Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS). Psi Chi functions as a federation of chapters located at more than 880 senior colleges and universities in the United States. A National council, composed of psychologists who are Psi Chi members and who are elected by the chapters, guides affairs of the organization and sets policy with the approval of the chapters.
Psi Chi serves two major goals – one immediate and visibly rewarding to the individual member, the other slower and more difficult to accomplish, but offering greater rewards in the long run.
The first of these is the Society's obligation to provide academic recognition to its inductees by the mere fact of membership.
The second goal is the obligation of each of the Society's local chapters to nurture the spark of that accomplishment by offering a climate congenial to its creative development. For example, the chapters make active attempts to nourish and stimulate professional growth through programs designed to augment and enhance the regular curriculum and to provide practical experience and fellowship through affiliation with the chapter.
In addition, the national organization provides programs to help achieve these goals, including national and regional conventions held annually in conjunction with the psychological associations, research award competitions and certificate recognition programs. Also, the Society publishes a Psi Chi newsletter, which helps to unite and inform the members and to recognize their contributions and accomplishments.
The Benefits of Psi Chi
The intrinsic value of membership is rewarding to the achiever in that recognition of excellence leads to self-fulfillment and thus to self-realization. By recognizing that what you do does make a difference, you are stimulated to higher productivity. Accomplishments are enjoyed more when shared with others. Furthermore, the contacts made through Psi Chi will be valuable throughout your educational and professional careers.
Concrete advantages of membership include:
- The documents – a membership certificate and card which give tangible evidence of membership.
- The references provided throughout one's lifetime (this service alone is worth the investment).
- The experience gained by working with Psi Chi is excellent for building up a resume; it is difficult to attain that first managerial and creative experience.
- Psi Chi is a springboard for professional growth. Opportunities are made available to the members for promoting their research, receiving national and international recognition, meeting and interacting with leaders in their field, and meeting Psi Chi members of other chapters who also will be future leaders.
- The United States government recognizes membership in Psi Chi as meeting one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in the Federal Service.
The ultimate test of the value of any membership organization lies in the accomplishments of its members. In each year of Psi Chi's history, more and more members have undertaken graduate studies. Chartered in 1929, Psi Chi is well represented in the professional ranks of all the behavioral sciences. The membership directories of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society are studded with the names of Psi Chi members, both active and alumni. This is only one example demonstrating that the Society's purposes are being fulfilled.
How Can I Join Psi Chi?
Students must have earned a cumulative GPA that is in the top 35% of their class (Sophomore, Junior, or Senior) in the College of Letters and Science AND have completed at least four psychology courses. For 2024, the minimum GPA cutoffs were the following: Sophomores (3.501), Juniors (3.407), and Seniors (3.399). Minimum GPA cutoffs for eligibility vary slightly from one academic year to another since they are based on top 35% performance. GPA requirements are verified by Psychology Undergraduate Advisors. Psi Chi is operated by student officers. They induct the members and carry out the goals of the Society.
Interested students should fill out Psi Chi applications online through the International Psi Chi website (make sure to use your UC Davis email address):
https://www.psichi.org/page/become_member
Students can submit an online application at any time; however, applications are only reviewed by a Psychology Advisor in November and May each year for the Fall and Spring UC Davis Induction dates (TBA). Once your application is approved, you will receive an email from the International Psi Chi Office with a link to pay the lifetime membership fee ($55.00 plus a $5.00 processing fee). UC Davis Psi Chi members can also order graduation swag (e.g., honor cord, honor stole) directly from the Psi Chi website as well:
https://store.psichi.org/graduation-regalia