Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards

The School of Anthropology offers a number of scholarships for undergraduate students to provide financial assistance for tuition, travel, and more.

Students may apply for these funds to help with a variety of educational activities, including a research project, presentation at professional meetings, enrolling in a field school or study abroad program. There are two application cycles per year, one in the Fall semester and one in the Spring semester. Application information is sent out to all Anthropology majors via email.

  • Source: Generous contributions from various donors
  • Eligibility: Anthropology undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors (expecting to graduate Spring 2025 or sooner)
  • Purpose: To provide financial assistance to Anthropology undergraduate students for tuition up to 9 credits, a field school or similar opportunity before graduation, technology, books, and/or equipment needed in courses or in other credit-bearing educational experiences.
  • Funding: Number and amount varies according to distribution from endowments

Priority will be given to students exhibiting financial need and nearing graduation, but all who are eligible are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Process

Students complete an application through Scholarship Universe. Call for applications and deadlines are announced to the listserv for Anthropology undergraduates every semester.

Please note: Cacioppo Funding has a special application process, see below for more information.

  • Source: Made possible by the Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Foundation Honoring Charles R. Young
  • Eligibility: All graduate and undergraduate Anthropology majors
  • Purpose: To provide funding for graduate study in Italy
  • Funding: One or more awards, amounts vary. Up to $35,000 has been awarded

Application Process

Students applying for the Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Scholarship for Study in Italy should do the following:

  1. Write a one-page letter of intent including your name and email address, your year of study at the University of Arizona, your major and minor areas of study, a brief statement about why and what you want to study or what you wish to do in Italy including any course or courses you wish to take, and a brief description of any honors or awards you may have.
  2. Provide a copy of your University of Arizona transcript—you must have at least a 3.5 GPA to be eligible for an award.
  3. Provide one letter of recommendation from a university faculty member.

All application materials should be emailed to Dr. David Soren at soren@email.arizona.edu with the subject line Orvieto Travel Grant Application. For questions please also contact Dr. Soren.

Deadline: Your application materials should be received by January 17th for summer programs.

Scholarships are made possible by the JOSEPH AND MARY CACIOPPO FOUNDATION HONORING CHARLES R. YOUNG.

  • Source: Generous contributions from various donors
  • Eligibility: Anthropology undergraduate and graduate students
  • Purpose: To provide funding for Anthropology students who are conducting research or attending professional academic meetings to share their research findings
  • Funding: Number and amount varies according to distribution from endowments

Funds for professional meetings may be used to support registration, travel, lodging, and meals. Research funds may be used to support travel and living expenses in the field, supplies, and equipment needed to carry out the research.

Application Process

Students prepare a proposal and itemized budget for their research or meeting participation and must consult with a faculty advisor or mentor about the scope and feasibility of their proposal. Students will email their application and proposal to a School Box folder. Call for applications and deadlines are announced to the listserv for Anthropology undergraduates every semester.

The School of Anthropology will present three Undergraduate Student Graduation Recognition Awards. These awards honor seniors with a major in anthropology and overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher who will graduate during the academic year. Students who are recognized with awards are given an appropriate gift. Each student’s name is engraved on a plaque that indicates the award.  

  • School of Anthropology Scholars’ Award: Student must exhibit a record of outstanding academic achievement and activities that involve the practice of anthropology.
  • School of Anthropology Leadership Award: Student must exhibit a record of outstanding academic achievement and leadership in School, campus-wide, and/or community activities beyond academic course requirements.
  • School of Anthropology Ganesh Award: Student must exhibit a record of outstanding academic achievement in the face of significant personal obstacles.

The School of Anthropology Scholars’ Award and The School of Anthropology Leadership Award can be given up to twice a year, and the Ganesh Award is given when justified by special circumstances.

Nominations

Incomplete nomination packets or those submitted after the due date cannot be considered. All School participants may submit nomination forms to sponsor eligible students and former students. School participants are voting faculty members, faculty members with affiliated status, graduate students, undergraduate students, and professional staff. An individual or a group of individuals may nominate eligible students. The sponsor consults with the nominee to obtain appropriate information.

Nomination Form

Donor Acknowledgements

Our scholarships and awards are made possible by generous contributors:

  • Thomas Bogard Bequest Scholarship: A gift from the estate of Thomas A. Bogard
  • Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Scholarship for Study in Italy: The Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Foundation Honoring Charles R. Young
  • Byron Cummings Memorial Scholarship (all subfields): Friends, family and associates of the late Byron Cummings
  • William Shirley Fulton Scholarship (archaeology): A bequest by the late William Shirley Fulton, pioneer Arizona archaeologist, and founder of the Amerind Foundation of Dragoon, Arizona
  • Emil W. Haury Education Fund for Archaeology (archaeology): Contributions for the advancement of archaeological learning, established by friends and colleagues of Emil W. Haury, Head of the Department of Anthropology and Director of the Arizona State Museum
  • Mary Alice Sherry Helm Scholarship (all subfields): A gift from her mother, Ilene Mills Sherry, and family and friends of Mary Alice Sherry Helm who received a MA degree from the University of Arizona
  • William and Nancy Sullivan Scholarship (all subfields): A bequest from Nancy Epler Sullivan

Other On-Campus Opportunities

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers a number of scholarships and recognition awards to outstanding students in the SBS.

College of SBS Scholarships

College of SBS Graduation Awards

The W. A. Franke Honors College offers funding to Honors undergraduate students for study abroad & travel and other areas.

Spirit of Inquiry Research Grants

The W. A. Franke Honors College provides grants to help you pursue research projects of your own design under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Research can be done in any field, from science to humanities to engineering to fine arts. Students who anticipate needing extra time and support to collect data or do the work involved in their Honors Thesis/Capstone are eligible to apply. 

Grants are awarded up to a maximum of $1,500. A committee comprised of students, faculty and community members select the award-winning proposals. All Spirit of Inquiry Research Grant recipients present their work in the spring semester following their award. All W. A. Franke Honors students are eligible to apply.

Spirit of Inquiry Research Grants