What is Psi Chi?

Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purpose of promoting excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the eligibility requirements.

Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS).

A Psychology Network Without Equal

When Psi Chi was founded in 1929, its membership was limited to outstanding graduate students from the top graduate schools in psychology. As the field of psychology grew, undergraduate students with exceptional academic records were also admitted to membership, and Psi Chi’s network of chapters spread to approximately 1,000 campuses across the U.S. Now Psi Chi has more chapters than any other honor society in baccalaureate institutions, and has the largest membership of any psychological organization in the world.

Lifetime Membership

Membership in Psi Chi is for life and the $35 national registration fee is the only payment to the national organization, which does not charge annual dues.

Recognition

Psi Chi provides national recognition for academic excellence in psychology, an honor which can be noted on employment applications, vitae, and resumes. Also, as part of lifetime membership, members receive membership certificates and cards and are eligible to wear honor cords, medallions, and stoles at graduation.

References

The Psi Chi National Office provides references throughout each member’s lifetime. This service alone is worth the investment.

Awards

Psi Chi currently bestows 95 research awards each year, including the highly esteemed Newman Award for graduate research – the only student research award presented during the prestigious APA/APF awards ceremony at the annual APA convention. Other research awards include the Guilford Awards and Allyn & Bacon Awards for undergraduate research, the Erlbaum Awards in Cognitive Science for both graduate and undergraduate research, and the Regional and National Convention Research Awards. National and regional awards are also available for outstanding chapters and faculty advisors.

Grants

Psi Chi awards numerous grants of up to $1,500 for undergraduate research projects, and the Thelma Hunt program provides funds of up to $3,000 for empirical research on questions directly related to Psi Chi. In addition, 12 grants of $2,000 each are available for research conducted by Psi Chi faculty advisors.

Research at Level I and II Institutions

Psi Chi is now offering 12 grants for undergraduate members to conduct summer research at Level I and II research institutions: six grants of up to $5,000 each to be awarded in conjunction with the National Science Foundations REU program, and six additional grants of $3,500 each.

Publications

Eye on Psi Chi magazine provides national recognition for members and chapters, and features outstanding articles on careers in psychology, graduate school advice, and personal development, plus special articles by distinguished psychologists on topics of interest. The Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research offers a vehicle for undergraduates to publish their research in a national, fully reviewed journal.

Conference Programs

Psi Chi sponsors outstanding programs at regional and national psychological association meetings. Members benefit not only from the programs, but also from the opportunity to meet and network with leading psychologists and students form other chapters.

Website

http://www.psichi.org/

The national full-featured website allows members to keep in touch with Psi Chi’s activities and new ventures, explore exciting opportunities, read outstanding articles and abstracts, download Psi Chi materials, and much more.

Psi Chi functions as a federation of chapters located at approximately 1,000 senior colleges and universities. A National Council, composed of psychologists who are Psi Chi members and who are elected by the chapters, guides the affairs of the organization and sets policy with the approval of the chapters.

Eligibility for Psi Chi At McDaniel

Twice a year, the faculty advisor of Psi Chi reviews student transcripts to induct eligible students into Psi Chi.  Students are eligible for Psi Chi if they meet all of the following qualifications:

• Students must be in the top third of their graduating class
• GPA in psychology courses must be at least a 3.2.
• Students must have completed three psychology courses at McDaniel College.  One of those courses must be Psychology of Learning, Cognitive Psychology, Abnormality, Methods I, or the Capstone.

Contact: Dr. Morris