Membership in Alpha Kappa Delta is open to current students who are majoring or minoring in sociology or a program sociological in nature, who qualify for membership, and must attend an institution with a chartered and active chapter of AKD.
The lifetime membership fee is $50. There are no annual Society dues, but there may be local chapter dues. Please contact the chapter representative at your chapter for more information.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Undergraduate Students
- Be enrolled as a major or minor in a sociology program or a program sociological in nature
- Be at least a junior (third year) by standards of the host institution
- Rank in the top 35% of their graduating class in general scholarship.
- If class rank is not readily available to a chapter representative, in lieu of class rank, students shall have accumulated the equivalent of an overall grade point average of at least 3.3 by a four point scale where: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0
- Have maintained the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses taken at the host institution prior to initiation
- Have completed at least four courses (the equivalent of 12 semester hours) in sociology prior to initiation
Graduate Students
- Be officially admitted to graduate study in sociology at the host institution
- Completion of the equivalent of one full semester or quarter of graduate study in sociology
- Graduate GPA of a B or better
- Continue matriculation in a program of study leading toward a graduate degree in sociology at the host institution
Faculty & Professional Staff
- Formal conferral of the PhD in sociology or employment as a sociologist are required prior to initiation
NOTE: Alpha Kappa Delta chapters may not impose any type of service activity as a condition for membership in Alpha Kappa Delta. Membership eligibility is based on academic record. Alpha Kappa Delta chapters may use more stringent academic criteria for membership than those required in the Constitution & Bylaws, but they cannot use lower academic standards than those required in the Constitution & Bylaws. Hazing or social pressure to join is not sanctioned or allowed.
Do you meet those requirements?
If so, that’s great! Here are some helpful tips on the next steps of becoming a member.
- A lifetime membership is $50 and there is no obligation to renew your membership.
- You must join through your chapter. We do not accept individual memberships from students.
- Contact your chapter representative to check when they will be sending out an announcement to join AKD.
- If you think your chapter may not send out official announcements about membership, fill out our generic membership application and give it to your chapter representative to let them know you are interested in joining.
Please note: Make sure the chapter representative approves your membership before handing over any money.
- If you think your chapter may not send out official announcements about membership, fill out our generic membership application and give it to your chapter representative to let them know you are interested in joining.
- When will you become an official member? You are officially a member of Alpha Kappa Delta when our Executive Office receives your membership payment and required forms from the chapter. The Executive Office puts you in the system as a member and will order you a membership certificate (certificates are sent to your chapter representative and take about 2-4 weeks to arrive from the time we receive the order).
- What about an official induction ceremony? Most chapters have some kind of induction ceremony; however, each chapter is different and AKD does not require an induction ceremony be held in order for students to be official members.