Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta is the national English honor society, open to undergraduate and graduate students of English as well as English faculty. Its goal is to encourage and promote the study of literature through the mutual exchange of ideas in addition to supplementing work received in the classroom.

To be eligible to join, students must have completed three units of English coursework above the 100-level with at least a B average in the major and a 3.3 GPA overall. Graduate students and English faculty members enjoy all the regular privileges of the honor society, except the power to vote in officer elections or to hold office in the honorary.

Undergraduate students who meet the membership qualifications are extended an invitation to join the society. Dues of $37 cover lifetime membership in Sigma Tau Delta.

Members of Sigma Tau Delta can submit both creative writing for publication in the Rectangle and literary analysis for publication in The Sigma Tau Delta Review.

National Membership Benefits:

  • Members may engage in national networking of English majors and submit papers for presentation at the international convention that is held every spring.
  • Members can submit both creative writing and papers analyzing literature for publication in The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review.
  • Members meet one of the U.S. Civil Service Commission requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in numerous professional and technical occupations in the Federal Service. Students who would have entered civil service at the GS-5 level move up considerably on the salary scale—up to $5000 or more per year—because of their membership in Sigma Tau Delta.
  • Members can apply for internships through the Washington Internship Institute (WII), a premier internship program in Washington, DC. WII and the Association of College Honor Societies offer $500 scholarships to all Sigma Tau Delta members who participate in WII's program. Internships are available in all majors. Scholarships may be applied to either tuition or housing.
  • Members are eligible to apply for a merit-based $ 1,000 scholarship to attend The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer Institute or Capital Semester. This scholarship is available to one Sigma Tau Delta member through a partnership with the Association of College Honor Societies and TFAS.
  • Members are eligible for scholarships to help cover housing expenses in the internship program at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) through a partnership with the Association of College Honor Societies. TWC is pleased to provide three $1,000 scholarships a year to Sigma Tau Delta members (both undergraduates and recent college graduates).
  • Female members can take advantage of a complimentary membership to Women for Hire ($38 value), which offers advice, solutions, networking, tools, tips, and other career resources and guidance. Visit Women For Hire for full membership details.

A benefit particular to this chapter of Sigma Tau Delta is the presentation of Sigma Tau Delta medallions to members who are graduating seniors. The medallions are awarded at an English department ceremony, and then worn on seniors’ robes at graduation

Local Membership Benefits:

  • Meeting with English faculty job candidates to present a student’s perspective
  • Conducting “bagel breaks” once a semester, usually just before exam time
  • Sponsoring a Study Lounge (Ryland 401) which may be used by all English majors and minors, except for the few hours when classes are occasionally scheduled there
  • Assisting in community service projects
  • Sponsoring a year-end spring picnic for all English majors, minors, and faculty