Theta Alpha Kappa is the National Honor Society for Religious and/or Theological Studies.  Since 1984 it has been a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, and since 1994 it has been a "related scholarly organization" of the American Academy of Religion.  With local chapters on over 130 college and university campuses, TAK is dedicated to honoring and encouraging excellence in academic scholarship related to the fields of religion and theology.  The Greek letters theta, alpha and kappa reflect the founding institutions' understanding that theos (god), anthropos (human), and koinonia (community) are the focal points of the study of religion and theology.  The Philosophy and Religion Department of the College of Arts and Letters at James Madison University is a charter founding chapter that  first inducted a group of student members in 1977.  Since the founding of TAK in New York in 1976, over 5,000 student, faculty, and honorary members have been inducted.  TAK publishes the Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa; it also administers both the National Dean's List award for an outstanding student of religion and the Albert Clark prize for the best undergraduate and graduate paper submitted to the Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa.

Students who achieve an outstanding level of scholarship in Religious Studies/Theology and in James Madison university's College of Arts and Letters liberal arts curriculum, are eligible for membership in TAK.  The specific criteria for membership in the James Madison University  chapter are:

> completion of at least 3 semesters at James Madison University
> completion of at least 12 credits (i.e., 4 courses) in Religion/Theology
> a GPA of at least 3.5 in Religion/Theology
> an overall GPA of at least 3.0
> standing in the upper 35% of one's class.

If a student meets the criteria for membership in TAK, he or she will receive a letter of invitation to join the society.  Upon payment of a $25 initiation fee, membership in TAK is conferred for life.  After the first year of membership, a student may choose to maintain active membership for an additional fee of $20 per year.  Active membership includes a subscription to the semi-annual Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa.  Membership in TAK is a concrete demonstration of one's academic achievements.  At graduation TAK members wear a scarlet honor cord that signifies their high level of achievement.  Prospective employers and graduate schools also recognize the excellence of mind and discipline of life necessary to attain this honor.

Five James Madison University students were inducted into TAK in April, 2004.  The next induction ceremony is planned for Spring 2005.
 

James Madison University

Theta Alpha Kappa

Membership List

Faculty:

 Callahan, Dr. William   

DeMartino, Dr. Barbara Ann   

Omeara, Dr. William

Rubenstein, Dr. Richard L.

Stanton, Dr. Thomas

Wiles, Dr. Anne (1979)

Wiherill, Thomas (1990)

Thomas, Dr. William (1980)

Swezey, Dr. Charles (1984)

Scharlemann, Professor Robert B. (1988)

Maclean, Dr. Iain (1998)

 Kirk, Dr. Allen (2003)

Mittal, Dr. Sushil (2005)

Students:

Year                             Name

1977                            Huffman, Patty

                                    Liverman, Roderic

1978                            Bowers, Gail

                                    Thomas, Anthony

                                    Thomas, Jack

1979                            Fitzgerald, Michael

                                    Koziar, Joseph

                                    Leslie, John

                                    McNanaway, Tara

                                    Moore, Joseph

                                    Ore, Addison

                                    Sless, Stephen

                                    Talley, Kathryn

                                    Tate, John

1980                            DesLattes, Marie E.

                                    Richmond, Steven

                                    Sweigart, Dr. John

                                    Worman, David

1981                            Mowbray, Neil

1982                            Flory, Robert

1983                            Anderson, Mark

                                    Clingenpeel, Mark

                                    Geary, James

                                    Nash, Carole

1984                            Leidenheimer, Robert  

                                    McFarland, Dona

                                    Sasser, Rebecca          

1985                            Bennett, Charles N.

                                    Webster, Jonathan

                                    Wolitz, Thea

1986                            Johnson, Robert

                                    White, Steven

                                    Whiteley, Mrs. Nancy S.

1987                            Brady, Sheila M.

                                    Emerson, Darryl

                                    Shanklin, Kathleen D.

                                    Wilson, D’Linda

1988                            Bowman, Ed

                                    Broadway, Jr., Jack H.

                                    Epstein, Justin

                                    Kuich, Kevin

                                    Lowe, Stephen

                                    Martin, Susan.

                                    Stier, Jonathan

                                    Walker, Terrance

                                    Wells, Linette

                                    Sheelock, Wade T.

1989                            Perkins, Sundee M.

                                    Wiedermann, Bonnie L.

