Beta Delta Chapter

Purposes

"Through knowledge - the challenge to serve"

The purposes of Phi Alpha Honor Society are to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

History of Phi Alpha Honor Society

The concept of a national social work honor society came from a group of undergraduate social work students at Michigan State University in 1960. Investigation revealed that local chapters existed at three schools. Those three schools along with a few other schools formed a National Honor Society Committee in November, 1960. For more than a year this committee worked on the constitution and other administrative matters. The name Phi Alpha and the key were adopted from the local chapter which existed at Florida State University. The constitution and formal organization were completed in 1962, and six chapters qualified to become "charter chapters." They were: Florida State University, Michigan State University, Ohio Northern University, Central State College, University of Dayton and the University of Tennessee. Over 110 chapters are now in existence, and the addition of new chapters is continuing.

Qualifications for Membership

An undergraduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following requirements:

1. Declared Social Work as your major.
2. Achieved Junior or Senior rank (60+ credit hours).
3. Earned at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for all university course work.
4. Completed at least 12 credit hours within the social work major - including: ScWk 201 (Intro. to Social Work), ScWk 300 (Social Welfare), Soc 312 or ScWk 512 (Intro. to Social Research).
5. Earned at least a 3.5 grade point average over all social work courses.

1. Completed at least 12 credit hours of required social work courses.
2. Earned at least a 3.75 grade point average over all graduate-level social work courses.

Dr. Brien Bolin is the faculty advisor for Phi Allpha for the MSW students.

Application

To apply for Phi Alpha

1. Download the appropriate application form below
2. Print copies of your transcript (available on Self Service)
3. Return application form, transcript, and $25 application fee to the School of Socia Work Office.

Applications can be brought to the Social Work Office or mailed to:
School of Social Work
Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount, Campus Box 154
Wichita, KS 67260-0154

The induction ceremony is held each year on the official last day of classes for the spring semester (a Monday in May). The deadline to submit applications in order to participate in the induction ceremony March 12.

Phi Alpha BSW Application Form 2010.pdf (PDF File)

Phi Alpha MSW Application Form 2010.pdf (PDF File)