Academic Organizations
Education is a bridge to professional life. To promote the spirit of community among majors and to bring together students and professional men and women in a student’s chosen field, many departments have associations and societies to further extracurricular activities. They also provide speakers, films, and field trips that are of interest to the entire University community.
Chemistry Club
The Franciscan Chemistry Club seeks: to afford an opportunity for students members to become better acquainted with each other and the chemistry community at large; to secure the intellectual stimulation that arises from professional association; to obtain experience in preparing and presenting technical material before chemical audiences; to foster a professional spirit among the members; to instill a professional pride in the chemical sciences; to foster an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges of the modern chemist.
Chiron Society
The Chiron Society was founded to provide opportunities for education majors to participate in professional development activities, such as attending conferences, arranging for speakers or authors to visit campus, and to participate in community service activities.
Christian Students in Free Enterprise (CSFE)
A not-for-profit community organization whose mission is to engage and inspire students and communities with entrepreneurial activities that unite the principles of Christianity and the free enterprise system for the advancement of society through innovation, education, and the promotion of the human person by taking Christ into the marketplace.
Christopher Dawson Society
The Dawson Society associated with the Humanities and Catholic Culture major. The aim of the society is to provide out-of-class fellowship by holding lectures, including the annual Christopher Dawson Lecture, arranging energizing discussion groups, and organizing cultural trips to metropolitan areas such as Pittsburgh. Society members are HCC majors and all those affiliated with Franciscan University who share a love for humanities and Catholic culture.
Computer Science Club
The Computer Science Club seeks to provide opportunities for students to improve their software development and collaborative skills by participating in programming contests, projects that benefit both them and the University, skill-building workshops, and other fun and engaging events.
Explorers of the Past
The Explorers of the Past creates a network of students who are passionate about Anthropology and History as the two disciplines mesh to form a narrative about the whole span of human existence, which in turn gives us insight to the culture of today. This organization of Christian scholars is dedicated to studying the human person in light of teachings of the Church. Within the realm of 21st century academia, there is an increasing trend towards secularism and atheism, which, at its core, threatens the sanctity of human life. By raising up a class of anthropologists and historians in an atmosphere of faith, we hope to protect the image and likeness of God from desecration.
Faith and Science Club
To provide Franciscan University students and faculty an outlet to explore, discuss, and learn about various current issues that involve a convergence of faith and science. The club will foster a discussion on matters of modern science examined from a Catholic perspective grounded in the union of faith and reason. Through primarily bi-monthly meetings, scheduled talks, and specialized topic discussion forums; issues in areas such as: evolution and origins, creation, cosmology, genetic research, embryology and human life, neuroscience, and others can explored from a perspective of Christian faith.
The Gemelli Society
The Gemelli Society was founded in 1964 to assist psychology, sociology, and social work majors in their development in these human sciences. The society provides programs with visiting academicians, addresses by professional human services personnel, films, and community services. The group is named in honor of the Franciscan friar physician, philosopher, theologian, and psychologist, Agostino Gemelli.
Instruments of Peace
The Instruments of Peace is a club for Franciscan University of Steubenville Social Work majors within the Gemelli Society. The purpose of the club is to allow social work students to provide support to one another, to provide educational and professional development activities, to promote an identity as a social worker, and to participate in community service activities.
Mathematics Club
The Mathematics Club was founded to provide opportunities for students interested in mathematics to participate in various math-related academic and social activities. The club hosts guest speakers, astronomical observing sessions, and promotes chess ladder leagues, and similar activities.
Phi Alpha Honor Society
Phi Alpha is the national honor society for social work students, faculty, and practitioners. The purposes of Phi Alpha Honor Society are to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Invited members have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.
Philosophy Club
The Philosophy Club provides a forum in which students learn to philosophize by discussion, argument, and debate among themselves with the guidance of a professor from the Philosophy Department. The club also hosts guest speakers in philosophy and related disciplines.
Political Science Association
The Political Science Association enables interested students to probe and discuss political issues outside the classroom, to learn about career possibilities in politics, government, and law, and to build camaraderie among their fellow students in political science. Activities include lectures, career nights, panels, and discussions on current issues, trends, and philosophical questions about politics, as well as social gatherings and trips to visit governmental institutions. Membership is open to all students interested in politics, regardless of major.
Pre-Medicine Club
The Pre-Medicine club hopes to form future physicians in order to care for patients through a true understanding of the dignity of the human person. The club provides an outlet for exploring medical schools and career opportunities in any aspect of medicine and assistance in applying for admission to medical institutions. The club develops resources for students interested in internships and job shadowing.
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology. Membership in Psi Chi recognizes high scholastic achievement and interest in psychology. Undergraduates who are elected to membership are majors in psychology and related degrees who rank in the highest 35 percent of their class and who have demonstrated exceptional ability to conduct independent psychological research.
Spanish Club
The Spanish Club was formed by and for students who are interested in exploring the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. The club is open to native speakers and others. Members participate in activities that include Masses in Spanish, meetings, socials, and trips to the surrounding area where both American and Latin American culture can be experienced.
St. John Bosco Society
The St. John Bosco Society was formed in 2005 to foster “communion” among catechetics students by providing opportunities for networking, socializing, and continuing catechetical formation outside of the classroom.
St. Thomas More Society
The St. Thomas More Society seeks to provide support and preparation for those interested in a career in law by cultivating high ethical principles together with an understanding of the legal system based on the natural law as interpreted by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Membership is open to all students regardless of major with the aim of encouraging fellowship among its members through lectures, movies, mock trials, and common prayer, as well as attendance at events and visits to institutions of legal significance.
Sigma Beta Mu
The purpose of the Sigma Beta Mu biology club is to nurture and promote interest in the life sciences. This club supports members in the study of science and service to the University. Activities include discussions, movies, and field trips. Membership is open to persons interested in broadening their perspectives within the subdisciplines of biology as well as those interested in the health professions, conservation, and wildlife. Meetings are held as needed, usually in one of the biology laboratories.
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society. Part of the Association of College Honor Societies, it was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The purposes of the Society are (a) to confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies; (b) to promote interest in literature and the English language on local campuses and their surrounding communities; and (c) to foster the discipline of English in all of its aspects, including creative and critical writing. Membership in Sigma Tau Delta is an outward recognition of personal accomplishment. It also serves as an incentive for continued high scholarship. The chapter located at Franciscan University of Steubenville is the Omicron Iota chapter of the society.