Scholarships & Grants

There is money available to help students pay for school and fund research! Here's a look at some scholarships and other opportunities available to all MSU students.

 

 

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 Scholarships by Unit

• Anthropology

  Undergraduate:
  https://anthropology.msu.edu/undergraduate/awards-scholarships/

  Graduate:
  https://anthropology.msu.edu/graduate/awards-financial-aid/

• Chicano/Latino Studies

  https://clstudies.msu.edu/phd/index.html

• Criminal Justice

  https://cj.msu.edu/undergraduates/scholarships.html

• Economics

  http://econ.msu.edu/undergraduate/scholarships.php

• Environmental Science and Policy Program

  https://espp.msu.edu/research/student-funding.html

• Geography

  https://geo.msu.edu/student-resources/funding.html

• History

  Undergraduate:
  https://history.msu.edu/awards/

  Graduate:
  https://history.msu.edu/graduate-awards/

• Human Development and Family Studies

  https://hdfs.msu.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/academic

• Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR)

  http://ippsr.msu.edu/political-leadership/daniel-rosenthal-legislative-intern-award

• Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
  
  

   https://integrativestudies.msu.edu/academics/scholarships.html 

• Political Science

  https://polisci.msu.edu/undergraduate/scholarships.html

• Social Work

  Bachelor of Arts in Social Work:
  https://socialwork.msu.edu/BASW/scholarships.html

  Master of Social Work:
  https://socialwork.msu.edu/MSW/scholarships.html

• Sociology

  Undergraduate:
  https://sociology.msu.edu/undergraduate/funding.html

  Graduate:
  https://sociology.msu.edu/graduate/support.html

• Urban Regional Planning (SPDC)

  https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/student_services/scholarships

 

College-wide Scholarships

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• Read More

  Provost Undergraduate Research Initiative – Call for AY2025-2026 Applications

  The College of Social Science has renewed funding for the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative program in the College of Social Science (CSS-PURI) for Fall 2025-Spring 2026.  This program supports undergraduate research through awards of up to $1,000 per semester (up to $2,000 per academic year) per student.

  The CSS-PURI program provides talented undergraduates, from first-year students to seniors, with an opportunity to work closely with faculty on substantial research projects—usually, but not exclusively, as part of the faculty member’s own scholarly project.  Student researchers report that their experiences have been transformative, enabling them to integrate and apply the knowledge, methods, and skills they have learned in new and challenging environments outside the classroom.  Many have delivered conference papers, shared authorship of published articles, or presented work at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) based on the research they have conducted as part of this program. 

  The College requests CSS-PURI proposals from faculty who wish to participate in this program.  Student researchers have usually worked either one-on-one with a faculty member or as members of a research team involving faculty and graduate students.  Both models are acceptable. The College will also consider funding innovative approaches to undergraduate research, including unit or multi-unit research training programs for first-year students or projects attached to study away or study abroad programs.

  Proposals are due on [TBD Fall 2025].  Decisions will be announced by [TBD].

   

  PROPOSAL

  Faculty proposals must include the following information and must be submitted through a form on the CSS website. Late proposals will be considered if funding is available.

  Find application materials here: http://socialscience.msu.edu/students/social-science-undergraduates/scholarships-awards-and-funded-research-opportunities/. 

  Faculty must submit using the online form system. 

  Elements of the application must include:

  • Completed application form.

  • A statement about the research project, its stage in development, and the specific research tasks to be assigned to the undergraduate researcher(s). This statement must include the beginning and end date of each student’s involvement in the project and a description of the final research product to be delivered by each student.  We require students to present their research at UURAF (with waivers of this requirement in exceptional circumstances).  A commitment to UURAF should be evident in the application.

  • A statement of student learning outcomes and how those outcomes will be assessed by the faculty mentor.

  • Budget Proposal. A budget that states precisely how the funds will be spent (see below for guidelines).  It is important to comply with these guidelines.

