Social Sciences and Scholarships
Society and Human Relations in Historical Perspective and Current Affairs
The Social Sciences is a broad term used to indicate those fields of study most associated to the study of social groups, society and the manner in which humans relate within those constructs. Students in the Social Sciences may find scholarships for:
Counseling and Psychology
Students in Counseling and Psychology majors may find scholarship opportunities largely available through colleges and institutions. Most students interested in clinical practices must at least complete a Masters degree and many find higher degrees more beneficial to their niche-specialty. Counselors may work with populations in career advisement, family and child counseling, drug and substance abuse and as education counselors in schools.
Economics, Politics, History and Language
While Social Sciences often implies social work or counseling, the field of study is uniquely designed to include Economics, Politics, History and Linguistics, as well. Society grows and responds to these forces and in turn the fields create social networks and divergent populations ripe for the study. For example, "How are ethnic minorities affected by current economics, politics, even the English language or their mother tongue?" This question, which could clearly be divided into smaller questions, brings up a mother lode of potential social issues rooted in both history and current sociology.
Human Services
Human Services students deal quite directly with social issues and the place of humans in the struggle. The field is heavily weighted on service-based systems and students are often professionals looking for career advancement and continuing education points. Scholarships are plentiful even from federal and local governments that support service oriented professionals.
Special Population Studies
If you are interested in studying specific populations and their historical and current place in the social schema you may be interested in exploring such fields of study as Women's Studies, Gender or Multi-Cultural Studies. Student majors are often politically and socially active and deeply passionate about historical issues and current affairs. Scholarships may be generous and funded by grassroots efforts and devoted contributors. You will find these programs at both large universities and small, liberal arts colleges.
Being a Witness
Journalism and Communications majors are uniquely positioned as witness to all the above. Your job and interests should be focused on reporting, observing and chronicling events and the associated humanity, which are inherent to the study of society and human populations.
General social science study scholarships:
Professional Scholarships
The Social Science Research Council offers specially designed fellowships for graduate and post-graduate students who are involved in fresh and innovative research. In fact the organization advertises the fact that the majority of its monetary scholarship funding goes to students conducting research for their dissertations.
The New Leader Scholarship funded by the Goldman Foundation provides monetary support to students pursuing graduate studies in the social sciences or humanities at a California college or university. Awards are extremely competitive and require applicants to prove academic excellence and financial need. Up to $7,000 may be granted to New Leader Scholars.
College Scholarships
Fullerton College in California offers a wide range of scholarships to students in their Social Sciences Division. Among them:
- Arnold Le Ross Award recognizes an academically outstanding student who has also engaged him or herself along a range of coursework in various social science disciplines.
- Martin and Lotte Hebeling Award targets students in the Social Sciences division whose commitment to multicultural equality is outstanding in combination with academic motivation.
California State University-Chico Social Sciences Department promotes student exploration across the range of disciplines covered by the curriculum. The university offers a B.A. in Social Science, but is hopeful that graduates have an area of concentration by the time they graduate. Scholarships open to Social Science majors are awarded on a range of criteria including academic scholarship, extracurricular activities, peer leadership and career and educational goals. Scholarships specific to department majors:
- Haehn Memorial Scholarship
- Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award
- Alumni Scholarship
Cal State-Fullerton offers students studying a general Social Sciences program the following scholarships:
- Leon and Annette Gilbert Study Abroad Scholarships are awarded to students in the Social Science department who are planning on studying abroad.
- Humanities and Social Sciences Life Achievement Awards are designed to reward non-traditional students, especially those who have been displaced from college for a period of time and are now returning to complete degree studies in the social sciences. An essay is required. Awards are $500.
- International Leadership Scholarships also support study abroad students who demonstrate financial need. Candidates must write an essay that supports their career and educational goals as well as their personal situations. Awards are $500.
- Schweitzer First Quarter Fund Scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate academic excellence in combination with financial need. Awards are $500.
Utah State University College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences sponsors a lengthy list of endowed scholarships that target specific graduate and undergraduate studies within the arts, humanities and social sciences. Those general enough for a basic social science major, include:
- Conway B. and Elaine W. Sonne Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student who is exemplary for leadership abilities. Selection is made by Mountain West Center for Regional Studies.
- Garth N. and Verda Marie Clegg-Jones and Family Scholarship is awarded to graduate or undergraduate students in the social sciences.
- O. Guy Cardon and M.N. Neuberger Scholarship in Social Sciences is not open for application, but the recipient is selected by faculty nomination.
