Foreign Language Honor Society
History and Description
Phi Sigma Iota serves as the honor society for all Loyola students of modern languages
other than Spanish and French. At Loyola, the International Foreign Languages Honor
Society hosts the annual international breakfast and supports and partakes in cultural
and academic events in the department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Initiation
of new members takes place at the end of the Spring semester.
Phi Sigma Iota was founded in 1922 at Allegheny College in Meadville Pennsylvania by Dr. Henry W. Church, members of his department of languages, and advanced students who were meeting to discuss linguistic and literary matters. In 1982, the Society became the International Foreign Language Honor Society by installing its first Chapter in a foreign country at Universidad Regiomontana, Monterrey, Mexico. Today the Society maintains approximately 180 local chapters in the US and at American University in Paris, France. The Loyola "Gamma Iota" chapter was founded in 1995 by Dr. Randall Donaldson (German – Gamma) and Dr. Leslie Morgan (Italian – Iota) to represent languages not covered by the other language honor societies.
Entry Requirements
Prospective undergraduate members shall have
- completed at least one course in a foreign language at the third-year level or its equivalent (fifth semester or seventh quarter),
- advanced sophomore, or junior or senior status (minimum 45 credits),
- a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and rank in the top 35% of their class.
For more information, contact:
Prof. Paul Oorts, phoorts@loyola.edu