  • The name(s) of the student(s) selected, if available at the time of submission. If your proposal involves more than one student conducting their own project, include both students on the proposal and collect emails acknowledging participation from both students. For individual student projects, the limit is two students per faculty mentor. It is not necessary to submit separate applications for each student in these cases. Note that student duties and learning outcomes must be specified for each student researcher individually. 

    • We will also consider proposals that do not name particular students but are designed to give a group of students shared research project experience. If it is an unnamed group, we will be contacting you at a later time for student information and signatures. Please indicate the estimated number of students in the proposal. Proposals that name up to two specific undergraduates who have agreed to participate in the program will be given priority. 

   

  BUDGET GUIDELINES:

  CSS-PURI funds may be allocated as follows:

  • Stipend or travel for undergraduate research must make up at least 80% of the total budget. Since there are other funds available to support travel (see below), we ask that applications minimize travel costs to the extent possible.

  • No more than 20% can be used for supplies/equipment related to the research.

  The sponsoring department or school will be responsible for the administration of funds, including ensuring proper allocation and expenditure. As in past years, PURI awards require unit matching of 25%. So an award that is for the maximum amount of $2,000 for fall and spring will require a $500 match from the unit.

  The College of Social Science and the Office of Undergraduate Research have separate travel funds available to student researchers. Student researchers are eligible to apply. Travel funds require unit matching, and the College also provides matching funds.  

  Note that for the past several years, Summer PURI funds were available, with an application process in late Spring, so do not include Summer requests in this round of proposals.

   

  PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT:

  The budget for PURI is limited and the awards are made on a competitive basis. Proposals will be ranked based on

  • The extent to which projects meet the purpose of the program, which is to help undergraduate students develop advanced research skills in the social, economic, and behavioral sciences that they will apply as advanced undergraduates, in their careers, or in graduate or professional school.

  • How much faculty are involved as mentors in helping students understand the nature of research in a field, its application and significance within scholarship or the professions, and the importance of ethical practice in the research.

  • The extent to which students have the opportunity to demonstrate the accomplishment of the learning goals during the work phase of the project, in their presentations at UURAF, and after their involvement in the project.

  • How clear and appropriate the learning goals are. The goals might vary with the level research experience of the student and could include demonstrating

  • mastery of key technologies, techniques, or methods relevant to research within the discipline;

  • ethical research practices;

  • the ability to analyze, interpret, or synthesize evidence gathered through primary and secondary research;

  • the ability to present or write research results for scholarly or professional audiences.

   

  ELIGIBILITY: 

  Faculty must hold an appointment (including joint appointments) in the College of Social Science.  Student researchers must be enrolled College of Social Science majors (second majors are acceptable, additional majors are not) with a 2.0 GPA or better.  Priority will be given to students who have not graduated before, or will not graduate during, the PURI funding period. The research can be conducted at MSU, in the USA, or internationally. Team projects that include multiple faculty, graduate students or undergraduates are eligible for consideration, and faculty can propose to fund more than one undergraduate under this program.  However, the specific duties, research products, and learning outcomes must be stated for each student researcher individually.

   

  REPORTING & PROGRAM ASSESSMENT DUE APRIL [TBD], 2026:

  CSS and the Office of the Provost require reporting and assessment. Every year it is a challenge to get these reports, so please mark your calendars. Each faculty and student participant must submit a written report to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies detailing the research outcomes for the project, an assessment of student learning outcomes (proposed and achieved), and the expenditure of funds (the latter provided by the faculty member).  Please ask your student researcher to submit her/his report to you and then forward both to me as a package.  

  By April [TBD], 2026, the following information should be submitted to my office:

  • Name of student(s) supported (no PID numbers).

  • Detailed information on expenditures (a required reporting form will be supplied).

    • Scholarships and stipends

    • Supplies and equipment

    • Conference registration and travel

    • Other

  • Assessment of the student’s achievement of learning objectives and an overall evaluation of the student’s contribution to the advancement of the research.

  • Any presentations, abstracts or publications arising from the research (including citations if applicable and including anticipated conference presentations and publications).

