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As the cost of college tuition rises, students are looking for alternate means to fund their educations. Scholarships are a great way for students majoring in the social sciences to ease the financial burden of attending college. However, there are many different kinds of scholarships available. This can make it difficult to know which ones to apply for. One way that students can increase their chances of winning a scholarship is by focusing on scholarships within their specific majors. By focusing on applying to scholarships that are earmarked solely for social science students, students will narrow down both the application field and the competition from other students who are also seeking scholarship money. Here are ten great scholarships that qualified social science majors can apply for to help with paying their educational expenses.
1. Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) offers this scholarship to minority upper-division or graduate level students who are studying for careers in government finance at the state or local levels. This scholarship is open to students majoring in political science, economics, governmental accounting, public administration, finance or business administration. The Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship grants one student an award of $9,000 every year.
2. Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund offers graduate level fellowships for students in the social sciences, humanities or natural sciences for qualified graduate students. This organization also offers research funding for students in the United States, as well as publication funding for dissertations or other works that focus on Armenian history or literature. Publication and research grants depend on the scope of the projects, while the graduate fellowship covers the cost of tuition plus an additional $18,000 stipend for students to use for living expenses.
3. Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics
Full-time undergraduate students at the junior and senior level are eligible to submit essays for the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics. Students are encouraged to write their essays on any topic that pertains to the theme of ethics, although there are also suggested topics available from the foundation. Essays are to be 3,000 to 4,000 words in length and students are required to have a faculty sponsor. There are five prizes available. The first place essay is awarded $5,000. Second and third place are awarded $2,500 and $1,500 respectively. There are also two honorable mention awards at $500 each.
4. Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) Scholarships
The FLASH Scholarship Program is available to eligible graduate students seeking a master’s degree or a doctorate degree. Eligible students must be enrolled in the social sciences, financial services, risk communication, construction, engineering or other similar degree programs that focus on disaster safety and mitigation. There are multiple scholarships of $1,500 available each year. Companies and organizations like State Farm, Huber Engineered Woods, the Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie and many others sponsor the scholarships.
5. Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF)
This scholarship is open to junior and senior level undergraduate students and graduate students who are Muslims or active members of a Muslim community. The Islamic Scholarship Fund is dedicated to increasing Muslim representation in politics, government and media. Students majoring in journalism, public policy, international studies, writing, media, film, law, political science, human rights studies, public administration or other similar fields are encouraged to apply. Other potential eligible majors include history, sociology and religious studies, as long as students are concentrating on Muslim communities or social justice. Eligible students may receive scholarships ranging from $2,000-$5,000 dollars. The Islamic Scholarship fund generally awards between 40-45 scholarships per academic year.
6. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships
The National Science Foundation offers research fellowships to graduate students who have not yet completed more than 12 months of full-time graduate studies. Eligible students must be studying within a STEM field and pursuing research-based Master’s or doctoral degrees. Those awarded the fellowship receive a stipend of $34,000 for three years, as well as a $12,000 education allowance to aid in paying for tuition and fees.
7. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
This scholarship is available to undergraduates who hold sophomore or junior status at their educational institution. The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship awards eligible students with up to $7,000 in scholarship money. It is earmarked for students who have shown leadership, commitment and interest in working with Native American populations in the fields of tribal policy and Native health care, as well as students interested in environmental and conservation issues.
8. VIP Fishing Charters Annual Scholarship
The VIP Fishing Charters Annual Scholarship grants merit-based scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the social sciences or the applied sciences. This scholarship is available to all full-time students who are currently enrolled or just entering an accredited college or university. Students who win the scholarship will be awarded $500 to apply towards their college expenses. Along with the application, students are required to write a 500-800 word post on a blog, website or forum on the topic of what factors into a successful fishing expedition.
9. Learn.org Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship in Social Sciences
Every year, Learn.org awards one $500 scholarship to an eligible student pursuing an undergraduate degree in anthropology, psychology, political science, sociology, economics, history or other social science related fields. The Learn.org Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship in Social Sciences is awarded to eligible full-time students who have demonstrated academic success and are involved in extracurricular activities. Employment history is also considered in the decision to award the scholarship.
10. The Beinecke Scholarship Awards
Presented by the Sperry Fund, the Beinecke Scholarship is available for graduate students in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Students who are awarded this scholarship are granted $4,000 before entering their graduate program and an additional $30,000 throughout the duration of graduate school. The Beinecke Scholarship allows students to combine their scholarship with other scholarships, research grants and assistantships. Eligible students must be nominated by their college or university and must use their funds within five years of leaving their undergraduate program.
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Conclusion
These are only a few of the many different scholarships available to social science majors. To increase their chances of being presented with a scholarship, students should apply themselves to their studies in order to present a strong application. By targeting scholarships for their specific majors, students may be able to fund their college educations with some of these great scholarships for social science majors.