Sociology Scholarships

While psychology majors examine the inner workings of the human brain, those majoring in sociology focus more on (not surprising, given the subject’s name) society. If that description sounds broad to you, it is – if you’ve done something, at least one sociologist has studied or is currently studying it – and a number of research methods are employed to secure their findings. How do people respond to laws and mores? What’s considered “normal” and what’s considered “weird”? A sociologist will be able to answer these questions as well as tell you why people behave certain ways in certain situations through observations, interviews and advanced statistical techniques.

A sociologist’s point of view is different than, say, an economist or political strategist studying the same scenario but they all once shared a common bond: finding money to fund their educations. Sociology majors have a number of career opportunities available to them with baccalaureate degrees but for those interested in specialized studies or have aspirations of teaching at the university level, master’s and even doctoral degrees are necessary. Luckily, sociology is a field teeming with financial aid assistance ranging from scholarships and grants to research fellowships and internships all geared toward maximizing their knowledge without maxing out their savings accounts.

California State University, Sacramento, Calvin College, Southern Nazarene University and Michigan State University all offer university-based sociology scholarships while the American Sociological Association provides multiple opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in their concentration of choice. Even right here at Scholarships.com, there are extensive sociology scholarship awards available for majors – a handful of which are listed below – just by completing a free scholarship search.

ALBA George Watt Memorial Essay Contest
Application Deadlines: July 15, Annually
This annual essay competition was established in 1998 to honor Lincoln vet George Watt, a writer and lifelong activist central to the creation of ALBA.

Students from anywhere in the world are invited to submit an essay or thesis chapter about any aspect of the Spanish Civil War, the global political or cultural struggles against fascism in 1920s and 1930s, or the lifetime histories and [...] More

AWMF & Loreen Arbus Foundation Focus on Disability Scholarship
Application Deadlines: March 31, Annually
Our mission is to utilize the media to create positive change. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation supports educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the media, and allied fields.

This journalist scholarship program consists of one scholarship, made payable directly to the winning student's educational institute. The [...] More

Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 10, Annually
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards prestigious scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy and outside the box. Davidson Fellows are honored every year in Washington, D.C. with Congressional meetings and a special reception. [...] More

Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications
Application Deadlines: April 30, Annually
Wouldn't a scholarship help you breathe a little easier? Truth Initiative is offering college and graduate students a chance to earn the "Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Priority Populations." The annual scholarship competition empowers and supports students eager to help Truth Initiative achieve a generation for whom tobacco use is [...] More

East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)
Application Deadlines: November 12, Annually
NSF and selected foreign counterpart science and technology agencies sponsor international research institutes for U.S. graduate students in seven East Asia and Pacific locations at times set by the counterpart agencies between June and August each year. The Summer Institutes (EAPSI) operate similarly and the research visits to a particular location take place at the same time. Although [...] More

Jesse B. Smith Memorial Scholarship
Application Deadlines: May 13, Annually
Jesse B. Smith was a longtime point man for Jacksonville's economic development initiatives under four mayors. The most notable work of this outstanding public official took place during his appointment as Deputy Director of the Planning and Development Department of the city from 1990-1995. During this time, he was a key organizer of many of the city's efforts to attract new businesses and was [...] More

NFRW National Pathfinder Scholarship
Application Deadlines: June 01, Annually
Established in 1985 in honor of First Lady Nancy Reagan's efforts in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, the National Pathfinder Scholarship is awarded annually to women who are studying in a related field.

Three scholarships of $2,500 each are given to the best candidate nominated by her state Federation president and chosen by the NFRW Executive Committee. Applicants must be currently [...] More

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Application Deadlines:
The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The prestigious program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based [...] More

StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 15, Annually
The FLASH Scholarship Program offers $1,500 graduate scholarships for students seeking academic degrees that underpin disaster safety and mitigation, including construction, engineering, financial services, risk communication, social sciences and more. The scholarship program was originally created as a higher education extension of StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, the popular interactive severe [...] More

The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) Graduate Scholarships
Application Deadlines: February 28, Annually
Scholarship recipients will receive a trip to Atlanta where they will participate in career building activities including a welcome dinner with a keynote speaker, two career & professional development workshops and a scholarship & donor recognition reception.

Eligibility:
-Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
-Must be a member of one of the following ethnic groups: African [...] More

The LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships
Application Deadlines: February 28, Annually
Scholarship recipients will receive a trip to Atlanta where they will participate in career building activities including a welcome dinner with a keynote speaker, two daylong career & professional development workshops and a scholarship & donor recognition reception.

Eligibility:
-Open to current freshmen, sophomores, juniors and non-graduating seniors only
-Must be a U.S. citizen or [...] More

The Saul Kagan Claims Conference Fellowship for Advanced Shoah Studies
Application Deadlines: January 04, Annually
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) is offering a limited number of fellowships for Ph.D. and postdoctoral candidates conducting research on the Holocaust.

The Saul Kagan Claims Conference Fellowship for Advanced Shoah Studies aims to strengthen Shoah studies and Holocaust memory throughout the world. Our mission is to support the advanced study of the [...] More

The Senior Care Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 15, Annually
A Place for Mom is proud to offer a scholarship to university students interested in the fields of aging and gerontology. As North America's largest senior living referral service, we know the importance of supporting the training and education of our future senior care leaders. This scholarship will be awarded to a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) [...] More

WIFLE Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines: May 02, Annually
WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. (both known as WIFLE) are organizations with a goal to achieve gender equity within federal law enforcement through the recruitment, retention, and promotion of qualified women. WIFLE offers several scholarships to talented individuals to meet the demands in the field of law enforcement and to foster the professional development of [...] More