UMSL Department of Economics - Omicron Delta Epsilon (UM-St. Louis Delta Chapter)

ODE International Honor Society in Economics

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) is the International Economics Honor Society. A primary objective of the ODE is to provide recognition for those students who have achieved academic excellence in their economics courses. In addition,ODE helps to emphasize the professional aspects of economics as a career field for service in the academic world, business, government, and international organizations.

History
Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world's largest academic honor societies, was created through the merger of two earlier honor societies, Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon. At the time of their merger in 1963 each had 28 chapters, those of the former being primarily located in the Midwestern and Pacific states of the USA, and those of the latter concentrated at colleges and universities along the Eastern Seaboard and in Texas. Omicron Delta Epsilon has been a member of the Association of College Honor Societies since 1981.

Objectives
The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are:

recognition of scholastic attainment and the honoring of outstanding achievements in economics.
the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities, and among colleges and universities.
the publication of its official journal, The American Economist, and the sponsoring of panels at professional meetings as well as the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions.

Benefits of Membership

Membership in ODE is an honor that you can list on your graduate school or employment applications.
Membership includes a one-year subscription to The American Economist, a journal which provides information about matters of general economic interest. It also serves as a potential outlet for students who want their papers published.
ODE members are eligible to compete in national essay competitions sponsored annually by ODE, with rewards of cash prizes and publication.
Students can present papers at the ODE-sponsored sessions at the American Economic Association Meetings and Midwest Economic Association Meetings.
At the University of Missouri- St. Louis, ODE in conjunction with the National Association of Business Economists (NABE), sponsors activities including: Federal Reserve Bank tours, seminars on current economic topics, and sessions on job opportunities in economics.

Awards
Each year ODE awards the Irving Fisher Article Award, which pays $1500 and provides an invitation to present the paper at the next annual meeting of the American Economic Association (with travel expenses paid by ODE) and publication of the article in The American Economist (at the option of the winner). This competition is open to ODE graduate students in economics or those members who have received their Ph.D. or M.A. not more than two years prior to entering the competition.

In addition, ODE annually awards the Frank W. Taussig Undergraduate Article Award which pays $1000 to the winner and $100 to the winner's ODE chapter and provides for publication in The American Economist. This competition is open to undergraduate ODE members in schools with ODE chapters and to ODE members who have received their bachelor's degree not more than two years prior to entering the competition.

Biennially, Omicron Delta Epsilon grants the John R. Commons Award in memory of one of its founders to an internationally outstanding economist in recognition of his or her achievements and service both to the economics profession and to Omicron Delta Epsilon. For previous winners see the ODE Awards Page.

Qualifications

For Undergraduate Membership:

completion of 12 or more hours of economics, beyond Economics 1001 and 1002, with a GPA of 3.2 or higher in economics.
attainment of an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For Graduate Membership:

completion of 6 hours of course work in the graduate program.
attainment of a GPA higher than 3.2 in graduate work.

What Does It Cost
The one-time (lifetime) membership fee is $32.00.

Want To Apply?
Simply stop by the Department of Economics (408 SSB), or call 314.516.5353,
or contact:
William Rogers, Assistant Professor of Economics
williamswil@umsl.edu

For more information on the organization, visit the ODE Home Page.