  • Other indicators of quality.

  • A 250-word report from the student, summarizing his/her accomplishments and reflecting on the competencies he/she gained from the experience.

   

  Proposals are due on [TBD] 2025

  Decisions will be taken by [TBD] 2025

  End of year reports will be due on April [TBD], 2026

   

   

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  For more information, contact:

  Emily Durbin
  Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Professor of Psychology
  
  College of Social Science
  Berkey Hall
  Phone: 517-355-6673
  cdurbin@msu.edu

   

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• Read More

  The College of Social Science has funding for the Summer College of Social Science Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative (CSS-PURI).  This program supports summer undergraduate research with awards of up to $1,500 per student. Students supported by PURI Awards must be currently enrolled College of Social Science majors (second majors are acceptable) with at least a 2.0 GPA. 

  The CSS-PURI program provides talented undergraduate majors in the College of Social Science with an opportunity to work closely with faculty on research projects.  Student researchers report that their experiences have been transformative.  Summer PURI funded students are required to present their work at the 2025 MID-SURE event on July 23, 2025 (https://urca.msu.edu/mid-sure) or at the 2026 UURAF.

   

  The College requests CSS-PURI proposals from faculty who wish to participate in this program.  Student researchers have usually worked either one-on-one with a faculty member or as members of a research team involving faculty and graduate students.  Both models are acceptable, but the maximum size of an undergraduate group working with a faculty member as part of a summer PURI award is two (2) students. However, the maximum awarded to any project is $3,000 (including the unit match).

   

  Proposals are due on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

   

  PROPOSAL

   Faculty proposals must be submitted through the online form system on the CSS website. 

   

  Faculty must submit using the online form system. If the project involves more than one student, submit a separate application for each student (one application per student participant). Indicate on each application that this is a multi-student project.     

   

   Elements of the application must include:

  • A summary of the research project and the specific research tasks to be assigned to the undergraduate researcher(s). This summary must include the beginning and end date of each student’s involvement in the project and a description of the final research product to be delivered by each student.  Students are required to present their research at MID-SURE or UURAF so this commitment should be explicit in the application.
  • A statement of student learning outcomes and how those outcomes will be assessed by the faculty mentor.
  • Budget Proposal. A budget that states precisely how the funds will be spent (see below for guidelines).
  • The name(s) of the student researcher(s). Proposals that name one or more specific undergraduates who have agreed to participate will be given priority. If your proposal involves more than one student, please submit separate forms for each student. Name both students in the narrative, and collect emails acknowledging participation from all students. Student duties and learning outcomes must be specified for each student researcher.

   

  BUDGET GUIDELINES:

  CSS-PURI funds may be allocated as follows:

  • Stipends for undergraduate research must make up at least 80% of the total budget
  • No more than 20% can be used for supplies/equipment related to the research.

   

  The sponsoring department or school will be responsible for the administration of funds, including ensuring proper allocation and expenditure. As in past years, Summer CSS-PURI awards require unit matching of 50%.  Thus, an award that is for the maximum amount of $1,500 will require a $750 match from the unit.  Please make sure to discuss funding with your Chair/Director prior to submitting a proposal.

  PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT:

  Awards are made on a competitive basis. Proposals will be ranked based on:

   

  • The extent to which projects help undergraduate majors in the College of Social Science develop advanced research skills.
  • How strongly faculty are involved in the projects as research mentors.
  • The clarity and appropriateness of the learning goals for undergraduate researchers.
  • The likelihood that projects will generate impactful MID-SURE/UURAF presentations.

   

  ELIGIBILITY: 

  Student researchers must be currently enrolled College of Social Science majors (second majors are acceptable) with a 2.0 GPA or better.  Faculty must hold an appointment (including joint appointments) in the College of Social Science. Priority will be given to students who will not graduate before December of 2025. Team projects that include multiple undergraduate researchers are eligible for consideration. However, the specific duties, research products, and learning outcomes must be stated for each student researcher individually.

