What is Phi Alpha Theta?

Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history. The society is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters. Phi Alpha Theta was established on March 17, 1921 at the University of Arkansas by Professor Nels Cleven. Cleven had become convinced in his time at the university that a fraternity of scholars (which would accept men or women) was important for the study of history. He invited students to a meeting to form the society (then called the University Historical Society) on March 14, and the society was officially recognized on the 17th. In April, the decision was made for the society to be known by the Greek letters Phi Alpha Theta.

Undergraduate Membership Requirements:

Undergraduate students must have junior standing, have 7 or more History courses completed in residence at UCI, and achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in History and a GPA of 3.3 or better overall to be considered eligible for Phi Alpha Theta. Eligible students at UCI will be invited to join the chapter during the annual initiation period in spring quarter.

Becoming a member of Phi Alpha Theta will enable you to graduate with honors cords, become eligible for several national and regional scholarships, and make you eligible for leadership positions. For more information on Phi Alpha Theta at UCI, contact Lubabah Memon at lmemon@uci.edu.