2018-2019 Catalog

International Honor Societies

Alpha Kappa Delta

The Beta Chapter of the International Honor Society in Sociology was chartered at Rhode Island College in 1976. The society was founded in 1920 at the University of Southern California. There are now 290 chapters in the United States and Canada that honor excellence in scholarship, research and service.

Kappa Delta Pi

The Epsilon Rho Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in Education, was organized at Rhode Island College in 1944. It encourages high personal, professional and intellectual standards and recognizes outstanding contributions to education. More than 500 colleges in the United States have chapters in this society.

Phi Alpha Theta

Kappa Psi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the International Honor Society in History, was organized at Rhode Island College in 1966. It recognizes history students who maintain high standards in their college studies. It promotes the study of history by encouraging research, good teaching, exchange of ideas and publication. Over 700 chapters exist across the United States, Canada and the Philippines.

Phi Sigma Iota

The Beta Gamma chapter of the International Foreign Language Honor Society was chartered at Rhode Island College in 1982. It recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature or culture. These fields include not only modern foreign language, but also classics, linguistics, philology, comparative literature, bilingual education, second language acquisition and other interdisciplinary programs with a significant foreign language component. Phi Sigma Iota is the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages. There are approximately 250 chapters of Phi Sigma Iota at institutions of higher learning in the United States, Mexico and France.

Phi Sigma Tau

The Gamma Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the International Honor Society in Philosophy, was established at Rhode Island College in 2011. The objectives of the society are to award distinction to students having high scholarship and interest in philosophy; promote student research and advanced study; publish student research papers of merit; encourage a professional spirit and friendship; and popularize interest in philosophy among the general collegiate public. Founded in 1930, the society has over 200 chapters in the United States and Canada.

Sigma Tau Delta

The Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an International Honor Society in English, was established at Rhode Island College in 2007 to recognize excellence in scholarship and includes students, alumni and faculty members. Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 as a national society and became international in 1988. There are now over 750 active chapters, with conventions scheduled in even-numbered years.

Sigma Theta Tau

Sigma Theta Tau Inc., the International Honor Society in Nursing, has established the Delta Upsilon Chapter-at-Large at Rhode Island College and at the University of Rhode Island with this purpose in mind: to recognize superior achievement and scholarship, to recognize the development of leadership qualities, to foster high professional standards, to encourage creative work and to strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the nursing profession.

Sigma Xi

Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, was founded in 1886 as an honor society for science and engineering. Today it is an international research society with programs and activities that promote the health of the scientific enterprise and honor scientific achievement. There are more than 80,000 Sigma Xi members in over 500 chapters at colleges and universities, industrial research centers and government laboratories. Students who have shown potential as researchers are invited to join as associate members. The Rhode Island College chapter began as a club in 1984.

Tau Sigma

A chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society was chartered at Rhode Island College in 2010. Founded in 1999, Tau Sigma currently has chapters at nearly 90 colleges and universities throughout the United States. This is the first chapter in Rhode Island. The purpose of the society is to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon

The Alpha Chapter of the International Honor Society for the computing disciplines was chartered at Rhode Island College in 2011. The society was organized in 1967 at Texas A & M University. There are now over 200 chapters in the United States, Bulgaria, Japan and Mexico that honor academic excellence in computer and information systems, computer science and other computing disciplines.