College of Arts and Sciences

Honor Societies/Student Activities

Alpha Epsilon Delta

A chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national honorary premedical society, was established at Boston University in 1979. The object of the society is to encourage excellence in premedical scholarship; to stimulate an appreciation of the importance of premedical education in the study of medicine; to promote cooperation and contacts among medical and premedical students and educators in developing an improved program of premedical education; and to bind together similarly interested students. Membership is open to junior and senior premedical, predental, and preveterinary students and is based on general academic excellence and achievement in the sciences.

Alpha Kappa Delta

The international sociology society, Alpha Kappa Delta, was founded at the University of Southern California in 1920. Gamma of Massachusetts, the Boston University chapter, was chartered in 1968. Membership is offered to juniors and seniors who have met high scholastic standards in the study of sociology and in their general undergraduate studies.

Golden Key

Golden Key is an international organization with active chapters at leading universities throughout the nation. This prestigious interdisciplinary organization was founded to recognize and encourage outstanding upper division students. Membership is gained by invitation only, and is extended to all qualified juniors and seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or above, in all of the undergraduate Colleges and Schools of Boston University.

Omicron Delta Epsilon

The Epsilon Chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in economics, was issued its charter in 1964. Membership is open to economics concentrators who have exhibited high scholastic achievement throughout their undergraduate careers. Juniors and seniors are nominated for membership semi-annually.

Phi Alpha Theta

Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, was established at Boston University in 1952. Membership is open to undergraduates and graduates concentrating in history. Eligibility for undergraduates is based primarily on high scholastic achievement in all subjects and especially in the field of concentration.

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Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa, founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776, is an honorary society whose membership is conferred for high scholarship. Massachusetts Epsilon Chapter at Boston University received its charter in 1899. Each year a number of seniors maintaining high rank throughout their courses are elected to membership. A few exceptional students may be elected during the first semester of their senior year on the basis of their record at the end of the junior year. It is expected that nominated students will be pursuing a liberal arts degree with distinction.

Phi Sigma Iota

Phi Sigma Iota, a national foreign languages society, was founded at Allegheny College in 1922. The Phi Omega chapter at Boston University was established in 1956 to promote the advanced study of languages and literatures of cultures from around the world. Members are chosen from outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in foreign languages, classics, comparative literature, bilingual education, and applied linguistics. Undergraduate students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.3, with a 3.4 in upper-level language, literature, and culture courses, and graduate students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.6.

Pi Mu Epsilon

Pi Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honorary society, was founded at Syracuse University in 1903. The Boston University Chapter, Massachusetts Epsilon, was chartered in 1978. Pi Mu Epsilon promotes scholarly activity among students by electing to membership students proficient in mathematics, and by engaging in activities that promote the mathematical and scholarly development of its members. To be eligible, students must have completed two years of college mathematics with at least a B average and be in the top third of their class in general college work.

Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society. The Gamma Xi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha was established at Boston University to advance the study of political science and international relations by honoring students who have distinguished themselves in these concentrations. Pi Sigma Alpha is open to juniors and seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Psi Chi

The national psychology honor society is represented at Boston University by a chapter chartered in 1952. Membership is conferred each year on advanced psychology students whose grades in psychology and throughout their courses meet the prescribed national and local requirements.

Scarlet Key

Scarlet Key, established at Boston University in 1939 as an activities honor society, was revived under the auspices of the General Alumni Association in 1979 as an award to recognize graduating seniors for exceptional achievement in student activities and organizations. Students may apply or be nominated for the award. Further information is available at the Student Activities Office, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, 4th floor.

Sigma Xi

Students who have demonstrated exceptional promise in scientific research are eligible for nomination as associate members in the society of Sigma Xi, a national honorary organization devoted to scientific research.

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Student Activities

Undergraduate Associations

Undergraduate associations in many CAS departments provide undergraduate concentrators with the opportunity to discuss common interests, problems, and perspectives, and meet with professors at coffee hours, open houses, and other social events. The associations provide academic assistance and graduate school and career planning information as well as classroom films, speakers, and multimedia programs. Among the most active groups in recent years have been the undergraduate associations in classics (UCA), earth sciences, economics (UEA), English (BULG), political science (UPSA), history and international relations (UHIRA), geography, chemistry-biology (Chemia), mathematics, modern languages (UMLA), psychology (UPA), physics (Photon), and philosophy (UPHA). Consult departmental sections for further information.

Student Representation on Faculty Committees

CAS students have representation on many standing committees of the College of Arts and Sciences. These committees include the CAS Academic Conduct Committee and the Academic Policy and Curriculum Committees. Students interested in committee work should contact the senior associate dean in CAS Room 106.

Dean's Hosts

Students chosen to serve as Dean's Hosts participate in many recruitment and registration efforts on behalf of the College of Arts and Sciences. To be eligible a student must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8. Application availability and deadlines are posted outside CAS 105 and the Office of Programs (CAS Room 107) before intersession.

CAS Forum

The College of Arts and Sciences Forum is the College's student governing body and is responsible, in consultation with the dean, for allocation of the CAS student activities budget. Forum-sponsored events and funded activities have included the Boston University Mock Trial Team, Freshman Resource Advisors, Students for Literary Awareness, CAS Senior Reception, Inner Strength Gospel Choir, and numerous departmental and undergraduate organizations. The forum provides leadership and funding to programs in the College through its all-student committees. The CAS Forum Office is located in CAS Room 317; 617-353-4109.

Freshman Resource Advisors (FRAs)

The Educational Resource Center and the College of Arts and Sciences sponsor these peer advisors to CAS freshmen. FRAs serve as crucial role models and resources for new CAS students, organizing events and assisting freshmen in their transition to college life. Students interested in joining the FRAs should visit CAS Room 105 (617-353-2400) or the Educational Resource Center.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
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Boston, MA 02215

22 October 2007
Boston University
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