The National Organization
Phi Alpha Theta is an international honorary history organization comprised of about 40 students. Rowan University's Phi Alpha Theta society is part of the Psi-Iota chapter of the national organization. We take part in the national organization by attending regional Phi Alpha Theta meetings annually. These meetings allow history students and instructors to meet and present their own research papers. Two years ago at the Kutztown University meeting, two of our members, Valerie K. Buickerood and Janice Kittinger presented papers that placed 3rd and 1st. This past years meeting occurred at Caldwell College and was a great success. To learn more about the national Phi Alpha Theta network, go to www.phialphatheta.org.
Scholarship Opportunities
Phi Alpha Theta is sponsoring several scholarship/award opportunities for members:
The World History Association Awards
Two awards of $200 each are given for the best World History paper for the year in both the undergraduate and graduate divisions.
The Nels Andrew Cleven Founders Paper Prize Awards
There are several prizes awarded here including the Dr. George P. Hammond prize for the best paper by a graduate student (worth $250). The Dr. Lynn W. Turner Prize for the best paper submitted by an undergraduate student (worth $200). Another award opportunity for undergraduate students is the Founder's Paper Prize Awards, offering four prizes of $150 to either undergraduate or graduate students.
Graduate Scholarship Awards
There are five graduate scholarship grants available for students entering graduate school for the first time for work leading to a Master's Degree in History.
The Campus Organization
Phi Alpha Theta's focus is toward the needs and interests of Rowan's History students. Our most well known events include our many discussion panels, which are assisted with help from our own faculty and students. The upcoming fall panel "Considering Graduate School?" will be especially helpful to those students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in History. This panel allows students to meet with department professors to learn about applying for grad school, obtaining financial aid, fulfilling academic requirements, as well as offering other great advice for students thinking about grad studies. This fall we also are looking forward to the Internship Panel.
Interested in Becoming a Member?
Applications to become a member of Phi Alpha Theta may be obtained at the Phi Alpha Theta bulletin board outside of the History Department.
All History students (majors, minors, and coordinates) with a 3.1 in their History courses and a 3.0 overall GPA (and 12 s.h. of history courses completed) are eligible to be officially initiated into Phi Alpha Theta. The initial fee is $45 but membership is life-long, offering you opportunities and a networking system through undergraduate and graduate studies as well as in the career field (download Application). Additionally, all new initiates receive a year subscription to Phi Alpha Theta's own journal, The Historian. Our annual initiation banquet, held in April caps off our academic year as it introduces and awards all of our new members while highlighting the year's past events and plans for the next year. The number of new initiates is steadily growing and we hope to continue to grow as Phi Alpha Theta gains precedence as a recognized academic organization on campus. Please feel free to contact any of our officers or Dr. Heinzen, PAT advisor, to learn more about the organization.