History Department Scholarships
Department uses the BOSS system for all departmental scholarships but if you are seeking information on how to apply for one of our fellowships, please contact our Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Jose Carlos de la Puente. If you have questions about departmental scholarships, please contact our Undergraduate Advisor, Ms. Trace Etienne. If you are interested in applying for an Instructional Assistantship, please visit the IA website.
General Guidelines
The Department of History is able to extend a wide variety of scholarships to their undergraduate and graduate history majors. The amount and number of scholarships awarded each year will vary depending upon the economic fortunes of specific endowment investments. To know the exact amount of each award, students should check the most up-to-date information on the BOSS application system.
Specific criteria for individual scholarships will vary depending upon the wishes of the original endowment and the scholarship committee. Students may apply for multiple scholarships but may only receive a single award for an upcoming academic year.
Please review the following general rules before beginning the application process:
- All scholarships are awarded through the Registrar’s Office and are applied directly to tuition and fees.
- Applicants must be history majors, except in the case of the Dunn and Texas History Music Scholarships, which are also open to International Studies and Music majors.
- Incomplete Applications may not receive consideration.
- Misinformation and misrepresentation by applicants during any part of the application process will result in the forfeiture of any awards given.
- Applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirements for the scholarship for which they are applying and maintain minimum semester and/or overall GPA requirements as outlined by the original awarding scholarship guidelines.
- Applicants must have completed at least 30 hours of coursework at Texas State for most undergraduate scholarships.
- No more than three (3) recommendation forms may be submitted for a single application.
- Certain scholarships require that students complete one of the following courses at Texas State: Hist 2310, 2311, 2312, 2320, or at least advanced history course.
- Awardees must register for and complete minimum semester hours as outlined by the original awarding scholarship guidelines.
Scholarship Essay Requirements
For the Brieger, Taylor-Murphy, Dunn, and Knispel Scholarships, applicants are required to submit a single 400-500 word essay explaining why the applicant is majoring in History. This essay may include information regarding how the study of History will affect an applicant’s future career plans and what, if any, effect it might have on the applicant’s ability to impact the communities around them. If the applicant is applying for two or more of the scholarships listed above, the applicant need only submit a single essay with the common application.
For the Brunson Family Scholarship, applicants are required to submit a 400-500 word essay describing how their experience in the History Department has affected their view of the discipline.
For the Lumia and Finlay Scholarships, applicants are required to submit a 400-500 word essay describing how the study of History (especially Texas Music History) has enhanced the applicant’s understanding of American society and of History as a discipline. Even if applying for both music scholarships, only one essay needs to be submitted with the common application.
NOTE: If you wish to be considered for all History Dept. scholarships, you would need to submit three distinct essays as described above.
For the Pohl Scholarship, applicants are required to submit a detailed thesis proposal with their application.
Filter Panel
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Undergraduate
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Graduate
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Alton G. Brieger Scholarship (Undergraduate Only)
- Minimum 3.3 History GPA / 3.0 overall GPA
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty, with two being from faculty members at Texas State whose class the applicant has completed
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
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Brunson Family Endowed Scholarship (Graduate Only)
- Minimum 3.5 overall GPA
- Three letters of recommendation with two being from TxState History faculty
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
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Celebrity Classic Scholarships (Graduate Only)
The Graduate College provides these scholarships to encourage students with intellectual, creative, and leadership promise to complete a master's or doctoral degree at Texas State University. These scholarships are available for newly admitted and continuing students. Awards range from $1,500 to $2,000 per semester and are given for up to three academic years, provided that a 3.5 cumulative GPA has been maintained on all graduate coursework leading to their current degree and that enrollment requirements have been satisfied.
Visit the Graduate College site for more information. -
Dennis And Margaret Dunn Scholarship (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- Majors in History or International Studies are eligible.
- Current Students=minimum of 3.5 GPA
- Incoming freshmen = minimum ACT Composite of 27, or SAT score of 1150, and rank in top 10% of graduating class
- For incoming freshmen applicants: high school transcript (with class ranking) and certified copy of SAT or ACT scores
- Three letters of recommendation:
- One from a teacher whose specialty is the same as or most similar to the applicant’s major
- One from a teacher who can describe the applicant’s abilities
- One from an individual who can best provide a description of personal qualities and attributes that make the applicant a suitable scholarship recipient (Relatives are not considered suitable references)
- A 400-500 word essay as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
- The basic criteria for awarding the Dunn Scholarship will be merit and need
- Merit will be determined by GPA, ACT or SAT scores, letters of reference, or other appropriate measures. Scholarships can be awarded solely on ground of merit.
