Resources

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The History Department offers financial assistance to most graduate students in some form, but also encourages students to seek awards from outside institutions and apply for university scholarships or assistance when eligible.

Department Tuition Stipends
The department considers all matriculated graduate students for tuition awards without requiring separate application. Awards generally range between $300 and $500 per semester and are allocated based on academic performance and reviews.

Department Scholarships
HELEN CARTER WARR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
This $1,000 annual award is given to graduate students in History who are either newly accepted or currently enrolled on a full-time basis. Students must have a 3.5 or better GPA in history course work. The fellowship is intended for graduate students of exceptional achievement and promise. The department considers all matriculated graduate students for this award without requiring separate application.

MARK EARL BROTHERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This annual award is given to graduate students who demonstrate a sincere love of history, have high moral character and maintain a 3.3 or better GPA. Financial need may be taken into consideration. Award amount may vary but generally is for 1/2 tuition for two semesters. The department considers all matriculated graduate students for this award without requiring separate application

DELAMAR AND MARY JENSEN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
This $1,000 annual award is given to graduate students in Modern European History who demonstrate a sincere love of history, have high moral character, maintain a 3.3 or better GPA and demonstrate exceptional achievement and promise. Financial need may be taken into consideration. The department considers all matriculated graduate students for this award without requiring separate application.

ARTHUR BECKER GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
This $2,000 annual award is given to graduate students in Civil War or Military History who demonstrate a sincere love of history, have high moral character, maintain a 3.3 or better GPA and demonstrate exceptional achievement and promise. Financial need may be taken into consideration. The department considers all matriculated graduate students for this award without requiring separate application.

WILLIAM J. SNOW RESEARCH AWARDS
These awards range from $50 to $1,000 and are available for graduate students in history to help fund impressive research topics in Mormon or Western American History. Applicants must have a 3.5 or better GPA, and must submit a funding application form accompanied by a well-designed research proposal. The proposal must describe the nature of the project, preparatory work completed by the applicant, sources the applicant intends to use, and the contribution the completed research will make to historical understanding. Application materials are available from the History Department.

HISTORY DEPARTMENT GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS.
These awards are available for graduate students in history for the express purpose of funding thesis research. Applicants must have completed at least one full semester and may apply after successfully beginning a second semester. Applicants must submit a Funding Application Form accompanied by a research proposal that includes a detailed description of the thesis topic, the purpose of the research and how it will aid in completion of the thesis, etc. Application forms require approval by Graduate Advisor. Application materials are available from the History Department.

STUDENT TRAVEL FUNDS
Limited travel funds are available for graduate students who have been invited to present papers at professional meetings outside the BYU area. Proposals must be accompanied by an official notification or official program from the applicable conference/meeting. Application materials are available from the History Department.

University Research Fellowships
The Graduate Research Fellowship award is a university-sponsored annual award designed to support thesis research and to encourage independent research, scholarly, and creative activity among graduate students. The Fellowship is a $4,000 award to be used in support of the student's research and creative work. Approximately twelve fellowships are awarded each year.

Students from all disciplines are invited to apply. MA students must have completed one semester of graduate school and have selected the topic for their thesis. Applicants must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward their degree.

Applications are judged on the quality of the proposal as well as the applicant's potential for accomplishing the proposed project.

Application forms are generally available from the History Department in November. Applications are due to the Department by January 15.

Other Fellowship/Grant Opportunities
The Office of Graduate Studies maintains a computer database of more than 4500 fellowships available to graduate students worldwide. Awards and eligibility vary greatly. Students may go to the Graduate Office (B-356 ASB) to search the database at their convenience.

As the department receives notification of other fellowship or award opportunities, information is posted on the bulletin boards in the History Department lobby.

Assistantships/Employment

Most graduate students in the History department are employed as teaching or research assistants throughout their graduate program. Assistantships can give students valuable experience in hands-on training, as well as provide a needed service to faculty members in the department.

Assignments will vary each semester, but the vast majority of students work as teaching assistants for Hist 200, 201, 202, 220 or 221. Most assignments are for 10 hours/week during the Fall and Winter semesters and for 20 hours/week during the Spring and Summer terms. Graduate students are given first priority for assistantships, but generally do not receive awards for both Spring and Summer terms due to the limited number of assistantships during these terms.

First year graduate students are paid at a rate of $15.75/hr. Second year graduate students are paid $16.50/hr.

On occasion a student may request two assignments or additional hours up to 20 hours/week, or choose to accept employment in another department on campus in addition to their assignment in the History department. While the department understands the financial obligations of its graduate students and will occasionally approve such requests, we strongly discourage students from working more than 10 hours/week as experience has shown additional work loads tend to interfere with academic progress and will slow a student's progress toward graduation. Needless to say, working full-time while pursuing a demanding master's program is even more strongly discouraged.

Students interested in an assistantship should contact the History Department Administrative Assistant by the advertised deadlines.

Parking

A limited number of parking spaces near the Law School and the Marriott School have been designated as "G-parking" lots. Graduate students may obtain a "G" permit allowing parking in G or Y parking lots. Permits do not guarantee a parking space but allow a student to park in the designated lot when space is available.

These permits will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and expire each year on September 15th.

Mail Box

All graduate students are assigned a mail box in the History Department lobby located in 2130 JFSB. Students should check their box frequently for information from the department, their advisor or committee members, other students or information related to their assistantships.

Office Space

Shared office space is available for graduate students in 2112 JFSB. Graduate students will be assigned individual carrel space in this office. Computers and filing space is also available for graduate student use in this office. Students are expected to keep the office tidy, clean up after themselves and secure the office when they leave. Students should see the Department Administrative Assistant to obtain access to this office.

Copy Machine

The department copy machine is available for department business only. Any personal copies (including research and/or thesis) should be made at campus copy centers.

Computer Equipment

Computers are available for graduate student use in the Graduate Student office. Be sure to save your data on removable media, not on the computers' hard drives. For assistance with computer problems, or for supplies, please contact either the lab assistants or History Department staff. Any use of computers to access improper web sites is grounds for expulsion from BYU.

Resources

Links

Graduate Handbook