   

  REPORTING & PROGRAM ASSESSMENT DUE AUGUST 15, 2025:

  The CSS and the Office of the Provost require reporting and assessment. Every year it is a challenge to get these reports, so please mark your calendars. Each faculty and student participant must submit a written report to the Associate Dean of

  Academic & Student Affairs detailing the research outcomes for the project, an assessment of student learning outcomes (proposed and achieved), and the

  expenditure of funds (the latter provided by the faculty member).  Please ask your student researcher to submit their report to you and then forward both as a package.  

  By August 15, 2025, the following information should be submitted to our office:

  • Name of student(s) supported (no PID numbers).
  • Detailed information on expenditures (a reporting form will be supplied).
    • Scholarships and stipends
    • Supplies and equipment
    • Other
  • Assessment of the student’s achievement of learning objectives and an overall evaluation of the student’s contribution to the advancement of the research.
  • Any presentations, abstracts or publications arising from the research (including citations if applicable and including anticipated conference presentations and publications).
  • Other indicators of quality.
  • A 250-word report from the student, summarizing their accomplishments and reflecting on the competencies gained from the experience.

   

  Proposals are due on Sunday, February 23, 2025

  Decisions will be announced by Monday, March 10, 2025

  End of term reports will be due on August 15, 2025

  
  

   

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  For more information, contact:

  Emily Durbin
  Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Professor of Psychology
  
  College of Social Science
  Berkey Hall
  Phone: 517-355-6673
  cdurbin@msu.edu

   

• Read More

  Eligibility

  Students with a primary or secondary major in the College of Social Science are eligible to be nominated for a Dean’s Assistantship. Juniors and seniors are eligible. The proposed research project normally will be an independent research project in which the student is the primary investigator. However, students who have primary responsibility for a discrete portion of a faculty member’s larger research project may submit proposals. All student researchers must have a faculty sponsor who has agreed to serve as a mentor for the period of the assistantship.

  Nominations

  Students who are interested in a Dean’s Assistantship are encouraged to contact faculty to propose projects, refine the research plan, and collaborate on the nomination and application processes. Faculty and advisers also are urged to approach highly-qualified students to suggest nomination for this competitive assistantship.

  Procedures

  • The chair or director solicits nominations for the Dean’s Assistantship from faculty. Nominees must then submit an application for the program to the chair or director. The application must include a research proposal, resume, and a letter of support from a faculty sponsor [the letter must express the faculty member’s commitment to mentor the student during her/his research experience]. The research product or outcome—and the form in which it will be submitted—must be specified in the proposal. The chair or director should only forward nominees to the College who submit a research proposal that promises to make a substantial contribution to the scholarship in the field and which can be completed within one academic year. The role of the faculty sponsor must be clearly established, including mentorship, oversight, ownership of research products, authorships, and other relevant details. The chair or director is responsible for oversight of the student researcher and the faculty sponsor.

  • The student researcher must meet as per agreement with her/his faculty sponsor, provide bi-weekly reports to the faculty sponsor (including time spent on the project), and deliver all research products as scheduled. Furthermore, a dean’s assistant must apply to present her/his research findings at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in the spring of the academic year in which the award is granted. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in forfeiture of the student’s assistantship. Students who leave the College of Social Science during the period of the assistantship will thereby forfeit their assistantship.

  • Faculty sponsors are expected to serve as mentors throughout the duration of the assistantship. They are responsible for monitoring research progress, aiding students in resolving research problems, providing advice on appropriate methods, regulations, and ethics in conducting research, reviewing research products, and maintaining records of student work.

  • The student researcher and faculty sponsor are required to submit a report to the chair or director at the end of the assistantship. The chair or director will review the report and forward it to the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs for review. Chairs and directors should return inadequate reports to the author for revision and resubmission.

  • Both student researchers and faculty sponsors should contact the chair or director of the sponsoring department or school to resolve disagreements or to report potential violations of University policies. Chairs and directors will consult with the Associate Dean for Academic and Student affairs when such issues cannot be resolved at the unit level.

