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.