Awards and Fellowships

Each year, a limited number of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships are offered to incoming graduate students. These may include renewable half-time graduate assistantships, which include a monthly stipend, nine (9) credits of tuition per semester, health insurance, plus a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition.

Because of the uncertainty and limited extent of departmental funding, we also encourage students to apply for funding from other MSU sources, as well as from government funding agencies and foundations. In general, most students do find support and funding.

The Department tries to fund students for multiple years, generally for the first four years in the program, assuming progress in the program is satisfactory. All funding is, of course, dependent upon the availability of funds.

Below is a list of the endowed funds available:

Alumni & Friends Fund for Archeology

The Department of Anthropology encourages all archeology students to apply for The Alumni & Friends Fund for Archeology. This fund is intended to support MSU Department of Anthropology archaeology students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress. The fund, which is open to both graduates and undergraduates, may be used to support a variety of activities or needs, including professional development, travel, research, fieldwork, and equipment.

Funding: $1500

Deadline: April 17 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

Lynne Goldstein Fellowship Fund

The Lynne Goldstein Fellowship Fund is open to graduate students enrolled in the MSU Department of Anthropology, with preference given to those students who have participated in the Campus Archaeology Program. Funds are intended to assist students doing their dissertation research, which does not need to be linked to Campus Archaeology.

How to apply: Application should be made via letter (no more than two pages in PDF format) addressed to the Archaeology Faculty and must be sent to Cathi Pierce (piercec7@msu.edu) by the listed deadline with the name of the fund as the subject heading. Applicants should provide an overview of their progress in their program of study, description of their research, and a discussion of how the funds will support their ongoing dissertation work. Any applicant who previously received any department archaeology award (William A. Lovis Research Fund in Environmental Archaeology, Alumni and Friends Fund for Archaeology, or Lynne Goldstein Fellowship) must also include a separate written summary of no more than one page providing details on what was done with the previous award(s), how this new application is distinct from previously funded work, and how the new proposed work articulates with previously funded work (if relevant).

In addition to the letter of application, a detailed budget and budget justification (no more than two pages in PDF format) must be included in the application material. The committee requires that the applicant’s dissertation advisor send a statement of endorsement for the application via email to Cathi Pierce (piercec7@msu.edu). Experience (if any) in the Campus Archaeology Program should be indicated in the application letter.

Eligibility: Open to both graduates and undergraduates and is intended to support the research, scholarly activities, and professional development of MSU Department of Anthropology archaeology students.

Funding: The total amount of funding available this year will be $1500

Deadline: April 17 5 p.m. EST

The William A. Lovis Research Fund in Environmental Archaeology

The Department of Anthropology encourages all graduate students to apply for The William A. Lovis Research Fund in Environmental Archaeology. This fund is intended to support interdisciplinary environmental archaeological research bridging anthropological archaeology and the natural, physical, biological and earth sciences. It is designed to underwrite and enhance the work of graduate students who investigate human/environment interaction for deeper time periods prior to Euro-American colonization episodes worldwide.

How to apply: Application should be made via letter (no more than two pages in PDF format) addressed to the Archaeology Faculty and must be sent to Cathi Pierce (piercec7@msu.edu) by the listed deadline with the name of the fund as the subject heading. Applicants should provide an overview of their progress in their program of study and eligibility, description of their research or other eligible activity, and a specific discussion about their anticipated use of the funding.  Any applicant who previously received any department archaeology award (William A. Lovis Research Fund in Environmental Archaeology, Alumni and Friends Fund for Archaeology, or Lynne Goldstein Fellowship) must also include a separate written summary of no more than one page providing details on what was done with the previous award(s), how this new application is distinct from previously funded work, and how the new proposed work articulates with previously funded work (if relevant).

In addition to the letter of application, a detailed budget and budget justification (no more than two pages in PDF format) must be included in the application material. All applicants should have their advisor’s approval for the application and proposed activity.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a graduate student enrolled in anthropological archaeology within The Department of Anthropology, specializing in interdisciplinary environmental research and in good standing with MSU.

Funding: The total amount of funding available this year will be $1500

Deadline: April 17 5 p.m. EST

In addition to the support available in the department, the following programs are available:

General Graduate School Funding Opportunities
Visit: https://grad.msu.edu/funding

University Fellowship Programs
Visit: https://grad.msu.edu/universityfellowships

This fellowship program provides financial support for outstanding students, based on demonstrated academic excellence and evidence of leadership potential. Students must be new to graduate study at MSU and plan to earn a doctoral (PhD) or MFA degree. Only US citizens or permanent residents are eligible. To be considered for the University Fellowship Program, students should indicate on the graduate application to MSU that they are interested in departmental funding. Those applications will be screened for suitability for a number of award opportunities, including the University Fellowship Programs.

International Studies & Programs Student Funding
Visit: https://www.isp.msu.edu/information-resources/student-funding/

Foreign Language Areas Studies (FLAS) Awards

The US Department of Education’s FLAS Fellowships are awarded to MSU graduate students enrolled in programs that combine the study of a modern foreign language with advanced training in international development studies or in the international development aspects of professional or other fields of study. An applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident. Fellowships are given for both the academic year and for summer intensive courses.

African Studies Center
Visit: http://africa.isp.msu.edu/
The African Studies Center is one of a suite of highly respected international studies programs at MSU, whose purpose is to offer a truly global education while engaging in cutting edge research on the world’s most pressing challenges.