Honors

Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, has an active local chapter, Epsilon Xi, at UWM. The one time initiation fee is $35.00. Graduation cords (optional) may be purchased for an additional $17. Students are encouraged to join the UWM chapter.

• Pi Sigma Alpha Application (PDF)

Qualifications (Undergraduate Students):

• Completion of a minimum of ten political science credits (one course must be an upper-division political science course)
• 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in political science courses
• Junior or senior standing
• Student’s cumulative GPA is in the upper one-third of the student’s junior or senior class

Qualifications (Graduate Students):

• Completion of a minimum of nine credits in political science graduate coursework (A or B grades in all courses)
• Student is enrolled in a political science graduate program

Benefits of Membership:

• Membership in the Pi Sigma Alpha is a recognition of serious interest and achievement in the field of political science.
• Employers and university admissions evaluators look favorably upon such membership in their reviews of student applications.
• Pi Sigma Alpha brings together students of similar interests and achievements at UWM.
• The honor society is an active organization at UWM with more than 35 members.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Kristin Trenholm
trenholm@uwm.edu

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Honors and High Honors in the Major

Departmental honors are awarded upon graduation to students who achieve a 3.5 GPA overall in all UWM courses attempted and also in their advanced-level political science courses. Students meeting these GPA requirements will automatically be slated for graduating with honors in the major.

Students meeting the grade point requirements might also wish to be considered for departmental high honors. If a student wishes to be considered for departmental high honors, s/he should request that the faculty member supervising her/his substantial research paper nominate her/him for high honors. The supervising faculty member then will decide if the student should be recommended to the high honors committee, which is composed of three political science faculty members. The committee will determine if the quality of the nominee’s paper is sufficient to earn the high honors designation and, if so, will bestow the high honors accordingly. Do note that any student interested in receiving high honors needs to contact a Political Science faculty member to be considered; these high honors are not bestowed automatically.

Questions about any of the above honors designations can be directed to any of the Political Science faculty advisors.