Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society
Lambda Alpha is the National Anthropology Honor Society which both acknowledges and rewards academic excellence in anthropology. We support scholarship and research by acknowledging and honoring superior achievement in the discipline among students engaged in the study of anthropology.
Superior academic performance is recognized through membership in the society. Our members hold their membership for life and are inducted in their junior or senior year of study.
The Lambda Alpha national organization rewards academic excellence through student scholarships, research grants, and student paper prizes.
General Membership Policy
To become a member in Lambda Alpha, an anthropology major or minor joins our chapter after being invited to join by the faculty. The requirements are as follows:
- B average or 3.0 GPA in anthropology.
- No less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA for ALL coursework.
- Students will be considered based on their record in their junior or senior year.
- Undergraduate students pursuing a major in anthropology must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of coursework in anthropology.
Exceptional students who are not majors, but have a minor in one of the following disciplines may be considered by the discretion of the Lambda Alpha sponsor (Dr. Justin Lowry): archaeology minor, biological anthropology minor or cultural anthropology minor. This includes a minimum GPA of 3.5 and a minimum of 12 anthropology credits.
Membership Application
A complete membership application consists of submitting a printed copy of your application form to your chapter faculty sponsor upon invitation to join the honor society. Once we receive all of the applications to join, the application information is then sent to the national office and recorded in the chapter records at the Lambda Alpha national office.
The Lambda Alpha national office confirms your membership with a certificate.
Induction Ceremony
All new members may participate in an induction ceremony during a special event in May of finals week (date to be announced) each year. During the event, you will receive membership certificates, an official welcome letter and a stole to wear at graduation. The students who receive a stole will be responsible for paying for half of the stole which is $12.
Awards & Grants
Several undergraduate scholarships and six graduate student research grants are awarded. The number of awards offered is dependent upon available funding and the applicant pool. All new members must be inducted into their chapter by the application deadline of March 1. The chapter faculty sponsor nominates one student applicant per award for these awards. All chapters across the country submit nominees.