Phi Alpha Honor Society

For other organizations named "Phi Alpha", see Phi Alpha (disambiguation).
Phi Alpha Honor Society
ΦΑ
Founded1962 (1962)
Michigan State University
TypeHonor
AffiliationACHS
StatusActive
EmphasisSocial Work
ScopeNorth America
Colors  Royal blue and   light gold
Chapters62 active
Members124,250+ lifetime
HeadquartersPhi Alpha Honor Society
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
United States
Websitephialpha.org

Phi Alpha Honor Society (ΦΑ) is a North American honor society for social work students. It was established in 1962 at Michigan State University and has since chartered more than 470 chapters. Phi Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

History

A group of undergraduate social work students at Michigan State University conceived of a national social work honor society in 1960.[1] After investigating, they determined that local societies already existed at three other colleges.[1] Michigan State, those three schools, and a few other schools formed a National Honor Society Committee in November 1960.[1] This committee worked on the constitution and other administrative matters. The name Phi Alpha was chosen, since that was the name of the local chapter at Florida State University.[1]

The formal organization and constitution were completed in 1962.[2] Phi Alpha's charter chapters were Florida State University, Michigan State University, Ohio Northern University, Central State College, University of Dayton, and the University of Tennessee.[1] Expansion of the honor society was limited to social work programs that were accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.[3]

The purpose of Phi Alpha is "to promote fellowship among those dedicated to promotion of the humanitarian goals and ideals found in the social work profession, to foster high standards of education for social work, and to encourage scholarship and achievement in both the study and practice of social work."[3]

By May 1964, it had thirteen chapters.[3] Phi Alpha joined the Association of College Honor Societies on February 14, 2019.[4][2] That year, it had 433 active chapters and 124,223 total initiates.[2]

In October 2024, Phi Alpha had 339 chapters in the United States and Canada.[5] It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[5] Its national headquarters is at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.[6][2]

Symbols

Members of Phi Alpha receive a lapel pin and a certificate.[5] Phi Alpha's members may wear its blue and gold honor cord, a medallion, or a stoll at graduation.[7][5] The society's colors are blue and gold; royal blue and light gold are preferred.[8]

The society's logo or keyconsists of a stacked banner with the Greek letters "ΦΑ" vertically in gold, on a blue background.[8]

Membership

Membership in Phi Alpha is by invitation to students who are enrolled in a college social work program as an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student.[2] To be eligible for membership, students must rank in the top 35 percent of their class after having completed nine semester hours of social work courses or 35.5 percent of the credit hours required for their degree.[2] After graduating, collegiate members became alumni members for life.[2]

Phi Alpha also admits faculty, honorary, and professional members.[2] Full-time faculty may apply for membership in Phi Alpha if they work at an institution with a chapter and have at least a master's degree in social work.[2] Professional members are working in the field of social work and met the student criteria while in college, but either did not join or were at an institution that lacked a chapter.[2] Honorary members are non-students who have made contributions to the field of social work.[2] Honorary members are usually recognized by local chapters and do not have voting rights in the society.[2]

Activities

Phi Alpha's annual service project is Special Olympics.[9] Phi Alpha presents several awards and scholarships annually, including the Advisor of the Year, the Chapter Service Award, the Patty Gibbs-Wahlberg Scholarship, the MSW Scholarship, and the Student Leadership Award.[2]

Chapters

Main article: List of Phi Alpha Honor Society chapters

The honor society has chartered more than 470 chapters.[10][11] In 2024, it had 62 active chapters.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "About". Pi Alpha. Archived from the original on 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Phi Alpha Honor Society- Social Work". Association of College Honor Societies. May 19, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  3. ^ a b c "New Society Organized at ETSU". Johnson City Press. 1964-05-31. p. 28. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Phi Alpha Chapter Handbook 2021
  5. ^ a b c d "Phi Alpha Honor Society fact sheet" (PDF). Phi Alpha. August 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "Home". Phi Alpha Honor Society. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  7. ^ "Phi Alpha Blue & Gold Honor Cord". Phi Alpha Honor Society. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  8. ^ a b Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work Chapter Handbook (PDF). Johnson City, Tennessee: Phi Alpha Honor Society. August 2021. pp. 36, 53. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  9. ^ "National Service Project Resources". Phi Alpha Honor Society. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  10. ^ "Chapter Directory". Phi Alpha Honor Society. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  11. ^ "Phi Alpha Honor Society Chapters". Association of College Honor Societies. January 25, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  12. ^ "Phi Alpha Honor Society". University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
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