Honors Societies

UMBC features several prominent campus-wide and discipline-specific academic honor societies, alongside structured honors programs. Each program has specific admissions criteria. Information on several recognized programs is available on this website. Please contact the person listed with any questions.

Any questions about the information provided here can be directed to:

Delana Gregg
Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs
delana1@umbc.edu
The logo for Phi Beta Kappa, white text on blue background

Phi Beta Kappa

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholarly honor society. Its mission is to foster and recognize excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, and is highly selective. Its distinctive emblem, the golden key, is widely recognized as a symbol of academic achievement. UMBC is one of about 290colleges and universities in the United States to be honored with Phi Beta Kappa status. To be considered, an institution must demonstrate that it is dedicated to the highest academic standards and committed to fostering excellence in the liberal arts. The Eta Chapter of Maryland at UMBC was established in 1998. Each year about 2-3% of UMBC’s student population is invited for membership.

The Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Standards for election are extremely high. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of second-semester juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. Because Phi Kappa Phi is highly selective, membership is a stamp of excellence that is recognized by graduate and professional school admissions committees and employers alike.
Contact information: phikappaphi@umbc.edu

The Phi alpha logo is the greek alphabetic letters phi and alpha. phi is the letter "O" with the letter "I" crossing over each other. the letter alpha is the letter "A". the letters of the logo is yellow set on a dark blue background.

Phi Alpha

Phi Alpha Honor Society provides a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

The Sigma Phi Omega logo is the greek alphabetic letters Sigma, Phi, and Omega. The letters are set in a comemorative key. The letters of the logo are colored blue and set on a dark blue background.

Sigma Phi Omega

Sigma Phi Omega The International Academic Honor and Professional Society in Gerontology. Sigma Phi Omega recognizes outstanding students and professionals in the field of aging. As a member, students are exposed to a national network dedicated to service, scholarship, and leadership in gerontology and aging services.

The Psi Chi logo is the greek alphabetic letters Psi Chi. The letters are set in a circle, around the two letters are the words"The International Honors Society in Psychology. The letters of the logo for Psi is in white, while the color for the letter Chi is in dark blue.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi is an international honor society for psychology students. At UMBC, Psi Chi gives psychology students opportunities to connect with other students and faculty, get involved in psychology-related events and activities, develop leadership skills, and explore opportunities in research and graduate school. Membership also provides access to scholarships, research and publication opportunities, career resources, and a network of psychology students and professionals..

The Omnicron Delta Kappa logo are the three greek letters of Omnicron, Delta, and Kappa set in black. set on a blue-grey disk. The greek letters are surrounded a set of laurel leaves.

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society recognizes those who have attained a high standard of leadership in collegiate activities and to aspire to higher achievements. To bring together highly-motivated students who have made a difference to the UMBC community. As an ODK Circle, these students serve as role models and leaders in building a strong culture of leadership at UMBC.
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