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Department of Sociology

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Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society

Alpha Kappa Delta

Background


Alpha Kappa Delta was began in 1920 at the University of Southern California by Dr. Emory S. Bogardus as a society in which students might become more acquainted with each others' research. Membership in the group was limited to students having high scholarship and to those doing research work. In 1924 at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association Dr. Bogardus met with faculty representatives from several other universities and together they established the United Chapters of Alpha Kappa Delta. Over the years the Society has expanded considerably. During eight decades over 79,000 scholars have been initiated into the Society. There are 463 chapters in 49 states and six foreign countries.

Purpose

It shall be the purpose of this Society to promote excellence in scholarship in the study of Sociology, research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition. (AKD Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 2)

Alpha Kappa Delta derives its name from the first letters of the Greek words, "anthropon" (mankind), "katamanthanein" (to investigate thoroughly), and "diakonesein" (for the purpose of service). When this phrase is translated freely, it expresses both the goal and method of Alpha Kappa Delta; "To study humans for the purpose of service." In the final analysis, the purpose of all science is to improve humans' adjustments to our physical, biological, and cultural environments. The purpose of Alpha Kappa Delta is to promote human welfare through the association of a fellowship group interested in developing scientific knowledge that may be applied to the solution of social problems.

The requirements for election into AKD are as follows:

  • you must be at least a junior (third year) student;
  • you must be an officially declared sociology major or demonstrate a serious interest in sociology;
  • you must be in the upper 35% of your class in scholarship;
  • you must have a general scholastic average of at least 3.0 in sociology courses;
  • you must have completed at least four regular (at least three-credit) sociology courses prior to initiation (excluding courses graded as pass/fail)

Applications for AKD are solicited from majors and minors in March of every year. There is a one-time initiation fee of $40, which also covers the cost of a one year subscription to Sociological Inquiry, the official journal of AKD. New inductees are honored at a dinner hosted by the Sociology Department in late April.


If you are interested in applying for AKD please fill out the application form found on line by clicking HERE.

Bring the completed form and a check made out to Alpha Kappa Delta for $40 to Hanadi Salih, 597 ICC by Wednesday March 27 2009. To learn more about AKD click HERE.


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