  • The student researcher is required to provide the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs with notification of the publication, presentation, or recognition of research sponsored by the dean’s assistantship program.

  • The student researcher is required to send a letter of acceptance to the Associate Dean of the College of Social Science, upon notification of the assistantship award.

  For Students: Preparing the Application

  A student who has been nominated for a Dean's Assistantship must submit an 8-part application to the chair or director of the sponsoring department or school. The application will consist of a completed application form; a resume; a one-page abstract; an introduction that includes a clear statement of the hypothesis to be tested; a description of the methodology to be employed; a discussion ofthe outcomes and future application of the research; a bibliography; and a letter of support from the faculty sponsor. The application should not exceed 10 double-space pages [12 pt. font], excluding the faculty sponsor letter of support.

  Although there is no rigid format for the proposal, the guidelines below shoud be useful. You may deviate from them where you believe an alternate format will provide a clearer and more convincing presentation of your ideas and plans.

  Application Form

  The Dean’s Assistantship application form is now available online.  All parts must be completed to upload into application.

  1. Abstract - A brief overview of your project helps to orient the Committee to what will follow. One page is sufficient. Provide a brief statement of the background or context in which your research is set, a statement of the hypothesis (or hypotheses) which you will test, the experiment or project which you will carry out to evaluate the hypothesis, and the way in which the data or evidence will be examined in order to evaluate the hypothesis. Finally, include a brief statement about the scholarly significance of your research.
     
     VIEW EXAMPLE

  2. Introduction - The introduction should be a review of the scholarship related to your proposed research. Although the final written report of your project should include a scholarly review of relevant literature, the literature review in the proposal is usually far less comprehensive. The introduction should also make the case for the significance of the problem.

  3. Methodology - The methods section should describe the methods you will use to gather data or evidence. A rule of thumb is to include everything that someone else would need to know to replicate your work. If some decisions about the details of the methodology will depend upon work that you will carry out early in the project, be sure to discuss those decisions and how you will go about making them. Finally, acknowledge any rules regarding research with humans or animals with which your research must and will comply, including compliance with MSU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies and procedures.

  4. Outcomes - State the specific research product(s) that you will submit to your faculty sponsor at the end of the assistantship [usually an article-length paper, but other formats are acceptable upon approval]. Explain the potential significance of the work, what future research or publications you anticipate will result from it, and whether you believe it will stimulate further scholarly inquiry within your field.

  5. Bibliography - List the references that you cited or consulted to prepare your proposal.

  6. Resume - Copy of most recent resume.

  7. Letter of Recommendation - The role of the faculty sponsor is critical to the success of your project. Although you are expected to take primary responsibility for carrying out your project, it is inevitable that the wisdom, expertise, and resources of your faculty research sponsor will be called upon frequently as you proceed with your work. Although there is not necessarily a “best” model for the arrangement between student and sponsor to ensure appropriate faculty involvement, in most cases students should expect to have significant contact with their sponsor at least bi-weekly. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and the College Scholarship Committee require evidence of that degree of commitment from your faculty research sponsor. This should include a specific statement of contact hours between student and faculty and a detailed statement of the form and frequency of reports and delivery of written work. The committee also wants to know your sponsor’s appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses, and his/her opinion of your ability to carry out the project that you have proposed.

  Note: Submission of an application for a Dean’s Assistantship authorizes the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs to access your student academic records.

  Awards

  Dean’s Assistantships provide support for one academic year as an Undergraduate Assistant with a stipend of approximately $5000 - $5600. The Assistantship is a quarter time appointment, meaning that students are being compensated at a rate that implies an average of approximately ten hours per week spent on the project.

  For students who have financial aid packages, this appointment may change the composition of your aid package. Please contact Financial Aid for more information.

  The number of proposals funded will depend in part upon the number and quality of the applications.

   

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  For more information, contact:

  Emily Durbin
  Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Professor of Psychology
  
  College of Social Science
  Berkey Hall
  Phone: 517-355-6673
  SSC.Student@msu.edu

   

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