PSCI Department Scholarships
Each year, the Political Science Department awards a variety of scholarships ranging from $500-$1500 on Scholarship Universe.
PSCI Study Abroad Scholarships
Each year, the Political Science Department awards a variety of scholarships to students who participate in a PSCI study abroad program. Applicants will submit materials to Tony.Robinson@ucdenver.edu, who will be overseeing the application cycle.
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: up to $1,500
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.
About the Donor: 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."
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: up to $3,000
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.
About the donor: 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.
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: up to $500
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.
Department Study Abroad Scholarships
Criteria:
- Student must be full-time at CU Denver and in good academic standing.
- Student intends to enroll in a PSCI study abroad program within the academic year of their application.
- 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).
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.
About the donor: 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.
Criteria:
- Student must be full-time at CU Denver and in good academic standing.
- Student intends to enroll in a PSCI study abroad program within the academic year of their application.
- 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.
-
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.
-
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.
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.
About the donors: 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.
Criteria: This scholarship aims to support underrepresented students in the Political Science Department who are participating in a CU Denver study abroad program. Underrepresented students include those students from geographic areas and socioeconomic backgrounds who are historically underrepresented in the College, and/or students who have faced unusual adversity. Eligible students must be enrolled in the Political Science Department at CU Denver.
Award: up to $1000 available
To Apply:
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Essay – 750 words (or less) discussing the student’s underrepresentation or unusual adversity faced in their academic pursuits, or the student’s demonstrated experience in or commitment to working with underrepresented populations.
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Transcript – A copy of your CU Denver official or unofficial transcript.
About the donors:
Professor Steve Thomas was one of the founding faculty members of the CU Denver Political Science Department, and taught for over 40 years in the program, focusing on Chinese politics, Human Rights, and International Studies. He helped build CU Denver’s international connections through his research and teaching on issues of Chinese political and economic development, and by teaching in the Semester at Sea program.
Professor Thomas has been a community leader from his days as a Freedom Rider in the south to anti-nuclear weapon struggles at Rocky Flats, to his more recent work with the American Friends Service Committee, with UN Ambassador Andrew Young, and with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King. Professor Thomas is a beloved, keystone foundation of our Political Science department, having served several stints as Department Chair, and always bringing his warm and big-hearted spirit to all his colleagues and students.