History Club & Phi Alpha Theta

Meeting & Contact Information

In Fall 2026, weekly meetings of the History Club will be held in DMH 135 on Wednesdays from 4:30PM to 5:30PM. Meeting details are subject to change.

Explore the SJSU History Club & Phi Alpha Theta Linktree for membership applications, social media, and more! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at sjsuphialphatheta@gmail.com or contact our faculty advisor, Dr. Gregory Tomlinson, at gregory.tomlinson@sjsu.edu.

Background & Mission Statement

Founded by Nels Andrew N. Cleven in 1921 at the University of Arkansas, the National History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta (ΦΑΘ, PAT), is a society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. PAT seeks to bring students and teachers together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by its members in a variety of ways.

Since its founding, PAT has grown to more than nine hundred chapters in all fifty states. It has the distinction of having more chapters than any other accredited four-year college honor society, holding one of the earliest memberships in the Association of College Honor Societies. More than 500,000 members have been initiated since the society's inception.

The Beta-Lambda Chapter was founded at San José State University in 1948 and has initiated hundreds of members. The chapter also inspired the creation of SJSU's History Club, originally known as History Associates. What is ostensibly two organizations in fact operates as one, providing a space for all students interested in history. It is our goal to help SJSU's history community thrive by offering professional, academic, and social support.

Requirements for Membership

The History Club has no requirements for membership beyond being a currently matriculated SJSU student, nor does the club levy any membership fees. Read on for membership requirements for the Beta-Lambda Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta.

Undergraduate student applicants must have completed at least twelve semester hours in history and must have a minimum 3.1 GPA in history, as well as a minimum 3.0 GPA overall. Undergraduates do not have to be history majors to qualify for membership.

Graduate history student applicants must have completed at least twelve semester hours towards their Master's degree and approximately 30% of their program requirements. They must have a GPA better than 3.5 in their program.

History faculty applicants are eligible for membership if they teach history courses and are ranked above "Instructor."

Beta-Lambda Chapter encourages all qualified students and faculty to apply for membership in Phi Alpha Theta. Applications are available in the History Department office (DMH 134) or online here. Initiations are held every Spring. The annual deadline for applications is the first Saturday in March. Applications received after the March deadline will be considered for the following Spring's initiation.

Benefits of Membership

Beyond celebrating their academic accomplishments as an initiate of Beta-Lambda Chapter and receiving a certificate, members can benefit from: 

• Putting society membership on their resumes and graduate school applications
• Exclusive graduation sashes, cords, pins, and other merchandise
• A one-year subscription to the society's digital journal The Historian
• The opportunity to win paper awards at regional and national conferences
• The opportunity to win society scholarships, prizes, and awards

For up-to-date information on membership and benefits, please see the national honor society's website. Their Prizes & Awards page provides details regarding eligibility, the application process, and deadlines for specific awards. 

Spring 2026 Phi Alpha Theta Officers

This semester's weekly meetings will be held in DMH 135 on Tuesdays from 4:30PM to 5:30PM. Meeting details are subject to change. 

Explore the SJSU History Club & Phi Alpha Theta Linktree for membership applications, social media, and more! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at sjsuphialphatheta@gmail.com or contact our faculty advisor, Gregory Tomlinson, at gregory.tomlinson@sjsu.edu.