Pi Delta Phi
National French Honor Society
Purpose
The purpose of this Society shall be to (1) recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literature; (2) to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world; (3) to stimulate and encourage French cultural activities.
Membership
To qualify for membership in the Society, students must meet the following requirements:
- Students must have completed at least one course in French above the 202 level;
- Students must have a 3.0 GPA in French, a 3.0 GPA overall, and rank in the top 35% of their class; and
- Students must have sophomore standing.
Honorary Membership
Honorary membership may be granted to members of the French Faculty, diplomats and community leaders who have shown a strong support of French culture.
National History
Pi Delta Phi was founded as a departmental honor society at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1906. After 20 years as a local chapter, Pi Delta Phi declared itself the National French Honor Society and chartered the Beta Chapter at the University of Southern California in 1925. The Society expanded slowly during the next 15 years. Since the end of World War II, Pi Delta Phi has enjoyed phenomenal growth.
At the present time, it numbers approximately 400 chapters established at representative public and private colleges and universities in almost every state, as well as chapters in Paris and Aix-en-Provence.
The Society was admitted into membership in the Association of College Honor Societies in 1967.
The official publication of Pi Delta Phi is the Newsletter.