Psi Chi  

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Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Psi Chi serves two major goals-one immediate and visibly rewarding to student, the other slower and more difficult to accomplish, but offering greater rewards in the long run. The first of these is the Society's obligation to provide academic recognition to its initiates by the mere fact of membership. The second goal is to nurture the spark of that accomplishment by offering a climate congenial to its creative development.

How do I join?

Students become members by joining the chapter at the school they are attending. Fill out the application (contact department at (404-413-6200) and return it with your initiation fee and dues to the Psi Chi mailbox in the Psychology Department. Psi Chi chapters are operated by student officers and faculty advisors. Together they select and induct members and carry out the goals of the Society.

What are the goals of Psi Chi?

Psi Chi serves two major goals--one immediate and visibly rewarding to the individual member--the other slower and more difficult to accomplish, but offering greater rewards in the long run. The first of these is the Society's obligation to provide academic recognition to its initiates by the mere fact. of membership. The second goal is to nurture the spark of that accomplishment by offering a climate congenial to its creative development. For example, the chapters make active attempts to nourish and stimulate professional growth through programs designed to augment and enhance the regular curriculum and to provide practical experience and fellowship through affiliation with the chapter. In addition, the national organization provides numerous programs to help achieve these ends. Among them are national and regional conventions held annually in conjunction with the psychological associations, research award competitions, certificate recognition programs, and a quarterly Psi Chi newsletter, which helps to unify the membership as well as to inform and recognize their contributions and accomplishments.

What are the benefits?

  1. The intrinsic value of membership is rewarding not only to the achiever but also to others and to the field of psychology. The achievement and recognition of excellence leads to self?fulfillment and thus to self?realization. By recognizing that what you do does make a difference, you are stimulating higher productivity. Accomplishments are enjoyed more through sharing. Furthermore, the contacts made through Psi Chi will be valuable throughout your educational and professional careers.
  2. Concrete advantages of membership include:
    1. The documents: a membership certificate and membership card.
    2. The references provided throughout one's lifetime.
    3. The experience gained by working with Psi Chi is excellent for building up your curriculum vitae.
    4. Psi Chi is a springboard for professional growth. Opportunities are made available to the members for promoting their research, for national and international recognition, for contacts and interaction with the leaders in their field, and to meet Psi Chi members of other chapters who will also be future leaders.
    5. The United States government recognizes membership in Psi Chi as meeting one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in Federal service.

Climaxing the benefits mentioned above is knowing that many individuals, by their caring, dedication, perseverance, and hard work, have made it possible to encourage young persons who are interested in psychology to strive for excellence

Requirements

    1. Completion of 3 semesters or 5 quarters of the college course
    2. Completion of 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of psychology courses
    3. Ranking in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship
    4. Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in both psychology classes and in cumulative grades

Applications are available in the Psychology Office on the 11th floor in Urban Life.

 
   

Department of Psychology
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last updated March 12, 2008