- Need will be determined by the Texas State Financial Aid Office, which will inform the Committee of an applicant’s financial need status.
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Fitzpatrick – Clayton – Kissler Scholarship (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- This scholarship has the following three preferences:
- Students who are seeking teacher certification in history or
- Graduate students who already have their teacher certification but who are continuing their education.
- Graduate students enrolled in the History Education M.A. concentration
- Minimum 3.5 GPA in history + minimum 3.5 GPA overall.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- This scholarship has the following three preferences:
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Graduate College Scholarships (Graduate Only)
The Graduate College provides these scholarships to encourage students with intellectual, creative, and leadership promise to complete a master's or doctoral degree at Texas State University. These scholarships are available for newly admitted and continuing students (but see college restrictions in the detailed description). Awards range from $1,000 to $1,500 per semester. Scholarships are awarded for the academic year and disbursed on a per-semester basis.
Visit the Graduate College site for more information. -
James W. Pohl Scholarship (Graduate Only)
- Returning graduate students working on a thesis in History
- Minimum 3.5 GPA.
- Three (3) letters of support/recommendation:
- one from the director of the thesis
- two from additional faculty member.
- A detailed thesis proposal
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Kenneth and Patricia Margerison Graduate Research Fellowship (Graduate Only)
The Fellowship is intended for use in recruiting master’s students of the highest quality. It provides support to full-time graduate students enrolled in the master’s degree program who demonstrate great promise as historians. All newly admitted students are automatically considered. Recipients will be awarded funds to fully cover graduate tuition and fees for the spring and fall semesters as well as limited research support. Fellows will also qualify for in-state tuition. In addition to the fellowship, students may also be offered a graduate Instructional Assistantship (IA) to create an attractive financial aid package for top applicants. Recipients who maintain a 3.7 cumulative GPA may have their fellowship renewed for up to three consecutive years.
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The Kent Finlay Legacy Endowed Scholarship in Texas Music History (Undergraduate and Graduate)
Scholarship Requirements
- This scholarship is available to students of any major enrolled in graduate and undergraduate courses in the department of history with a demonstrated interest in the field of Texas music history.
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
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Marilyn McGinnis Lumia Endowed Scholarship (Undergraduate & Graduate)
- Students must be majors or minors in History a minimum GPA of 3.2 at the time of the award. Preference will be given to students taking or having successfully taken one or more of the History Department’s music history courses.
- The Recipient (s) must be full-time students in good standing and at least a rising sophomore
- The scholarship may be renewed for subsequent years if the student continues to maintain at least a 3.2 GPA.
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
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Minnie Knispel Scholarship (Graduate Only)
- This scholarship has the following two preferences:
- students who are seeking teacher certification in history or
- graduate students who already have their teacher certification but who are continuing their education.
- Minimum 3.5 GPA.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty with at least two being from History faculty
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements
- This scholarship has the following two preferences:
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The Presidential Upper Level Scholarship (Undergraduate Only)
- History Majors who have earned 60 or more credits by the time the scholarship is funded (in the fall term) are eligible.
- Thirty of the sixty credits must have been earned at Texas State University.
- Three confidential letters of recommendation from college professors, with one being from a faculty member at Texas State whose class the applicant has completed
- Students receiving other scholarships funded by Student Service fees are ineligible for the Presidential Upper Level Scholarship unless they elect to forfeit such scholarships for that year.
- Official or unofficial college transcript
- PDF copy of Degree Works Audit
- The History Department will choose one nominee, whose name and file will be forwarded to the College of Liberal Arts for consideration.
- Final decisions regarding the awarding of this scholarship rests with said College and the University President’s Office
- Recipients of the award must enroll in at least 12 hours of course work each semester
- Failure to comply will constitute grounds for forfeiture of the award.
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RFSA Scholarship (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- Recipient(s) should be enrolled at Texas State University for a minimum of 12 hours per semester for undergraduate students and a minimum of 6 hours per semester for graduate students.
- Recipients must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 for freshmen, 3.25 for continuing and transfer students, and 3.5 for graduate students.
- Entering freshmen must be in the top 25 percent quartile of their graduating class.
- Consideration will be given to students with a financial need as documented through the Texas State Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.
- Consideration will be given for documented leadership, extra-curricular activities and community service.
Preference will be given to a family member of a faculty or staff retiree of Texas State University, although all applicants will be considered. Application must be submitted by August 1.
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Taylor Murphy Scholarship (Undergraduate Only)
- Minimum 3.3 History GPA + 3.0 overall GPA
- Three confidential letters of recommendation from faculty, with one being from a faculty member at Texas State whose class the applicant has completed.
- A 400-500 word essay, as described in the Scholarship Essay Requirements