Anthropology and Sociology

Student Clubs

Honor Societies

Anthropology Honor Society: Lambda Alpha Nu

Lambda Alpha Nu is th West Chester University chapter of the National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology. Established in 1968, the purpose of Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society is to both acknowledge and reward academic excellence. The name Lambda Alpha is composed of teh initial letter fo the Greek words Logos Anthropos (Λογος Ανθροποσ).

To join Lambda Alpha, undergraduate students must meet the following requirements:

• have completed 60 semester hours overall course work

• have completed 12 semesters hours course work in anthropology

• have an anthropology G.P.A. of 3.0

• have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.8

Benefits of membership include the Lambda Alpha Journal, eligiblity to apply for grants and special recognition awards and acknowledgement of exceptional academic performance.

For information regarding membership, contact the faculty advisor, Dr. Heather Wholey.

Sociology Honor Society: Alpha Kappa Delta

CURRENT MEMBERS: Log your activities here

The Department of Anthropology and Sociology has a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society.

AKD is dedicated to encouraging and stimulating scholarship while promoting the scientific study and advancement of sociology. Membership is an earned honor limited to undergraduate and graduate students in sociology who have maintained a record of high academic achievement (and it is a great addition to resumes and applications for graduate school).

Alpha Kappa Delta Society was founded in 1920 in the Sociology Department of the University of Southern California by Dr. E.S. Bogardus. The name, Alpha Kappa Delta, represents the first three letters of three Greek words: anthropon (humankind), katamanthanein (to investigate thoroughly or to conduct research) and diakonesein (for the purpose of service). The name, freely interpreted, signifies social research for the purpose of service. There are more than 600 chapters of the Society and more than 97,000 lifetime members. We hope to include you among the members. View more information about the Society and benefits of membership .

On West Chester University's campus, AKD is a newly re-established chapter as of 2011. The chapter works with the department's Sociology Club to plan academic and social events. In the past, members have attended academic conferences throughout the Northeast, visited museums in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and participated in sociological panel discussions across southeastern Pennsylvania.

To apply for membership in AKD, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have at least junior standing
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.3
• Have a GPA of at least 3.0 in sociology courses
• Have taken at least four courses in sociology at WCU​ (Courses in which the student is currently enrolled count toward the number, but transferred courses do not count. In addition, eligible classes must be taken for a grade; classes taken pass/fail do not count.)

To be inducted into our Tau Chapter, accepted AKD members must complete the following chapter requirements throughout the period between application and induction (and are expected to continue participating after the induction):

• Attend at least one AKD chapter meeting each semester
• Participate in at least one fundraising activity per semester
• Complete at least five hours of service activities per semester
• Participate in at least one professional development activity per academic year (e.g., workshop, career fair, professional conference, etc.)

The one-time $40 membership fee includes a lifetime membership, a membership certificate, a membership card, and one free year of Sociological Inquiry, the official journal of the Society. When you are inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, you are eligible to wear the Society’s honor cords, lapel pin, and other paraphernalia.

To apply, submit your completed membership application and membership fee (cash only please) to the chapter representative.

Tau chapter contacts:

• Tyler Walton: President
  Sara Wolfgang: Vice President
  Tyler Rutherford: Treasurer
  Sarah Kratz: Secretary

• Faculty Adviser/Chapter Representative: Dr. Julie Wiest