Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha
Psi Upsilon is the ÂÌñÒùÆÞ Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science
Honor Society. Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1920 for the purpose of bringing together
students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Psi Upsilon
was chartered in May, 2000.
Psi Upsilon qualifications for membership are:
- Political Science Major
- Junior Year Status
- 3.25 GPA in Political Science
- Minimum of 10 Credit Hours of Political Science Courses
- Membership Fee
Psi Upsilon has many members under the advisorship of Dr. Molly Patterson and Dr. Roger Durham.
The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha is "to stimulate scholarship and intelligent interest
in political science." The society functions at the national level, sponsoring programs
and events of value to the profession and teaching of political science, and at the
chapter level.
Pi Sigma Alpha offers a number of academic awards:
- Best Paper Awards for Graduate and Undergraduate Students, for which each chapter advisor may nominate one undergraduate and one graduate student paper per year.
- Howard Penniman Scholarships for Graduate Study, awarded annually to three undergraduates entering graduate programs in political science.
- Best Advisor Awards, to honor long-serving chapter advisors whose contribution to his or her chapter has been outstanding.
- Best Chapter Awards, are cash awards of $500 to one or two chapters in each of three college enrollment categories.
- APSA Student Membership Awards. Each chapter is entitled to award a one-year student membership in the American Political Science Association to one outstanding student each year.
- The Franklin L. Burdette Award for the best paper presented at the APSA Annual Meeting.
- Best Paper Awards at Regional Political Science Association Meetings.