Psi Chi Organization

Psi Chi Organization Image

Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate students who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications. 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).

Students become members by joining the chapter at the GMU. Psi Chi chapters are operated by student officers and faculty advisors. Together they select and induct the members and carry out the goals of the Society. All chapters register their inductees at the national office, where the membership records are preserved for reference purposes. The total number of memberships preserved at the national office during the first 65 years is over 270,000. Many of these members have gone on to distinguished careers in psychology.

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.

Climaxing the benefits mentioned above is knowing that many individuals, by their caring, dedication, perseverance, and hard work, have made it possible to encourage young persons interested in psychology to strive for excellence -- to reach toward that attainable star.

Reprinted from the Psi Chi Chapter Handbook

George Mason University undergraduate students are eligible for Psi Chi if they:

  • are majoring or minoring in Psychology
  • have a minimum of 9 completed credit hours in Psychology, 6 of which must be at GMU
  • have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher
  • have a Psychology GPA of 3.40 or higher

Currently enrolled graduate students who have been formally admitted to the M.A. or Ph.D. programs and have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA are also eligible for membership.

Organization dues for lifetime membership: $55.00 (this is a one time fee only; please contact Dr. Murdoch if financial assistance is needed)

 

Applications for membership can be submitted via psichi.org at any time during the academic year. Questions about the application process or membership should be directed to Dr. Erin Murdoch (emurdoch@gmu.edu), Faculty Advisor.