1990                            Binhammer, Lisa

                                    Williams, Melynda

                                    Witherell, Thomas

1991                            Bosco, David

                                    Conrow, Gregory

                                    Daniels, Amber

                                    Finnegan-Goff, Christine

                                    Hylton, David

                                    Irmen, Gretchen

                                    Moe, Rochelle

1992                            Czyszczon, Greg

                                    Hockmuch, James

                                    Poliquin, Melissa

                                    Smith, Robbie

                                    Willingham, David

1993                            Blanchard, Melissa

                                    Geremia, Daren

                                    Jones, Jeffrey M.

                                    Spannaus, Andrew B.

1994                            Bigelow, Amanda M.

                                    Cobb, Tracy Lee

                                    Hwang, Gloria 

                                    Papadakis, Anthony C.

                                    Sanders, Alyce L.

1995                            Denmark, Kimberly L.

                                    Densmore, Shawna Lynn

                                    Goeller, Jr., Craig J.

                                    Johnson, Timothy A.

                                    Kidd, Dustin M.

                                    Lam, Derek

                                    Payne, Annabelle M.

                                    Sprissler, Ethan

                                    Stehl, Amy D.

1996                                                        Alonge, Aaron T.

Lacy, Carolyn E.

Lapp, David R.

Laughland, Nell-Marie

Pagoda, Tonya

Shaw, Nathan C.                                                                                 

1997                                Alexis, Kosta E.

                                    Purvis, Victoria B.

                                    Vogel, Jeff A.

1998                                Boseman, Mary Bren

                                    Johnson, Angela Lynn

                                    McCord, Valier Ileen

                                    Thistlethwaite, Andrew L.

1999                                Dean, Bobbie Jo

      Farmer, Thomas Aaron

      Phillips, Ann Marie      

2000                            Deavours, Jason Bray  

Dettmann, Amanda C.

                                    Frampton, Ellen C.

                                    Frost, Timothy A.

                                    Montgomery, Anna B.

                                    Paynter, Joanna M.

                                    Silverman, Matthew S.

                                    Tilley, Elizabeth P.

                                    Zorn, Andrew S.

2001                                Black, Stacy Lea

                              Graham, Lauren E.

                              Gray, April M.

                              Hamrin, Kira Ruth

                              Walker, Adé Kamaal 

2002                            Daniel, IV, John Spencer

                                    Nickels, Laura Elizabeth

2003                            Cotter, Kevin

                                    Harris, Shelley

                                    Maske, Paula Jo

                                    O’Connor, Brendan

                                    Starnes, Lisa

                                    VanLear, Katie

2004                                Boyette, Nathan Andrew

                                    Highfill, Catherine Owen

                                    Teweles, Daniel John   

                                    Westbrook, Ryan David 

 2005                           Abrami, Lauren

                                   Ardiente, Maggie

                                    Cox, Joy Amber

                                    Hines, Jessica

                                     Radek, Caitlin

2006

                                     Edwards, Natalie

                                     Fridley, Joseph

                                      Hartin, Tim

                                       Jacoby, Anne

                                       Jaworski, Erin

                                       Miller, Margaret

                                        Williams, Sarah

2007

                                     Boggess, John

                                    Boyce, Alexander

                                     Brooks, Shane

                                     Brittany, Harvey        

                                     Helmick, Janette

                                     Paul, Sydney 

                                     Ward, Emily

The Philosophy and Religion Department within the College of Arts and Letters at James Madison University encourages excellence in a number of ways.  The department offers a rigorous course of study appropriate for students who are interested in attending seminary or wish to pursue the academic study of religion at the graduate level.  The religion faculty  offer numerous courses covering the major elements of the world religions as well as specifically theological courses. Each year the outstanding student in religion for that graduating class is recognized and presented an award. The religion faculty also administer scholarship funds to encourage and assist students in attaining excellence in the field of religion. 

Over 130 college and university campuses in the United States have TAK chapters. A complete listing appears in the 1998 Theta Alpha Kappa Chapter Handbook.  Below are a sampling of the colleges with chapters:

For more information about TAK at James Madison University, contact Dr. Iain S. Maclean.  For information about forming a new chapter on your campus, contact Patricia A. Plovanich, Vice President of TAK, Department of Religious Studies, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110.