Eastern Oregon University > History > Phi Alpha Theta ~ History Honor Society

Phi Alpha Theta ~ History Honor Society

Phi Alpha Theta Logo

Phi Alpha Theta, The National History Honor Society

Eastern Oregon University, ALPHA-GAMMA-XI Chapter

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ryan Dearinger

We are a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.

General Information:

Established in 1921, Phi Alpha Theta is the nation’s premier history honor society. It is the charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies, which sets standards for scholastic eligibility and organizational excellence. Organized into regions and institutional chapters, Phi Alpha Theta is devoted to promoting the study of history and to the professionalization of history students at the undergraduate and graduate level. Each spring, 35 regional conferences showcase the academic research and creative projects of members. Phi Alpha Theta awards over 25 scholarships and prizes annually, including undergraduate and graduate student scholarships, paper prizes, student history journal awards, and best chapter awards.

History students at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Conference on the campus of Western Washington University

Eastern Oregon University’s ALPHA-GAMMA-XI chapter is one of over 900 college and university chapters with over 350,000 student members. Membership is open to current EOU students who meet the following academic requirements:

* Have completed at least 12 credit hours in History courses

* Possess a 3.1 GPA or better in History courses

* Possess an overall GPA of 3.0 or better

* Must be ranked in the top 35% of your class

Phi Alpha Theta Membership Application

Once accepted, students are required to pay a one-time initiation fee of $50. The proceeds go to Phi Alpha Theta’s national office to fund various awards, conferences, scholarships, and the annual convention. For the initiation fee, students receive a lifetime membership in Phi Alpha Theta, a framed certificate with their name printed on it, and a one-year subscription to Phi Alpha Theta’s quarterly journal, The HistorianAt EOU, Phi Alpha Theta members participate in a host of chapter events and activities, including quarterly history seminars and gatherings, community outreach, and visiting lectures. Each spring, EOU’s ALPHA-GAMMA-XI members are encouraged to present papers at Phi Alpha Theta’s Pacific Northwest Regional Conference as well as at EOU’s Spring Symposium. 

2019 Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Conference:

This academic year’s conference, hosted by Idaho State University, will take place April 12-13 on the ISU campus in Pocatello, Idaho.  Abstracts are due February 22 and final conference papers by March 22.  Stay tuned for more information!

Call for Papers, 2019 Phi Alpha Theta Conference 

Recent Phi Alpha Theta Inductees at EOU:

2010-2011:  Meegan Anderson, Elaine Cramer, Darcy Jean Crisp, Aislinn Hooker, Dustin Keys, Ariel Mercier, Corene Porior, Jeff Ranstrom, Brook Smith

2011-2012:  HollyJo Beers, Tim McCollum, Karen Caverly, Genesee DalPorto, Olan Fulfer, Tessa Fulfer, Elizabeth Stover

2013:  Andrew Clark, Caity Ferrell, Patrick Tully

2014: Pam Shelton, Evan Hoffman

2015-2016: Erin Soderberg, Cassie Gray-Jeffries

2017-2018: Sam DeVore