Delta Chapter of North Carolina

The International Sociological Honor Society

Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is the international honor society for sociologists. It originated in the fall of 1920 in the department of sociology at the University of Southern California. Dr. Emory S. Bogardus, the department chair, proposed to the graduate students the formation of a society in which the students might become acquainted with each other's research projects and meet informally with the whole staff of the department. On November 21, 1920 fourteen of the department's faculty members and graduate students organized the first chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta for the purpose of exchange of ideas concerning sociological projects.

The name Alpha Kappa Delta was devised by Dr. Borgardus and adopted by the chapter members of the university of Southern California chapter. It represents the first letters of three Greek words:

     Anthropon — mankind
     Katamanthaneion — to investigate thoroughly or to conduct research
     Diakonesein — for the purpose of service

The name therefore implies "social research for the purpose of service."

The Sociology department at East Carolina University received national recognition in 1966 with the installation of the Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta.

How does one join AKD? A student is eligible to join if she/he has: junior or senior status, four classes in Sociology, a 3.0 overall GPA, and a 3.0 GPA in the Sociology concentration. Nomination letters are sent out to eligible students in November. A fee of $35.00 is required for membership; this includes a subscription to Sociological Inquiry, the official journal of AKD.

AKD holds an annual Undergraduate Student Paper Competition. The winner receives a cash prize, help with expenses for attending the AKD/ASA meetings, and possible publication of her/his paper in Sociological Inquiry.