General Information
 

WHAT IS ALPHA PHI SIGMA?

Alpha Phi Sigma is the nationally recognized honor society for students in the field of criminal justice science. The society recognizes academic excellence by undergraduate and graduate students of criminal justice as well as students in the juris docturate field.

Membership Requirements:

Undergraduate: students must have a declared major, minor or equivalent in criminal justice field; have completed three full time semesters or equivalent; must maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA on a scale of 4.0 and a 3.2 GPA in their criminal justice courses. The student must also have completed a minimum of 4 courses within the criminal justice field.
Graduate: students must be enrolled in a masters or Ph.D. program in the criminal justice field; have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate work, or equivalent; have a 3.4 GPA or higher, on a scale of 4.0.
Juris Docturate: students enrolled in law school, having completed one academic year, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, on a scale of 4.0

WHAT DOES ALPHA PHI SIGMA HAVE TO OFFER?

The first thought most of us have when we hear "Honor Society" is that it would be a great resume builder. Although this is true, APS has much more to offer to its members. APS offers leadership and group organizational experience to those students interested in doing a little more. Each local chapter contains four elected officer positions ( President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer). The national Officers are elected annually at the National Convention. These positions are open to nomination of active members. The National Conference can be a valuable experience in its own right. There you will get to meet with fellow APS members from across the nation. Since APS holds its National Conference in conjunction with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Meeting, there is also the opportunity to meet professionals in the field. Valuable information can be gained from the many lectures given, as well as possible graduate programs of interest. There is also a chance to make valuable contacts, which may prove to be beneficial in the future.

Members receive a membership certificate, membership pin and membership wallet card once admitted into the National Society. Members are entitled to receive the bi-annual newsletter, THE DOCKET, which contains information on the National Organization and the Criminal Justice field.

WHAT ELSE DOES ALPHA PHI SIGMA HAVE TO OFFER?

APS sponsors an Annual Call for Papers competition in which students present papers pertaining to the criminal justice field. These papers are judged and awards are presented at the National Conference. Monetary prizes are awarded to the best undergraduate and graduate papers.

The V.A. Leonard Scholarship Fund provides eligible students with the opportunity of receiving financial assistance of $1000.

For members interested in a career in Federal Law Enforcement, APS can provide an unrivated experience. APS is guaranteed positions for internships at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.

HISTORY

In September, 1941, Dr. Vivian Anderson Leonard was asked by the President of Washington State University if he would accept the directorship of a Police Science Academic Program at Washington State. Dr. Leonard accepted the offer and became responsible for developing a four-year curriculum, which would lead to a Bachelor's Degree in Police Administration.

Upon his arrival at Washington State, Dr. Leonard began to realize how important it was that a Police Science Honorary be established. The purpose of this honorary would be to promote excellence in scholarship and performance. In January 1942, Dr. Leonard met with seventeen Police Science majors at Washington State and Alpha Phi Sigma was established. Glenn Hill was elected as the first president and appointed a committee to draft the first Constitution and By-laws.

During its initial years Alpha Phi Sigma experienced only limited growth, but on March 24, 1976 in Dallas, Texas, the Executive Board of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences voted unanimously to designate Alpha Phi Sigma as the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. At this time, Alpha Phi Sigma had only fourteen chapters. However, since then, Alpha Phi Sigma has continued to grow and prosper at a very rapid rate and there are now over two hundred and fifty Chapters. Since 1978, Alpha Phi Sigma has held its national conference in conjunction with the annual ACJS meeting. The Academy's continued support of Alpha Phi Sigma serves to enhance Alpha Phi sigma's purpose - the recognition of scholarly achievement in the field criminal justice.

A group of college and university teachers, administrators, and representatives of a few well-established honor societies organized the Association of College Honor Societies October 2, 1925. Its object was then, and is now, to consider problems of mutual interest such as those arising from the confusion prevailing on college campuses concerning the character, function, standards of membership, multiplicity, and undesirable duplication of honor societies; to recommend action leading to appropriate classification or elimination; and to promote the highest interest of honor societies. Alpha Phi Sigma was granted membership by the association of College Honor Societies in 1980.