About Pi Delta Phi
Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, represents the highest academic French Honor Society and the oldest academic Honor Society for a foreign language in the United States. It’s first Chapter was established in 1906 at the University of California, Berkeley. Today, it has more than 400 chapters with two representative chapters at the American Universities in Paris and Aix-en-Provence in France and have several new chapters under review. The Society was officially endorsed by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) at the time of its establishment as the only U.S. collegiate French Honor Society.
Our banner presents the Gallic rooster and three fleur-de-lis representing France’s traditional symbols. It bears the Greek letters: Pi Delta Phi with initials constituting the Greek words: Probaínomen Diakritoi Philogálatoi (Avançons, amis fidèles de la culture française; Forward, faithful friends of French).
The French Honor Society has three colors (blue, white, red) representing the colors of the French Republic. The colors symbolize the three great human concepts born in the heart of France which has exerted much influence on the world – Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
The Purpose of Pi Delta Phi
- To recognize outstanding scholarship in French language, literature and civilization among college students in America;
- To support students to be disciplined and dedicated in their French studies to achieve academic success;
- To stimulate and encourage French francophone cultural activities;
- To increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world;
- To promote strong ties between the American people and the French language.
Our Activities
During the academic year, members participate in French and francophone cultural activities (French hour, Trivial nights, La nuit blanche, French games, Film festivals, Day of the dead, French and francophone national week celebrations, le monde francophone-Que sais-je?) around French and francophone meals. Members also engage in performances including play, music, dance, and poem recitation during our initiation ceremonies. You have lots of opportunities to practice your French, learn about the French language and meet people of French-speaking countries around the world!
Membership
Membership in Pi Delta Phi doesn’t discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or disability. Every candidate only need to be at least 18 years old and meet the academic requirements stated below:
Regular membership
- For undergraduates to become a regular member, a candidate should
- be at least a sophomore (i.e. candidate has attended at least one year of college and is in at least the second year of university study)
- be a degree seeking student at the host institution
- have completed at least 1 course of upper-division French (i.e. beyond the intermediate level courses)
- have 3.0 GPA in French and overall; and rank 35% of their class or 3.3 overall GPA equivalent
- Membership is for life
- For Graduate students (including those seeking advanced degrees in other fields other than French) to become a regular member, a candidate should
- have completed 2 graduate courses in French
- have a minimum of 3.5 in graduate coursework
Honorary Membership
Honorary member of Pi Delta Phi may include:
- The French faculty who are not members of Pi Delta Phi
- Faculty at large at the sponsoring institution
- Undergraduate and graduate students who do not meet regular membership requirements
- University alumni, diplomats, community and business leaders and all who have demonstrated support for the French language, and/or of the cultures and literatures of the French-speaking world.
Membership fees
- Pay premium Lifetime Regular membership fee of $45 (includes Society’s certificate, pin and one set of cords)
- Pay premium Lifetime Honorary membership fee of $30 (includes Society’s certificate, pin and one set of cords)
- Pay Honorary Lifetime membership fee of $20 (includes Society’s certificate and pin only)
- Membership is for life regardless of chapter into which one was inducted.
Interested? Apply here. For more information please contact Dr. Antoinette Barffour at abarffour@missouristate.edu.