Nu Rho Psi is the only nationally-recognized honor society in the area of brain research. The study of the brain is one of the noblest of academic pursuits because a deep and true understanding of the principles by which the brain works contributes directly to the quality of our lives and the well-being of future generations.
The purpose of Nu Rho Psi is to:
- encourage professional interest and excellence in scholarship, particularly in neuroscience;
- award recognition to students who have achieved such excellence in scholarship;
- advance the discipline of neuroscience; encourage intellectual and social interaction between students, faculty, and professionals in neuroscience and related fields;
- promote career development in neuroscience and related fields;
- increase public awareness of neuroscience and its benefits for the individual and society; and
- encourage service to the community.
How do I join?
If you are a neuroscience major/minor at an institution with an active chapter of Nu Rho Psi then you can apply to your local branch for induction. Alumni who qualified but who did not know about/join Nu Rho Psi while enrolled can still be inducted. You can find the active chapters of Nu Rho Psi here. Some chapters specifically invite qualifying students, others operate through self-nomination. If you believe you meet the qualifications for being inducted (see below) to Nu Rho Psi, please reach out to the faculty advisor of your local chapter.
| Membership Application (rev. 2024) – This is the current application form that you would submit to your local chapter of Nu Rho Psi if your chapter uses the self-nomination process (some chapters invite qualified members). You cannot apply to Nu Rho Psi directly through this website or our national office — Instead, please check in with the faculty advisor of your local branch of Nu Rho Psi. |
If you are at an institution that does not yet have a chapter of Nu Rho Psi (check here), then you can help found one! You’ll need a faculty advisor and you’ll need to work with your faculty advisor to develop. More details on starting a chapter are here.
What is the cost?
Membership in Nu Rho Psi is for life and the induction fee ($50.00 for students; $60.00 for faculty) is the only payment to the National organization. Please contact your local branch about becoming inducted to Nu Rho Psi.
Who may join?
Membership is by invitation and is open to graduate and undergraduates who are making the study of Neuroscience one of their major interests and who meet the other academic qualifications. Nu Rho Psi is also open to qualifying Neuroscience faculty and alumni of Neuroscience programs.
Membership in Nu Rho Psi is open to qualified candidates regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, race handicap or disability, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin.
Minimum Qualifications for Undergraduate Student Members
These are minimum standards for an undergraduate student to be inducted into Nu Rho Psi. Individual chapters may set higher—but not lower—requirements. Chapters may also add additional requirements (e.g. a service component). These standards are designed to ensure members have a solid foundation in neuroscience, supporting strong academic engagement, leadership continuity, and the mission of Nu Rho Psi.
Academic Standing
To be eligible for membership, students must meet the following academic criteria:
- Academic Progress: Students must have completed the equivalent of at least 3 semesters of college coursework at an accredited institution of higher education (equal to ~45 credit hours; ~12 units).
- Declared Program: Students must have officially declared a major, minor, or concentration/certificate in Neuroscience or a neuroscience-focused program (e.g. Neural Engineering).
- GPA
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
- Neuroscience GPA: Minimum GPA of 3.2 in neuroscience-related coursework.
- This includes any course that counts toward a declared Neuroscience major, minor, or concentration/certificate.
Credit Requirements
Eligible students must have completed:
- At least 9 credit hours (typically 3 courses) of neuroscience-related coursework.
- This includes any course required for the Neuroscience major, minor, or certificate/concentration.
- Transfer credits may count, provided they are accepted by the institution. AP courses should not be counted in this total.
- At least one course must be focused primarily on neuroscience, such as:
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Introduction to Neuroscience, or a similar core course.
- Additional qualifying courses may come from the student’s declared major if they are:
- Explicitly required for the major, as defined in the institution’s academic bulletin or degree requirements.
Additional Notes
- Courses from related fields may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they clearly align with neuroscience and the student’s academic path.
- Transfer credits are acceptable if they meet the above criteria and are recognized by the student’s college/university (AP classes are not acceptable).
Minimum Qualifications for Graduate Student Members
These are minimum standards for a graduate student to be inducted into Nu Rho Psi. Individual chapters may set higher—but not lower—requirements. Chapters may also add additional requirements (e.g. a service component).
To be eligible for membership, students must meet the following academic criteria:
- Declared Program: Candidates must be registered in a graduate-level program with a neuroscience emphasis. Students must have officially declared a major, minor, or concentration/certificate in Neuroscience.
- GPA
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.5 in all graduate courses.
- Neuroscience GPA: Minimum GPA of 3.5 in neuroscience-related graduate coursework.