The Political Science Honor Society at UA Little Rock, Iota Mu, was established during the 1978-79 academic year. In Fall 2015, Iota Mu launched the Political Science Club, which is open to all UA Little Rock students interested in politics, regardless of major, GPA, or year in school. The club’s purpose is not partisan; it seeks to promote student-driven analysis of and engagement in political behavior.
Political Science Club
The Political Science Club is open to all UA Little Rock students interested in politics, regardless of major, GPA, or year in school. Club members are affiliate members in Iota Mu with full voting rights and equal opportunity to take on leadership roles in the Club. The Club’s purpose is not partisan; it seeks to promote student-driven analysis of and engagement in political behavior.
Benefits of Club membership include:
- Organizing and participating in events related to politics, including speakers, debates, panels, film screenings, charitable activities, community events, and social outings;
- Gaining leadership experience by serving as an officer for the club. Positions include president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and program chair; and
- The opportunity to meet political leaders and other students who share your interest in politics.
Students may join at any time. To be eligible for a leadership position, students should join by October 1.
Honor Society
About Pi Sigma Alpha and our Iota Mu Chapter
Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States. There are now over 680 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters located on college and university campuses in every state of the United States and in Guam.
The UA Little Rock Iota Mu chapter was chartered in 1978-79, the third chapter chartered in Arkansas. At that time, there were only 275 chapters. Iota Mu has received several Best Chapter Awards for universities with enrollments of 6,000-15,000 students. These awards recognized the Iota Mu chapter’s high level of energy and creativity in furthering the goals of the honor society.
Eligibility
Membership in the honor society is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students currently enrolled in institutions where chapters are located.
Undergraduates must meet the following criteria for membership:
- They must have completed at least 15 hours of political science courses with a 3.25 average or above, including at least one upper level class.
- Eligible students also must maintain a 3.00 average overall with at least 60 hours completed.
- They need NOT to be political science majors to qualify for membership.
- Pay one-time dues for lifetime membership.
The application form can be found here. The deadline for honor society applications in the fall semester is October 1 and March 1 in the spring semester.
Pi Sigma Alpha membership benefits include:
- Recognition of academic excellence
- National Student Conference
- Scholarships for graduate study
- Best paper awards
- Annual chapter activity grants
- A distinctive commencement medallion for newly initiated members
- A distinguished certificate of membership
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm has served as the faculty advisor to Iota Mu since 2014. The advisor is the link between the national Pi Sigma Alpha organization and the student members, and between the chapter and UA Little Rock.
Previously, Dr. Art English served as faculty advisor of the chapter from its inception through 2013. Dr. English was key to the success of Iota Mu and his leadership brought benefits to the many student members over the years.
