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The Sociology Department offers several scholarships for Sociology majors on an annual basis. Applications will be accepted beginning September 1 and are due by 11:59pm on January 30. The awarding of any scholarship is subject each year to the availability of funds. When awarded, the amount will be split equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. Students should contact the department at 940-565-2296 or sociology@unt.edu for more information.
 
Procedure:
  • Applicants must use the subject line “Undergraduate Scholarship Application” and submit the following to sociology@unt.edu :
  • Scholarship award notices will be sent to students by April 1.
    • Recipients must accept or decline an award by April 15.
    • Note: Students must also submit an appreciation letter to the donor of the scholarship along with the signed agreement.
The Leonard Benson Sociology Undergraduate Scholarship
Dr. Leonard G. Benson was a pioneer in family sociology and the first to publish a comprehensive sociological view on the role of fatherhood and fathering in 1968. Dr. Benson served as Chair and the founding member of Alpha Kappa Delta at UNT. This scholarship was named in his honor illustrating his deep impact on the department, UNT, and those who knew him.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must be full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester), undergraduate Sociology majors at UNT who have completed (or are currently enrolled in) at least 6 credit hours of Sociology courses and have at least a 3.0 GPA (cumulative).
The Cybercrime and Social Behavior Scholarship
This scholarship is funded by a group of well-respected Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and experts in cybersecurity (Cecil Pineda, Randy Potts, and Jaimin Shah) who founded the organization CISO XC to support and connect the information security community at large.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must be full-time (at least 12 undergraduate credit hours per semester) undergraduate (or graduate) Sociology majors at UNT who have at least a 3.0 GPA (cumulative).
  • Applicants must include a short paragraph indicating their interest in the field of cybercrime. This may include courses, training, certifications, internships, research papers, conference presentations, or publications in the field (additional relevant material may also be provided).
The Elizabeth Esterchild Scholarship
This scholarship was founded by Dr. Rudy Ray Seward in honor of his colleague Dr. Elizabeth Esterchild who was a fiery trailblazer for women across academia publishing seminal work in the field of gender bringing recognition for women in academia, UNT, and the department.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must be full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester), undergraduate Sociology majors at UNT.
The Lynne Killgore Scholarship
Lynne Killgore is an active alumna of the department striving to serve and support Sociology students with social, financial, and academic needs.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must be an undergraduate or graduate Sociology major (enrolled in at least 3 credit hours per semester) at UNT.
  • To be considered for this scholarship, students must provide a brief statement indicating how they meet the special eligibility requirements for this scholarship.
    • Preference will be given to non-traditional students who have been out of school for an absence of five years or more due to family responsibilities.
    • Preference is given to those who indicate they have not worked full-time during this absence.
The Al Murdock and Glenn Howze Scholarship
This scholarship was created by UNT alumnus Al Murdock to provide financial assistance to undergraduate Sociology majors who have transferred to UNT from a community college.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must have transferred to the University of North Texas from a community college.
  • Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester), undergraduate Sociology major.
    • Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated eligibility for need-based financial assistance, with a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) filed with UNT's Financial Aid Office.
The Sociology Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship
This scholarship was created by the Sociology Department.
 
Requirements:
  • Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time (12 credit hours per semester) undergraduate student majoring in Sociology at UNT with at least a 3.5 overall GPA and who have completed 12 hours of Sociology coursework at UNT.
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OTHER SOCIOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS

The general application CANNOT be used to apply to:
  • Sociology Unpaid Internship Scholarship
  • Undergraduate Research Fellowship Supplemental Scholarship
  • Lynne Killgore & Dave Michel Mentored Student Scholarship
  • Lynne Killgore & Dave Michel Peer-Mentor Coach Scholarship
Please apply to these scholarships using their respective applications provided in the descriptions below.
 
Sociology Unpaid Internship Scholarship
Students must be enrolled in SOCI 4950: Sociology Internship and successfully complete the course requirements (i.e., receive a "pass" final grade). The scholarship will not be disbursed until the student completes SOCI 4950. The recipient must be enrolled as an undergraduate sociology major at UNT during the semesters when the scholarship is paid. One annual award of $500 will be credited to the recipient's student account upon successful completion of the course. The awarding of this scholarship is subject each year to the availability of funds.
 
For this scholarship, please complete the application form accessible at this link: Sociology Unpaid Internship Scholarship Application
The scholarship application should be submitted to Sociology's Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Helen Potts, at the beginning of the semester in which the student is enrolled in SOCI 4950. Her email is Helen.Potts@unt.edu
 
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) Supplemental Scholarship
Applicants must first be accepted for the UNT Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) and have a Department of Sociology faculty serve as their research mentor for the fellowship.
 
If you are interested in this opportunity, please read the information linked here to apply; the deadline is in June. If you are chosen for a UNT Undergraduate Research Fellowship and are a Sociology major, then you are entitled to a $500 URF Sociology Supplemental Scholarship as long as your designated research mentor for the fellowship is a Sociology faculty member. You must apply for the scholarship and submit your application at the beginning of the academic year in which you will be a UNT Research Fellow. Please submit to Sociology@unt.edu and insert "URF Sociology Supplemental Scholarship" in the email subject line. Students previously awarded the Supplemental Scholarship may reapply with each successful URF application. The awarding of this scholarship is subject each year to the availability of funds.
 
For this scholarship, please complete the application form accessible at this link: Sociology Supplemental Scholarship Application
 
Killgore & Michel Sociology Mentoring Program Scholarships
There are two different types of scholarships available through the department's mentoring program: The Mentored Student Scholarships and the Peer-Mentor Coach Scholarships. See below for a description of both scholarships.
 
Mentored Student Scholarships: Are you a first-generation college student or first-time-in-college student who might benefit from participating along with other sociology majors in various mentoring activities on campus? Are you currently struggling in college and believe that you could benefit from a mentoring program? We seek through the department's mentoring program to improve the likelihood that you will succeed in college and earn a bachelor's degree.
 
Eligibility criteria:
  • Must be a full-time student at UNT.
  • Must have officially declared Sociology as your major.
  • Must be able to participate fully in the mentoring activities associated with the program during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year following your selection as a mentored-student scholarship recipient.
If you meet the above criteria, please fully complete the application available at this link: Mentored Student Scholarship Application
 
Peer-Mentor Coach Scholarships: Do you relate well to other students and have the leadership skills to mentor other students in how to succeed in college? Do you believe that you would excel at fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment where students can comfortably ask questions about their college experiences? Are you willing to serve as a college-success coach to a small group of up to four Sociology majors who are either first-generation college students, first-time-in-college students, or students who are academically struggling in college but are committed to improving their performance to earn a college degree? We seek peer-mentor coaches who have demonstrated that they can academically succeed in college and who want to make a difference in the lives of other college students who may be new to college or may be struggling academically.
 
Eligibility criteria:
  • Must be a full-time student at UNT
  • Must be a Sociology major with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
  • Must have completed at least 45 hours of college coursework, with at least 30 credit hours at UNT.
  • Must be willing to lead a small group of students in the activities associated with the department's mentoring program during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year following your selection as a peer mentor.
If you meet the above criteria, please fully complete the application available at this link: Peer Mentor Scholarship Application