Membership Requirements

Minimum qualifications for active student membership shall be as follows:

For undergraduate students:
Completion of at least 3 semesters or 5 quarters of the college course.
Completion of 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of psychology.
Undergraduates who are elected to Psi Chi must rank in the upper 35% of their class in general scholarship. They must also demonstrate superior scholarship in psychology, earning a minimum GPA in psychology courses of 3.00. Psi Chi accepts the policy of the intuition regarding grades.

For graduate students:
An average of “B” or better in all graduates courses, including psychology. Psi Chi accepts the policy of the institution regarding grades.

For all students:
Registration for major or minor standing in psychology or for a program psychological in nature which is equivalent to such standing.
High standards of personal behavior.
Two- thirds affirmative vote of those present at a regular chapter meeting.

(These national membership requirements are derived from the current Psi Chi Constitution. Any chapter may establish minimum scholastic qualifications that are higher than those listed above, if it is appropriate for the school. The Psi Chi National Office does remind chapter, however, not to include service standards nor attendance requirement in the membership requirements. Psi Chi is an honor society, and membership is based on scholastic achievement. Note that undergraduate students must first rank in the upper 35% of the class. Only if the upper 35% falls below a 3.0, should the 3.0 GPA be used as a membership criterion.)

As a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), Psi Chi’s standards are in keeping with those of the ACHS. Psi Chi is not permitted to deviate from its membership grade requirement. Also, chapters may not have associate members or present non-member with a certificate that can be misinterpreted as membership.

In determining eligibility for membership, respect the laws that protect the right to privacy. The registrar should be able to provide you with the GPA that is the cut-off point of the upper 35% of each class. Post that information and contact students who meet the requirements.

To determine eligibility for membership, distribute the Membership Application form. After the faculty advisor has verified that the psychology course information is correct and that the GPA ranking places the students in the upper 35% of the class, send the Invitation to Membership form to the prospective member. Both forms are included in the fall chapter mailing. You may also obtain copies of these and any other needed forms from the national office or by downloading them from the Psi Chi national website www.psichi.org