Awards & Scholarships

History majors and graduate students have access to a number of scholarships and awards, some of which are listed below. Some are awarded by the faculty, while others, like the Dickerson and Welling Scholarships, require a separate application (contact the History Department for details). But if you want funding, you need to help us out by, yes, filling out a form.

To be eligible for all possible awards and scholarships, students must fill out UNC’s Universal Scholarship Application. The application is available between December 1 and March 1 for new freshmen and continuing students. After March 1 it will be too late to be considered for the upcoming year. Transfer, graduate and international students have until June 1 to apply. 

We would love to give you funding, but we can only do so if you apply. Fill out that form before the deadline!

• Undergraduate Scholarships

  William H. Benson Scholarship

  • Awarded to History major with at least 30 credits completed
  • Minimum 3.25 GPA
  • Awarded by the History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500-$1000
  • Don E. Bruner Memorial History Scholarship
  • Awarded to a student who is also eligible for a Provost Scholarship
  • History major who, ideally, is also interested in Anthropology, 3.0 GPA
  • Student must complete UNC financial aid form

  Benjamin F. Byerly Memorial Scholarship

  • Junior History major with emphasis in European History
  • Minimum 3.0 overall GPA; 3.5 History GPA
  • Submit a 1,000-word essay on the importance of History
  • Awarded by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500
  • Anderson A. Cordill Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Student must be eligible for a Provost Scholarship
  • Full-time History major with above average GPA, ability and promise

  Eleanor S. and Alma H. Dickerson Scholarship

  • Junior social sciences student, which includes History majors
  • Demonstrated scholarly achievement, personality, and promise
  • Students apply their junior year; ask for application info in Department
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,900

  Elizabeth and John S. Welling Scholarship

  • History, Political Science or social science major with a 3.0 or better GPA
  • Apply sophomore year; must show financial need; complete UNC financial aid form
  • Inquire in the History Department for more information
  • Estimated amount of award: $3,900

  Goodman Teacher Scholarship

  • Awarded to History majors seeking teacher licensure with a 3.0 or better GPA
  • Student must be completing their sememster of student teaching when awarded
  • Preferences given  to those that demonstrate financial need, graduate from a Colorado high school west of the continental divide, or pursing a career as a middle school teacher
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,500

  Department of History Faculty Scholarship

  • Awarded to students with a declared History major and an emphasis in Secondary Education
  • The applicant must have a declared History major with an emphasis in Secondary Education and be a freshman student
  • Preference for recipient to be the first generation in their family to attend college, or demonstrate financial need, or be considered to be a member of an underrepresented community
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,000

  Eulalia Heath Scholarship in History

  • Awarded to students with financial need that are majoring in History
  • To qualify for this opportunity the student must be majoring in history and demonstrate financial need
  • Open to undergraduate and graduate students
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,000

  Dr. Robert W. Larson Memorial Scholarship

  • Awarded to junior and senior students majoring in History
  • The applicant must be majoring in History; have a 3.0+ GPA; be a junior or senior student; and have completed or be enrolled in the class HIST 320: Early America to 1763, or its equivalent
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,000

  The Dr. Barry Rothaus Scholarship

  • Awarded to History majors
  • The applicant must be a History major; with a cumulative GPA of 3.0+ and a History GPA of 3.33+; and must have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours by award time
  • Preference to students who will have completed 12 hours of Modern European History (year 1750 or later) by the end of their junior year
  • Applicants will submit for review to the History Scholarship Committee a 5-7 page typewritten essay that addresses any history subject in modern European history. The submission may be either a paper written expressly for this award, or one already submitted toward satisfying requirements for a Modern European history course at UNC
  • Estimated amount of award: $1,000
• Graduate Scholarships

  Oliver M. Dickerson Memorial Scholarship

  • Selection by History faculty based on scholarship, personality and promise
  • Inquire in the History Department for more information
  • Estimated amount of award: $7,000

  Graduate Dean's Scholarship

  • Awarded to new graduate students
  • Upon acceptance to the History MA program, have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2
  • Maintain a UNC GPA of at least 3.2
  • Enroll for 3-8 credits to receive $250 per semester
  • Enroll for 9 or more credits to receive $1,000 per semester
  • History will contact you if you are eligible
• History Department Awards

  Alumni Award

  • Awarded to graduating senior History major
  • Minimum 3.0 overall GPA, and 3.5 History GPA
  • Awarded by the History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500

  Pearl Schumann Bloch / James J. Bloch Memorial Endowment

  • Awarded for outstanding research paper on the Holocaust
  • Submissions will be requested by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500

  Hazel E. Johnson Colorado History Award

  • Awarded for outstanding research paper on Colorado History
  • One undergraduate and one graduate student awarded annually
  • Submissions will be requested by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500

  Hazel E. Johnson Personal Achievement Award

  • Awarded to graduating History major who displays a "zest for life," a commitment to history, a propensity to share life with others, and who inspires others
  • Selected by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500

  William H. Benson Outstanding Junior History Award

  • A junior History student with an outstanding record
  • Selected by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500

  Outstanding Senior History Award

  • A senior History student with an outstanding record
  • Selected by History faculty
  • Estimated amount of award: $500