Honors in the Major
Sociology majors who have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in courses taken for the major are awarded the distinction ‘Honors in the Major’ when they graduate.
Alpha Kappa Delta
The sociology department is home to a chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. You can learn more about this important organization by visiting their website. Applications are mailed in the Fall to those majors who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- minimum junior standing;
- officially declared sociology major or minor;
- a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.3;
- a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) in sociology courses of 3.0; and
- completion of at least four sociology courses prior to initiation.
There is a $75 initiation fee which entitles the initiate to a lifetime membership in AKD, a one-year subscription to the journal, Sociological Inquiry (renewable at member’s option), and a membership certificate suitable for framing and graduation honor cords. Participation in this organization is a great way to connect with the department and the discipline of sociology.
The Department of Sociology hosts and annual awards ceremony to honor new AKD inductees as well as recipients of the undergraduate Distinguished Scholar and Joan W. Moore Service-Scholar awards (see Scholarship section of our web site).
Honors College
Students invited to join the UWM Honors College have exclusive access to Honors classes and upon completion of the Honors requirements can graduate with Honors distinctions. Honors courses are typically smaller than average and taught in a seminar style. Freshmen are invited to join based on their admissions application materials demonstrating high achievement in high school. Current students and transfer students can contact the Honors College to inquire about eligibility to apply.
Dean’s Honor List
Students with a major in the College of Letters & Science majors who earn a GPA of 3.750 or above in any semester where 12 or more graded credits are earned will be placed on the Dean’s Honors List for that semester.
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest honor society. Membership is by invitation only. Just ten percent of U.S. universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and within the UW System, only Milwaukee and Madison have chapters.
Membership criteria include the completion of a broad range of liberal arts coursework spanning the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and languages; and academic achievement with a minimum GPA in these classes of 3.850 for juniors or 3.750 for seniors.
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi is also recognized as one of the nation’s premier academic honor societies. Membership is by invitation only and is based on class rank — top 7.5% for juniors or top 10% for seniors. All majors are eligible.
Graduation Honors
Undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester will receive all-university commencement honors and will be awarded the traditional gold cord at the commencement honors convocation.