Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity was founded by Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell at the University of Pennsylvania on August 16, 1850. Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity has Chapters in both the United States and Canada and currently has over 60 active Chapters, Colonies, and interest groups with over 2,000 active members and 40,000 living alumni.

Phi Kappa Sigma is more than an organization to be a part of during college; it is a valuable learning experience, a life-ling commitment, and philosophy of life. Along with the Phi Kappa Sigma Ritual, our Purpose and Principles state who and what we are as a Fraternity and as members of that Fraternity. All members take an oath to uphold these ideals and it is up to all of us to make sure that we, and those who come after us, learn and understand what it is to be a true "Phi Kap" and "Man of Honor" and incorporate that into our Chapters and into our lives.

Phi Kappa Sigma members go by the nicknames of "Phi Kaps" and unofficially "Skulls". There are two main reason for the "Skulls" nickname. Nicknames such as"Phi Kaps" can get confusing for new members, especially since several other organization have similar Greek letters. Also, because the Skull & Bones is such a prominent symbol within Phi Kappa Sigma, that it is often the most recognizable image related to the fraternity. Since using the symbol of a skull can have some negative unintended connotations, we attempt to always use a values statement when using its imagry, i.e. "Men of Honor".