Phi Alpha Theta

Phi Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society in History, strives to recognize and encourage excellence in the study of history.

About the Organization

Phi Alpha Theta has more than 800 chapters nationwide and 275,000 members. It has the distinction of having more chapters than any other accredited honor society, and holding one of the earliest memberships in the Association of College Honor Societies. The mission of Phi Alpha Theta is to promote the study of history by encouraging research, quality teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.

Activities

Publication of The Historian, a quarterly journal of history, and The Newsletter, issued three times yearly; establishment of 9 annual scholarships for student members entering graduate school and those taking advanced graduate work; sponsorship of an annual contest for papers on historical subjects by awarding 6 annual prizes covering both undergraduate and graduate student levels; annual grants of 2 awards of $500 each for the best book in history published by a member, one award for the first such book published and the second award for a subsequent book published by a member; 6 annual awards for the best chapter in each category of college enrollment; an annual publication of the best manuscript in the field of history submitted by a member during the current year; annual regional meetings; two annual grants, each of $1,000, one grant for advanced work by a faculty advisor and one grant for advanced work by a graduate student.

Eligibility

Membership is not restricted to History majors or minors. However, applicants must meet the national requirements for membership: a minimum of 12 credit hours in history (AP credit and HS 101 ARE applicable); a minimum GPA of 3.1 in history courses and a 3.0 GPA overall.

In the spring semester, the records office provides the history department a list of all students who have met the eligibility requirements. The eligible students will receive an email inviting them to join the honor society. Students are instructed to bring a check to cover the national and local dues to the history office.

The Induction Ceremony is occurs once in the spring semester; students may participate in the ceremony only in the year they are inducted. Prior to graduation, cords and or sashes to be worn at graduation can be purchased in the history office.

Faculty Advisor

Rev. Charles Borges
Humanities 318
410-617-2016
cborges@loyola.edu

What's New

Visit Student Planning for a list of the courses offered by the History department in Fall 2023. Students wishing to register for a closed (full) course must visit the Academic Advising Website and submit a course override request form (the link will be on the page under Fall 2023 Course Override Requests) requesting an override. Please do not submit your request directly to the course instructor or to the Department Chair. All course overrides are reviewed by the department chair and are only approved if there are extenuating circumstances. The override request will not be processed if there is a time conflict with your existing schedule, you do not have 6th course permission from your advisor, or if there is a financial hold on your account.