Any high school with accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency and offering courses in mathematics may petition to have a chapter, provided it meets the following minimum requirements:

  1. High schools must offer at least two years of algebra and one year of geometry, or their equivalent, and a minimum of one year of more advanced mathematics. These requirements cannot be fulfilled by courses in general mathematics, general business mathematics, or arithmetic.
  2. The school must employ at least one teacher whose primary teaching field is mathematics and who has completed an undergraduate mathematics major or its equivalent at an accredited college or university. The equivalent of a mathematics major shall be understood to include a minimum of six college mathematics courses at the calculus level or above.
  3. The principal, or other chief administrative officer of the institution must approve the chartering of the chapter at the high school.

High school chapters shall be admitted for membership on the approval of the president and the governor of the appropriate region. Should either deny a petition for membership, the school may appeal the decision to the Governing Council for consideration. A two-thirds vote of the Governing Council shall be required to approve such a chapter for membership.

We offer a reduced membership fee of $5/member to Title I schools. Please let us know if your school is a Title 1 school. ***PLEASE NOTE: SPONSORS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN CERTIFICATES FOR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES. THE ONLY CERTIFICATES SPONSORS MAY DISTRIBUTE ARE THE CERTIFICATES THEY RECEIVE FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE FOR OFFICIAL MEMBERS.*** Members

The national requirements for individual membership in a local chapter are as follows. These are the minimum requirements; chapters may elect to have stricter standards but not lower ones. Students are encouraged to participate in Mu Alpha Theta club meetings and activities, even if they do not qualify as members:

  1. Members must be high school students in grades 9 through 12.
  2. Members must be registered with Mu Alpha Theta at the school at which their permanent records reside.
  3. Members must have completed the equivalent of two years of college preparatory mathematics, including algebra and/or geometry, and have completed or are enrolled in a third year of college preparatory mathematics.
  4. On the 4-point grading scale, members must have at least a 3.0 math grade point average.
Associates:

Associates are not members of Mu Alpha Theta but are likely candidates for membership. Associates do not pay the initiation fee but are eligible to be listed with the National Office, should they wish to participate in Mu Alpha Theta national math contests. While they are not entitled to vote nor hold office in their chapter, they are entitled to attend and be heard at meetings. A student may remain an associate for only one year and then, if eligible, must be inducted as a member of Mu Alpha Theta.

  • Associates must be high school students in grades 9 through 12
  • Associates must be at the school where their permanent record resides.
  • Associates must have completed one year of algebra, or its equivalent, with distinction and are currently enrolled in a higher math course.
*We cannot accept applications submitted by students. Sponsors must submit applications. APPLY FOR A MU ALPHA THETA HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER HERE.
*You will need to be upload this Excel file with your members' names and graduation years as you complete your petition. This file is also available in the petition itself. Middle names are optional. "Year" means graduation year for the student. *Through the application, you will need to request the e-signature of yourself as sponsor and of your Principal (if you're at a virtual or high school) or Dean or Math Department Chair (if you're at a two-year college). You can submit petition while waiting on signatures. *Your petition will not be reviewed until you submit payment (via one check or credit card) for the $25 chapter fee and $10/member registration fee. Please call or email the National Office if you need to pay by credit card. If paying by check, please make sure your school's name and "New Chapter" are on the check. Portal is cleared out each July, if you have not notified the office regarding your petition, IT WILL BE DELETE in July.

Each petitioning institution will be notified within two weeks as to the council’s decision. When a charter is granted, each student will receive a certificate of membership and a membership card. The school will receive a charter certificate.