Department of Family Social Science

University of Minnesota

Fellowship Opportunities 

Graduate students are welcome to apply for any or all

Mary Ellen McFarland Assistantship

Background: Dr. Charlotte Biester has established the graduate assistantship in honor of Mary Ellen McFarland to recognize her service, achievement, and leadership in home economics and to encourage students to prepare for advanced service in the family field. Mary Ellen McFarland served as President of the American Home Economics Association (AHEA), Chair of AHEA Foundation Board, President of the Minnesota Home Economics Association, and held other national and international offices. Her work with the Minnesota Citizens Committee on the Status of Women, the League of Women Voters, and other civic endeavors further exemplify her leadership. She was awarded the University of Minnesota Outstanding Achievement Award.

Purpose: The purpose of the assistantship is to provide a Family Social Science graduate student with support to work on a research or teaching project with a member of the faculty. Students would normally propose: (1) a program of research that would lead to a dissertation, thesis or research paper, or (2) the co-development of a course or educational program.

Terms: 50% assistantship for academic year

Selection Criteria: Masters and doctoral students in Family Social Science are eligible. Selection will be based on the potential contribution of the assistantship to the graduate student’s scholarly development and productivity; the potential contribution to the student’s degree completion; the student’s overall professional promise; the importance of the proposal to the family field; the extent to which the faculty member is available to guide, supervise, and to work with the student, and the career goals of the student. The successful applicant must be a student in good standing, defined as follows:

M. Janice Hogan Fellowship

Background: A fellowship to honor the work of M. Janice Hogan, professor of Family Social Science who is well known for her work in family resource management and gender roles. She has focused broadly on families, administration of programs that support families, international students, and administration in our College of Human Ecology.

Two $6000 fellowships (or one $12,000 fellowship) will be awarded across fall and spring semesters to support Family Social Science graduate student projects. Projects will be judged on the basis of anticipated benefit to the student and the family field from the granting of the fellowship(s).

David H. Olson Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Background: A fellowship to honor David H. Olson, a retired professor of Family Social Science who is well known for his work linking family theory, research, and practice.

A $12,000 fellowship to be awarded across fall and spring semesters. Recipient of this fellowship is also eligible to receive up to a 25% departmental assistantship. Priority will be given to a student whose dissertation reflects the innovative and academic spirit of Dr. David Olson’s work. This includes the development of family theory, couple/family research methods, and the linkage among family theory, research, and application. Publication(s) from the dissertation are an expectation. Dr. Olson will receive a copy of the dissertation abstract and a copy of publications stemming from this project.

David H and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Fellowship

Background: The David H. and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Fellowship Fund, launched in 2007, provides funding for graduate fellowships in the Department of Family Social Science for students enrolled in a degree program in the field of marital and family systems. Recipients are in good academic standing, with exceptional potential in their field, preference is given to students who are interested in any project related to the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems.

Graduate Student Travel Fund

Gift money from Family Social Science alumni, faculty, and friends is allocated in the amounts of $400 for out-of-state travel and $600 for international travel to support graduate students who present papers at national and international professional conferences. Students should submit a one-page letter of application and attach documentation (e.g., letter of invitation, program with name listed) no later than two weeks prior to travel. After students graduate, they will be encouraged to contribute to the travel fund for future students’ support – a fund built on reciprocity.

Neubeck Scholarship

This travel award is available annually for a student presenting a paper at the National Council on Family Relations or at other professional conferences in the family field. Currently the award is $600. Students should submit a one-page letter of proposal and attached documentation (of accepted paper by the conference) to the departmental Fellowship Awards Committee.

Shirley Zimmerman Fellowship

Background: A fellowship to honor Shirley Zimmerman, a retired professor of Family Social Science whose area of expertise was and is family policy.

A $1000 fellowship to support a Family Social Science graduate student for work on a project/doctoral dissertation dealing with family policy. Projects will be judged on the basis of anticipated benefit to the student and the family field from the granting of the fellowship.

Waller Summer Fellowship

Background: These competitive fellowships provide summer support for students who have an aggressive research plan with stated outcomes and goals compatible with the student's state i n degree program. Several $5,000 awards are available.

Block Grant Funding

This is competitive for first year students who are making excellent progress towards degree completion and have a complete degree plan outlined with the FSoS program faculty selected. Awards are for $5,000. The number varies each year between two or three.

*The department informs students of the availability of scholarship opportunities and accepts applications in the spring of each year.