Theta Alpha Kappa

National Honor Society for Religious Studies/Theology

Theta Alpha Kappa is a national honor society for professors and students of Religious Studies/Theology. It was conceived as a college-university learned society at Manhattan College, New York City during the academic year 1976-77. Its prime purpose is to further the study of Religious Studies and Theology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its title embraces the three areas of primary concern to students of Religion: God, Humanity, Community. It has more than one hundred fifty chapters at colleges and universities nationwide.

Ohio Wesleyan University first received chapter affiliation in 1992. To date we have inducted six faculty and sixty-seven student members. R. Blake Michael is the Ohio Wesleyan University Chapter Advisor.

Membership Requirements: Article 111, Section I of the Constitution of 1998 spells out both the types of membership and the requirements each must meet. These requirements are, as that document states, minimum requirements; chapters may, at their own discretion, establish additional or higher requirements. In terms of the two basic types listed above, these requirements include the following:

1. Undergraduate students have a) completed at least three semesters (or five quarters) at an institution having a local chapter in good standing, b) completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester credits (or eighteen quarter credits) in courses representing Religious Studies or Theological Studies, c) attained a grade point average of at least 3.5 (B+) in such courses, d) attained at least a 3.0 grade point average (or B) in their total academic program to date, and e) been ranked in at least the upper 35% of their class in general scholarship at the time of induction.
2. Graduate/Professional students must a) be matriculated in programs of Religious or Theological Studies, b) have completed at least one half of the residency requirements of their current degree program at an institution with a local chapter of TAK, and e) have attained at least a 3.5 (or B+) grade point average in their course work to date.
3. Honorary inductees/member include a) those holding faculty rank for at least one semester (two quarters) in these disciplines at an institution with a local chapter, and b) other individuals who, at the discretion of the local chapter, are deemed to have established a record of excellence in their own right, and shown consistent support and encouragement of these academic disciplines.