Honor Societies

Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA)

Students who are eligible for admittance to this National Political Science Honor Society will be notified once they meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least 60 overall credits
  • Completion of at least 10 credits of GVPT course work
  • Completion of at least one upper-level (300-400) GVPT class
  • Overall GPA of 3.4 or greater
  • GPA in GVPT of 3.5 or greater

Invitations to apply for admission are sent out at the beginning of each semester. 

Phi Beta Kappa (PBK)

Election to the oldest and most widely respected academic honorary society in the country is based entirely on outstanding scholastic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Interested students should visit http://www.ugst.umd.edu/pbk.html.

Student Conferences

Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA)

The United States Military Academy at West Point hosts SCUSA every fall.  It is the oldest and largest conference of its type and is attended by approximately 200 undergraduate students from over 125 colleges and universities worldwide.  The experiences of  SCUSA inspire many delegates to pursue a career in public service.  Equally important, the four-day conference provides a foundation for strong civil-military relationships among future leaders in the military and public policy.

GVPT usually selects 1 or 2 students to represent UMD at this conference each year. Eligible students will receive an invitation to apply at the beginning of the fall semester. 

Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC)

NAFAC is one of the U.S.' leading foreign affairs conferences for undergraduate students to discuss pressing global issues and gives attendees the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts each spring in Annapolis. Over one hundred universities are represented at this conference, along with military delegates from the United States and other nations. 

GVPT usually selects 1 or 2 students to represent UMD at this conference each year. Eligible students will receive an invitation to apply at the beginning of the spring semester.