The Sociology Program at SHU is a chapter member of the International Sociology Honor Society (AKD) established in 1920. Our chapter, ZETA of Connecticut, had its first initiation ritual in January 1997. Alpha Kappa Delta derives its name from the first three letters of the following Greek words:

Anthropon (humankind)
Katamanthanein (to investigate thoroughly)
Diokonesein (for the future of service)

The free formulation of these words expresses the goal and the method of the society that is: “To study humankind for the purpose of service.”

As a result, the purpose of AKD is to promote human welfare through the association of a fellowship group interested in developing scientific knowledge that may be applied to the solution of social problems.

Eligibility for initiation into the Society is determined by ZETA of Connecticut according to criteria that meet the following minimum requirements established by the society.

Eligibility

To be eligible, a student:

1. Must be officially declared Sociology major.

2. Must be at least a junior by standards of SHU.

3. Shall rank in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship. Specifically, this condition must be met: 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.
   
4. Must have maintained the equivalent of a 3.0 grade point average in Sociology courses taken at SHU prior to initiation
5. Must have completed at least four regular courses in Sociology prior to initiation (this excludes courses grades pass/fail).  

Initiation usually takes place in the Spring Semester.