Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society in Philosophy. Founded in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1955, the Society now has a network of over 200 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, at both public and private institutions of higher learning. The purpose of Phi Sigma Tau is to encourage interest and activity among students and to promote ties between philosophy departments in accredited institutions. Phi Sigma Tau publishes a journal, Dialogue, for student contributions in all areas of contemporary philosophical research. Other PST publications include the PST Newsletter (published three times yearly) and the National Alumni Chapter Bulletin. The PST Newsletter is sent to all students and alumni/ae members and contains news of local chapter activities. The National Alumni Chapter (NAC) provides a medium of exchange and communication for onetime PST members who desire to retain their affiliation with the Society following graduation.
What Is an Honor Society?
The nearly seventy honor societies which make up the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) are as divergent as knowledge itself. From forestry to physics, from highly specialized to general areas, these member organizations exist for one basic purpose — to further scholarship and achievement in the academic areas of their members, thereby providing a forum where interested and competent students may communicate and exchange ideas with faculty and students of similar interest on their own campus and throughout the world.
Membership
Advantages
Phi Sigma Tau, like any honor society, provides not just recognition of academic excellence but also a means for furthering scholarship and academic communications. Achievement, like mediocrity, is its own reward. Phi Sigma Tau is not an investment with guaranteed returns. The real key to success is in the hands of the individual faculty advisors, student officers, and chapter members. College honor societies are not social clubs or keys to instant success — they are groups of people who share a commonality of interests, anxious to further and support scholarship, interest, ethics, and professional standards in their own areas.
Because Phi Sigma Tau is part of the Association of College Honors Societies. Through membership, students are eligible for scholarships.
Federal Benefits of Membership in an ACHS Member Honor Society: One tangible benefit of belonging to an ACHS-certified honor society is the potential for increased pay for federal jobs. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management states that "Membership in a national honor society meets one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in numerous professional and technical occupations in the Federal service." See Superior Academic Achievement at OPM.gov Policies (or search that page for Association of College Honor Societies).
Scholarships for Programs & Internships: Members of ACHS-certified honor societies are also eligible to receive scholarships for programs and internships provided by our partners. These valuable opportunities include:
- The Fund for American Studies - one inducted student member of each of the ACHS societies will be awarded a merit-based $1000 scholarship for a TFAS Summer Institute or Capital Semester.
- The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars– awards a $1,000 housing scholarships to selected students who are members of ACHS honor societies.
- The Osgood Center - offers a $500 scholarship to be applied to the cost of its internship program in Washington, D.C. This scholarship is automatically awarded to any student who is a member of an ACHS member society.
- The PhD Project – encourages ACHS member society students to participate in an expansive network of support that helps African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native Americans attain their business Ph.D., become business school professors and serve as role models to attract the next generation of minority business leaders.
- United Planet – offers one merit-based scholarship for an inducted student member of each chapter within every ACHS member society per calendar year, in the amount of $500 scholarship for any United Planet international program in one of over 35 countries. United Planet also awards five merit-based scholarships for alumni in every ACHS society per calendar year in the amount of $500 for any United Planet international program in one of over 35 countries, and offers preferred program fees and support for chapter, society-wide, and alumni groups.
How to Apply to United Planet ACHS students are eligible to apply for a scholarship through our partnership with United Planet. This scholarship helps fund a Volunteer Quest—an immersive experience that includes a volunteer project, cultural activities, and language lessons, all designed to foster meaningful connections and positive impact within local communities. After submitting an application, students will receive a link to schedule a Zoom call. Please note that completing this step is required for the application to proceed. Program fees are the responsibility of the volunteer and vary by destination and duration. Full details on costs and inclusions can be found under “Quest Fees and Details” on each country page, or in the Program Fees Overview. Apply here: United Planet – ACHS Scholarship Application.
Contact ACHS to discuss additional partnership opportunities
Phi Sigma Tau can also provide recognition for past accomplishments in philosophy, a continuation of members' philosophical education following graduation, and even perhaps assistance or information in making subsequent career choices.
Fees & Requirements
Membership requirements include having an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and a GPA of 3.7 or higher in the Philosophy Major. Students must be entering their second year in the philosophy undergraduate program. Initiation into PST requires a one-time initiation fee (currently $30.00) for the International Office. Local chapters may also assess dues to meet their own campus operating expenses and frequently receive additional funding from the philosophy department or their local office of student activities. The PST initiation fee is currently the lowest among all ACHS member societies. Please contact Ms. Mercedes Diaz, Senior Graduate Program Coordinator and advisor to NJ Theta chapter of Phi Sigma Tau.
Officers
Phi Sigma Tau, NJ Theta Chapter 2025-2026 Officers:
President: Iris Park
Vice-President: Gage Braddock
Treasurer: Ted Jin
Secretary: Kaelyn Twaskas
Meetings
Twice a month on Wednesdays 7:00 PM in Scott Hall room 103 on College Ave (unless specified otherwise). To join our reading group conversation on Groupme, please contact
getINVOLVED link: https://rutgers.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/pst
For more information contact our listserv: