Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pi Sigma Alpha?
What's in it for me?
What's the catch?
How do I join?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Pi Sigma Alpha?

Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honor society based in Washington D.C. Its chapters are established in colleges and universities of accredited and recognized standing which offer a prescribed minimum program in political science. PSA is a prestigious organization that both encourages interaction among political science students and recognizes their achievements. Pi Sigma Alpha has 440 chapters with Approx. 25,000 members nationally, and Tau Chapter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln presently has 25, which represents about 9-percent of UNL's 300+ political science majors and minors.

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What's in it for me?

Membership in an honor society accentuates intellectual achievement. Membership in PSA is a definite asset for students when applying for jobs, graduate school, law school, or other professionally-oriented applications. Because Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the United States Office of Personnel Management guarantees a higher entry-level grade for Pi Sigma Alpha members entering government service. That directly means more money for you for having been a member of PSA! All Pi Sigma Alpha members, regular and honorary, receive a certificate of membership and permanent enrollment in the society's membership rolls, maintained by the National Office. Upon request, the National Office will provide letters verifying membership to prospective employers or graduate schools. Members are also eligible to compete for the Pi Sigma Alpha Graduate Scholarship, and the Graduate and Undergraduate Best Paper Awards.

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Yeah...but what's the catch?

There is no catch! Just opportunities. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha affords students the opportunity to participate in the following national and local programs:

 Annual Chapter Activity Grant Awards; Annual Scholarship for Graduate Study in Political Science; Student membership in APSA (one per chapter per year); Best Chapter Award; Best Chapter Adviser Award; Best Graduate Student Paper Award; Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award; Publication of Pi Sigma Alpha Newsletter; Franklin P. Burdette Award, for the best paper presented at the APSA Annual Meeting; Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper Awards, for the best papers presented at the regional political science association annual meetings; Pi Sigma Alpha Lecture at the APSA Annual Meeting; and Pi Sigma Alpha Lectures at the regional and state political science association annual meetings

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OK, I'm convinced. How do I join?

To become a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, simply complete and return an application (available in the Political Science office, 5th Floor Oldfather Hall), OR go to PSA's on-line membership application. You may also join by attending any of PSA's frequently held meetings. Please note that official membership is limited to political science majors or minors who have completed at least 12 hours of political science with a minimum 3.2 overall GPA and at least one policy class at the 300-level. All UNL students, regardless of credit hours earned, are invited to participate in all Tau Chapter activities.

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e-mail questions or comments to...
pi_sigma_alpha_unl@hotmail.com

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