Scholarships

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 current scholarships available to anthropology graduate students within the department.

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Altimare Professional Development Scholarship

Who qualifies: Graduate students

Award amount: $2000

Deadline to apply: April 4, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (ET)

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Alumni & Friends Fund for Archeology

Details & How to Apply

The Department of Anthropology welcomes applications for the Alumni & Friends Fund for Archaeology. The fund, which is open to both graduates and undergraduates, 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 may be used to support a variety of activities or needs, including professional development, travel, research, fieldwork, and equipment. How to Apply: Application should be made via letter (no more than 2 pages in PDF format) addressed to the Archaeology Faculty and must be sent to Stacey Camp (campstac@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, a description of what the intended funds will be used for, and a discussion of how the funds will support their research, education, or professional development. 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 2 pages in PDF format) must be included in the application material.

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Lynne Goldstein Fellowship Fund

Details & How to Apply

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 Stacey Camp (campstac@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, a description of what the intended funds will be used for, and a discussion of how the funds will support their research, education, or professional development. 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 Stacey Camp (campstac@msu.edu). Experience (if any) in the Campus Archaeology Program should be indicated in the application letter.

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Peter J. Bertocci Anthropology Scholarship

Details & How to Apply

The Peter J. Bertocci Anthropology Scholarship is awarded to graduate students pursuing a degree from the Department of Anthropology. First preference will be given to those students who have indicated an interest in cultural anthropology. Second preference will be given to those who are first generation to attend and/or graduate from college and/or have demonstrated financial need. This award may be used for, but not limited to, costs associated with field research. Please note that a total of $2000 is available this year. This amount can be divided and distributed to one or more students.   Eligibility: Must be a graduate student in anthropology enrolled in the MSU Department of Anthropology.    How to Apply: Application is made via letter (1-2 pages) addressed to the Peter J. Bertocci Scholarship Committee. Applicants should provide an overview of their progress in the program of study, a description and timeline of their dissertation research, and how the scholarship will benefit that research. The committee requires that the dissertation advisor send a statement of endorsement for the application via email. Letter of application and endorsement should be submitted via email to anpdept@msu.edu with Bertocci Scholarship in the subject line of the email.

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Whiteford Cultural Anthropology Field Work Scholarship

Details & How to Apply

The Whiteford Cultural Anthropology Field Work Scholarship is awarded to cultural anthropology graduate students in the MSU Department of Anthropology with preference given to students conducting research in Latin America. This award is intended to assist students doing their dissertation field work by helping cover key associated costs, such as transportation and lodging. Please note that a total of $4000 is available this year. This amount can be divided and distributed to one or more students. Eligibility: Must be a graduate student in cultural anthropology enrolled in the MSU Department of Anthropology.   Application is made via letter (1-2 pages) addressed to the Whiteford Scholarship Committee. Applicants should provide an overview of their progress in the program of study, a description and timeline of their dissertation research, and how the scholarship will benefit that research. The committee requires that the dissertation advisor send a statement of endorsement for the application via email. Letter of application and endorsement should be submitted via email to anpdept@msu.edu with Whiteford Scholarship in the subject line of the email.

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William A. Lovis Research Fund in Environmental Archaeology

Details & How to Apply

The Department of Anthropology welcomes applications 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. 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. 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 Stacey Camp (campstac@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. The committee requires that the applicant’s dissertation advisor send a statement of endorsement for the application via email to Stacey Camp (campstac@msu.edu) by the application deadline.

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

General Graduate School Funding Opportunities

University Fellowship Programs

International Studies & Programs Student Funding

African Studies Center

Asian Studies Center

The Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen)

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)

Muslim Studies Program