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Theta Alpha Kappa
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>In 1976, Professor Albert Clark founded Theta Alpha Kappa at <a href="/facts/Manhattan_College/nwW81EHp">Manhattan College</a> to recognize the academic achievements of religion and theology of undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> In February 1976, ten institutions connected with the College Theology Society adopted a constitution for Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>Later that year, the new society chartered fifteen chapters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Like its founding institution, Manhattan College, most of its early chapters were chartered at <a href="/facts/Roman_Catholic/rJ4F4gqH">Roman Catholic</a> colleges and universities. However, Theta Alpha Kappa does not have a religious affiliation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>The society was incorporated in the State of New York in 1983 and received its nonprofit status from the IRS in 1999.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> It became an association member of the <a href="/facts/Association_of_College_Honor_Societies/vFotdCk6">Association of College Honor Societies</a> in 1985 and a full member in 1986.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> It became a member society of the <a href="/facts/American_Academy_of_Religion/ymA6jsau">American Academy of Religion</a> in 1994 and an affiliate organization of the <a href="/facts/Society_of_Biblical_Literature/Uhp6a5KG">Society of Biblical Literature</a> in 2020.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>In 2012, the society had 284 active chapters, 1,313 active members, and 19,448 total initiates.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> The Manhattan College chapter serves as its national headquarters and also stores its archives.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="symbols">Symbols</h2> <p>The society's Greek letter name, ΘΑΚ, represents <i>Theos</i> (God), <i>Anthropos</i> (Person), and <i>Koinonia</i> (Society).<i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></i> Theta Alpha Kappa's colors are red and gold. </p> <h2 id="membership">Membership</h2> <p>Potential members are nominated by the chapter at their institution.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> To be eligible for membership, undergraduates must have completed twelve hours of religious studies and/or theology classes with a 3.5-grade point average.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> In addition, they must rank in the top 35 percent of their class, with an overall 3.0 GPA.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> To become a member, graduate students must have a 3.5-grade point average after completing at least half of the requirement for their degree.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="activities">Activities</h2> <p>Theta Alpha Kappa sponsors scholarship awards and fellowship competitions; including an undergraduate achievement award and a graduate fellowship award.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Its Clark Albert Award recognizes the best undergraduate and graduate papers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p><p>Theta Alpha Kappa publishes the <i>Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa</i>, which publishes student papers and offers an annual prizes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="chapters">Chapters</h2> <p class="note">Main article: List of Theta Alpha Kappa chapters</p> <p>As of 2025, Theta Alpha Kappa has chartered 369 chapters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Honor_society/MTodIu8w">Honor society</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://thetaalphakappa.org">Official Site</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"About Theta Alpha Kappa". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Policies and Procedures of the Board of Directors - History". Theta Alpha Kappa. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Policies and Procedures of the Board of Directors - History". Theta Alpha Kappa. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"About Theta Alpha Kappa". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Policies and Procedures of the Board of Directors - History". Theta Alpha Kappa. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society - Religious Studies / Theology". Association of College Honor Societies. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via web.archive.org. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"About Theta Alpha Kappa". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Policies and Procedures of the Board of Directors - History". Theta Alpha Kappa. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society - Religious Studies / Theology". Association of College Honor Societies. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via web.archive.org. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"The Constitution (or Bylaws) of Theta Alpha Kappa, ARTICLE X: Corporate Offices". Theta Alpha Kappa. 1 January 1998. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/more-about-theta-alpha-kappa/constitution-bylaws/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/more-about-theta-alpha-kappa/constitution-bylaws/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Policies and Procedures of the Board of Directors - History". Theta Alpha Kappa. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/policies-and-procedures-of-the-board-of-directors/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"About Theta Alpha Kappa". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society - Religious Studies / Theology". Association of College Honor Societies. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via web.archive.org. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society - Religious Studies / Theology". Association of College Honor Societies. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via web.archive.org. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society - Religious Studies / Theology". Association of College Honor Societies. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via web.archive.org. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120207192729/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=tak</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Undergraduate Achievement Award". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/undergraduate-award/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/undergraduate-award/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Theta Alpha Kappa Graduate Fellowship Awards". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/graduate-fellowship-competition/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/graduate-fellowship-competition/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"The Clark Award". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/clark-awards/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/clark-awards/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"About Theta Alpha Kappa". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 31 July 2023. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Chapter Directory". Theta Alpha Kappa. Retrieved 22 February 2025. <a href="https://thetaalphakappa.org/chapter-handbook-and-directory/" target="_blank">https://thetaalphakappa.org/chapter-handbook-and-directory/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>