Alpha Phi Sigma

A Brief History of Alpha Phi Sigma

January 1942, Dr. V.A Leonard met with seventeen students at Washington State University to establish an honor society that recognized outstanding academic achievement in police science. They named the honor society Alpha Phi Sigma.

During its initial years, Alpha Phi Sigma experienced limited growth, with fourteen chapters being established in the United States. But, on March 24, 1976, the Executive Board of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences voted unanimously to designate Alpha Phi Sigma as the National Criminal Justice Honor Society at its national meeting which took place that year in Dallas, Texas. Since then, Alpha Phi Sigma has continued to grow and prosper at a very rapid rate. There are currently over two hundred chapters of the honor society.

Reasons to Join Alpha Phi Sigma

  •  Meet students, professors, researchers, and practitioners with similar interests
  •  Network with criminal justice professionals
  •  Experience professional camaraderie
  •  Enjoy exciting social events
  •  Enhance classroom learning with field trips to correctional facilities, courthouses, and historic crime scenes
  •  Improve your resume with a lifetime membership in the National Criminal Justice Honor Society
  •  Enhance your leadership skills by serving in an executive officer and/or board member position
  •  Be recognized at graduation with special honors regalia

Becoming a Member

Student membership is available to full-time or part-time students enrolled in a baccalaureate program at CSULB who have officially declared a major or a minor in Criminology & Criminal Justice. Student membership is also available to graduate students obtaining a master's degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice at CSULB.

Undergraduates must have:

  • completed at least 12 units (four 3-unit courses) in criminology and criminal justice while in residence at CSULB;
  • a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3; and
  • a minimum GPA of 3.3 in all criminology and criminal justice coursework.

Graduate students must have:

  • completed at least 12 graduate units (four 3-unit courses numbered 501 and higher) while in residence at CSULB; and
  • a minimum GPA of 3.4 in both overall graduate coursework and in all criminology and criminal justice courses.

Requirements for a provisional member to become a full member: 

All provisional members, both undergraduate and graduate, must:

  • maintain the minimum GPA requirements;
  • pay, a one-time membership application fee of $80;
  • attend/participate in:
    • at least one social function;
    • at least one fundraising activity;
    • at least two APS sponsored events (e.g., meetings, field trips, speakers, symposia, national conferences; etc.)

Upon graduation, full members become lifetime members and receive:

  • an official membership certificate
  • an official membership pin
  • graduation honors regalia
  • recognition plaques (for Executive Officers and Board members only)

To Apply

  • Complete an Application for Membership(PDF)
  • Electronically submit a completed application, an unofficial transcript, in pdf format, and the $85 membership application fee to Dr. Skyler Morgan in ET-240  
  • Submit the application, unofficial transcript, and fee prior to the deadline.

Contact Information