Department Scholarships
Each year, the Political Science Department awards a variety of scholarships ranging from $500-$1500. The scholarship cycle runs each October.
University Scholarships
Each year, CU Denver students are awarded over $30 million in scholarships from institutional, local, state, and national sources. Learn more, and apply here.
Student Employment Opportunities
Student work opportunities are available via Handshake to offset the cost of enrollment.
General Department Scholarships
Criteria: Eligible students are undergraduate or graduate Political Science Majors who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the study of women’s issues. Such issues may include but are not limited to gender and international development, feminist movements, and women as political candidates, leaders or voters.
Award: $1,500 will be awarded to one student per academic year.
To Apply:
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Resume - Single page including professional, educational, and leadership achievements. Include the ways in which you have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the study of women’s issues.
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Essay – 500-1000 words responding to the following prompt: During her lifetime, Karen Beeks was highly motivated, organized, and communicative. She was active in student government and demonstrated strong academic achievement and good moral character. How do you exemplify these qualities, and how will you carry those qualities forward with you?
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Transcript – A copy of your CU Denver official or unofficial transcript.
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Submit – Send materials to Angela.Schmitt@ucdenver.edu.
Applications are due by Friday, November 10, 2023.
Criteria: Eligible students must be single parents completing the undergraduate PSCI program. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated exceptional service or leadership in engaging in the challenges facing traditionally marginalized and/or low-income communities.
Award: $1000 will be awarded to one student per academic year.
To Apply:
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Resume – Single page including professional, educational, community service, leadership, or personal achievements. Somewhere on this page include the following line: “I confirm that I am a single parent.”
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Essay - 500-750 words describing your commitment to community engagement and civic leadership. Address your personal background, community service and civic engagement, vision for improved society and career aspirations. Somewhere on this page, include the following line: “I confirm that I am a single parent.”
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Transcript – A copy of your CU Denver official or unofficial transcript.
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Submit – Send materials to Angela.Schmitt@ucdenver.edu.
Applications are due by Friday, November 10, 2023.
Criteria: Eligible students are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a Political Science degree program. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated either strong academic success, or a notable improvement in academic work within their degree program.
Award: $500 will be awarded to two students per academic year.
To Apply:
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Resume – Single page including professional, educational, community service, leadership, or personal achievements. Please include your major, GPA, and favorite course taken in the CU Denver Political Science Department.
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Essay - 500-750 words describing how you would benefit from this scholarship.
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Transcript – A copy of your CU Denver official or unofficial transcript.
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Submit – Send materials to Angela.Schmitt@ucdenver.edu.
No awards available this year.
Study Abroad Scholarships for Berlin or Korea
Criteria:
- Student must be full-time at CU Denver and in good academic standing.
- Student intends to enroll in the Berlin: Bridging Global Divides or Korea Goes Global study abroad program in the Spring of 2024.
- Limited international travel experience and enrolled in no previous study abroad program.
- Financial need.
- Merit, defined by academic, extra-curricular or professional achievement and/or by the substance of required scholarship essay.
- Prefere will be given to undergraduate students.
Award: Multiple scholarships available ranging from $500 - $1500.
To Apply:
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Resume – Short, including the following details (where relevant): Major and GPA, notable awards and scholastic achievements, extra-curricular activities, and professional achievements/jobs held. Please note: you do not need to have a long list of achievements to apply for this award- the cord eligibility criteria are financial need and limited international experience.
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Essay – 750 words (or less) addressing the following points:
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Summarize any international travel you have experienced to date.
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Summarize why you would like to study abroad in Berlin or Korea, and how you hope to benefit: personally, professionally, or academically.
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Set forth a goal for personal funds you will attempt to raise for the trip, and estimate how much financial assistance you believe you need to make the trip happen.
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Your essay may also elaborate on your financial need, if you wish (not required.)
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Transcript – A copy of your CU Denver official or unofficial transcript.
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Pell Grant Eligibility - A signed and dated statement of the following: “I authorize the Matson scholarship committee to contact the CU Denver Financial Aid office to certify my Pell Grant eligibility.” (In order to help the scholarship committee assess financial need; you do not need to be Pell Grant eligible to apply).
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Submit – Send materials to Angela.Schmitt@ucdenver.edu.
PLEASE NOTE: All scholarship recipients will be expected to submit a short essay after their trip summarizing whether their study abroad goals were met, and to participate in one stewardship event within the following year to share their experience, with the intent to help future scholarship fundraising. Students will be asked to sign an agreement of notice of these expectations upon accepting their scholarship.
Applications are due by Friday, November 10, 2023.
About the Donors
Richard Matson: This scholarship is being provided through an endowed fund, established by Political Science Professor Emeritus Jana Everett, in memory of her father, Richard Matson. The scholarship is meant to introduce students to the life-changing experience of international travel, and to support students who may not be able to afford such travel through their own resources.
Matthew and Joya Wolf: This scholarship is being provided through an endowed fund, established by Matthew and Joya Wolf, to support undergraduate students planning on attending a study abroad trip offered by the Political Science department. Matthew and Joya Wolf believe that international travel can be a very instructive and eye-opening event, especially for students who have never crossed international borders.
Karen D. Beeks: This scholarship is being provided in memory of Department alum, Karen Beeks, and is supported through a generous endowment supplied by Karen’s surviving family. During her lifetime Karen Beeks was a highly motivated professional, with impressive academic achievements, who demonstrated a life-long commitment to the study and advancement of women’s issues in her community and across the world. She spent a decade helping to coordinate the Colorado Legislative Breakfast series, edited a book on global human trafficking, and coordinated several conventions on women's issues, including a "Human Trafficking and Trade Conference" and "Beijing and Beyond: Colorado Perspectives on the Global Woman."
Jerry Jacks: This scholarship is provided in memory of long-time Department faculty member Jerry Jacks and is supported by the Jerry Jacks Endowment. During his lifetime, Jerry Jacks was a highly motivated Instructor with a special passion for building service-learning programs in low-income communities that brought university students into beneficial partnerships with community groups across the Denver region. Jerry wished for any fund in his honor to continue to support students engaged in this kind of service-partnerships and wished also to honor his sister who worked hard to support her family as a single parent.