Honorary Societies

Phi Beta Kappa:

Outstanding students from all curricula are eligible for election to Phi Beta Kappa in either the junior or senior year. Membership criteria are established by the local chapter, not by the College. In addition to meeting the requirements of their degree programs, students should demonstrate breadth in their coursework and a commitment to liberal learning. More specifically, the chapter takes into account grade point average, advanced level courses outside the student's major, and the study of mathematics and foreign language. Admission to Phi Beta Kappa is always at the discretion of the chapter, and membership is gained only by election.

Sigma Xi:

The Society of Sigma Xi is an international honorary organization dedicated to the encouragement of pure and applied scientific research. The society annually elects to associate membership selected students who have demonstrated marked aptitude for scientific research; election is usually based on written work. In addition, faculty members who have demonstrated noteworthy achievement in research may be elected to full membership.

Tau Beta Pi:

Outstanding candidates for engineering degrees are elected to membership in Tau Beta Pi, the national honorary engineering fraternity, during their junior or senior years.

Alpha Sigma Lambda:

This national honor society was founded in 1946 to recognize part-time students who accomplish academic excellence while facing the competing interests of family, community, and work. The Lafayette branch is the Iota chapter. To be eligible, students must be working for their first bachelor's degree, be current degree candidates in the Part-Time Studies Program at Lafayette, and demonstrate superior scholarship. Students must have completed a minimum of eight courses at Lafayette, including at least four courses outside the major field and four courses in liberal arts and sciences.

Other Societies:

Twelve honorary societies recognize personal achievement in specific fields: Delta Phi Alpha in German; Dobro Slovo in Russian; Eta Kappa Nu in electrical engineering; Omicron Delta Epsilon in economics, Phi Alpha Theta in history; Phi Lambda Upsilon in chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical engineering; Pi Delta Phi in French; Pi Mu Epsilon in mathematics; Pi Sigma Alpha in political science; Psi Chi in psychology; Sigma Delta Pi in Spanish, Sigma Iota Rho in international affairs, Sigma Pi Sigma in physics, Upsilon Pi Epsilon in computer science and Alpha Psi Omega in theater.