a national academic honor society for paralegal students. Lambda Epsilon Chi recognizes students who have demonstrated superior academic performance in an established, qualified program of paralegal/legal assistant studies offered at an institution that is an institutional member in good standing of the American Association for Paralegal Education. For further information contact: Nicole Fackina, fackinan@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7759.

Political Science

Pi Sigma Alpha: Pi Sigma Alpha is the National Political Science Honor Society and is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to students currently enrolled in programs of political science, who meet the following criteria: students must be at least juniors who have completed at least 10 semester-credits of work in political science including at least one upper-division course, with no grade lower than a B in those courses. Students must have achieved an overall GPA that places them in the top one-third of their whole class (i.e., junior or senior class). Students need not be political science majors to qualify for membership. For further information contact: Zsolt Nyiri, nyiriz@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4238.

Psychology

Psi Chi: Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in psychology, founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarships, and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate students who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests, and who meet the minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS). For further information contact Debra Zellner, zellnerd@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4327.

Sociology

Alpha Kappa Delta: Alpha Kappa Delta is the International Sociological Honor Society. Alpha Kappa Delta seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition. For further information contact: Christopher Donoghue, donoghuec@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7227.

Religion

Theta Alpha Kappa: The Montclair State chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa encourages, recognizes and maintains excellence in religious studies. Most of TAK’s activities are carried on by local chapters, but TAK’s national Board of Directors sponsors a number of programs and prizes and hosts an annual meeting open to all members. For further information contact: Dr. Kate E. Temoney, temoneyk@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-3778.

Spanish

Sigma Delta Pi: The purpose of Sigma Delta Pi is to promote and enrich the use of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultural practices. The mission is to honor those that excel in Spanish language, literature and cultural studies; to honor those that have made Hispanic contributions to the contemporary culture of English speaking countries; to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the Spanish language and culture by students and members of the community; to develop friendship and mutual respect between Spanish speaking and English speaking countries. For further information contact: Valentin Soto, sotov@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-5119.

College of Science & Mathematics (CSAM)

Kappa Mu Epsilon (New Jersey Beta chapter, locally known as Aphesteon): Kappa Mu Epsilon is a specialized honor society in mathematics. KME was founded in 1931 to promote the interest of mathematics among undergraduate students. The chapters’ members are selected from students of mathematics and other closely related fields who have maintained standards of scholarship, have professional merit and have attained academic distinction. For further information contact: John Stevens, StevensJ@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7254
Upsilon Pi Epsilon, (National Computer Science Honorary Society): Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) is the industry-recognized, international ACM computer science honors society. It is designed to promote the computing and information disciplines and to encourage their contribution to the enhancement of knowledge. Upsilon Pi Epsilon recognizes academic excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the computing and information disciplines. For further information contact: H. Mark Hubey, hubeyh@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-5269.

Research

Sigma Xi: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is the honor society of scientists and engineers that recognizes scientific achievement. The society is a diverse organization of members and chapters dedicated to companionship in science and engineering and to the advancement of knowledge through research, service and teaching. It also seeks to enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in science and engineering and promote the public’s understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition. Sigma Xi is recognized as the global society that promotes ethics and excellence in scientific and engineering research. For further information contact: John Gaynor, gaynorJ@monclair.edu, 973-655-7253.

Geography

Gamma Theta Upsilon: Gamma Theta Upsilon is the International Honorary Geographic Society founded in 1928. Gamma Theta Upsilon’s mission is to strengthen student and professional training through academic experiences in addition to those of the classroom and laboratory; to advance the status of geography as a cultural and practical discipline for study and investigation; to encourage student research of high quality, and to promote an outlet for publication; to create and administer funds for furthering graduate study and/or research in the field of geography. For further information contact: Greg Pope, popeg@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-7569.

School of Business (SBUS)

Epsilon Delta Epsilon: Epsilon Delta Epsilon is a Professional Honors Society for the School of Business that is committed to “Excellence in Developing Entrepreneurs”. ΕΔΕ was founded in 1964 by Dr. Joseph Hecht in order to provide students with a way of distinguishing themselves from their contemporaries. Today, Epsilon Delta Epsilon (EDE) focuses on entrepreneurship, professionalism, academic excellence and leadership. We are a Professional Honors Society dedicated to recognizing and rewarding students who pursue one or all of these focuses. To be eligible for membership students must have a GPA of at least a 3.2 and must have completed at least 30 credits. Although Epsilon Delta Epsilon welcomes all business majors, the primary focus of the organization is in the fields of marketing, retailing, international business, and sports, events and tourism. As a professional honors society, Epsilon Delta Epsilon holds “Professional Events” that are created to help members achieve confidence in the business world, learn entrepreneurial skills and network among members, other organizations and people with professional occupations. Activities include advice on resume writing, how the interview process works, as well as the reality of marketing, retailing and international business fields as they are interrelated in the business world. For further information contact: Archana Kumar, kumara@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-3001.

Economics

Omicron Delta Epsilon: Omicron Delta Epsilon is the International Honor Society in economics. The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are recognition of scholastic attainment and the honoring of outstanding achievements in economics; the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities and among colleges and universities; the publication of the official journal, The American Economist; the sponsoring of panels at professional meetings and the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions. For further information, please email fmes@shorinji-kempo.net.

The Graduate School

Alpha Epsilon Lambda (The Graduate School): The mission of Alpha Epsilon Lambda is to confer distinction for high achievement, promote leadership development, promote scholarship and encourage intellectual development, enrich the intellectual environment of graduate education institutions and encourage high standards of ethical behavior. For further information contact: Caren Ferrante, ferrantec@shorinji-kempo.net, 973-655-4403.