Departmental Scholarships

In 2008 the Department of Sociology began fundraising for a new Ph.D. entrance scholarship. In 2013 the scholarship fund was endowed. As of 1 November 2016 we had raised approximately $46,000. By September 2019 the endowment had grown to approximately $92,000.

This scholarship is named in order to recognize and honour the work of all former and current faculty members in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary as well as our many BA, MA and PhD graduates who have gone on to successful academic careers as sociologists at other institutions.

The value of the scholarship is currently approximately $3,100. (The value has grown in step with the growth of the endowment over the years.) The scholarship is awarded to a student entering full-time doctoral studies in the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary. The objective of the scholarship is to give the department an additional tool to help it recruit high quality Ph.D. entrants. The scholarship has been awarded yearly, starting in September 2014.

Our goal over the next several years is to grow the endowment to $200,000.

Our endowment has benefitted from matching funds made available by the University of Calgary as part of its annual Giving Day (held in late April of every year). The availability of matching funds is an excellent incentive to make a Giving Day contribution to the Sociology Professors' Doctoral Entrance Scholarship. 

We gratefully thank the following donors to the Sociology Professors' Doctoral Entrance Scholarship endowed fund (not including recent donations):

 

  • Amal Madibbo
  • Ariel Ducey
  • Arthur Frank
  • Asghar Fathi
  • Augustine Brannigan
  • Bernadette Hayes
  •  Carmen Tym
  • Carol Berenson
  •  Christopher O'Connor
  • Christopher John
  • Daniel Béland
  • David Pevalin
  • Dean Curran
  • Department of Sociology
  •  Elaine Grandin
  • Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot
  • Eugen Lupri
  • Evelyn McCallen
  •  Fiona Nelson
  • George (deceased) & Susannah Kurian
  •  Gillian Anderson
  • Gillian Ranson
  • Glenda Wall
  • Harry Hiller
  • Harvey Krahn
  • Jana Metcalfe Crooks
  • Jarmila Horna
  • Jason Laurendeau
  • Jenny Godley
  • John Manzo
  • John & Martha Ponting
  • Judith Grossman
  •  Kevin McQuillan
  • Kristin Atwood
  •  Leslie Miller
  • Liza McCoy
  •  Lloyd Wong
  • Lynn Meadows
  • Matt Patterson
  • Michael Adorjan
  • Patricia Thille
  • Rebecca Carter
  • Rebecca Godderis
  • Richard Wanner
  • Robert Stebbins
  •  Ronald Laliberte
  • Thomas Lynch
  • Thomas Langford
  •  Violette Cassis
  • William Reeves
  • Zhiqiu Lin

Contributions are welcome at any time and will receive a charitable tax receipt from the University of Calgary. As of September 2019, the endowment was approximately $92,000. Our goal over the next several years is to build the endowment to $200,000. Thank you for your contribution!

Donald L. Mills Graduate Scholarship

The Department awards the Donald L. Mills Scholarship annually to an outstanding Sociology graduate student.  This scholarship is given to an M.A. or Ph.D. student in the Department of Sociology for exemplary participation in scholarly activity or meritorious participation in activity that supports or advances the discipline.  It assumes high quality course performance but is not based on GPA.  The 2020 value of the award is $2,800. The scholarship recognizes excellence in one of the following ways:

a.   an unusually outstanding research paper presented in a course
b.   the presentation of a significant paper (or papers) at scholarly meetings
c.    the publication of scholarly work
d.   documented leadership in organizational activity associated with the discipline or the Department
e.   outstanding performance in contributing to a research project
f.    exemplary participation in professional sociological activities.

Under normal circumstances, no person will receive the award more than once within a degree program.  Eligible students must be registered and paying fees for a continuing Fall term. 


James Frideres Award in Quantitative Sociology

This award is presented to the most outstanding graduate student in the area of quantitative sociology. Consideration will be given to academic merit, preparation of a paper, involvement in research or other forms of scholarship, which the committee recognizes as outstanding achievement in the area of quantitative sociology. The 2020 value of this award is $2,200. 


Graduate Teaching Award

Recognizing that all graduate students with teaching responsibilities must carry out their tasks with care and diligence, the Graduate Teaching Award is meant to recognize exceptional contributions to the teaching functions of the Department. No person will receive the award more than once within a degree program. The value of this award is $500.


MA Research Recognition Award

The MA Research Recognition Award is offered to an MA student who has shown outstanding academic merit, preparation of a research paper or conference presentation or outstanding participation in research activities or a research project. No person will receive the award more than once within a degree program. The value of this award is $500.


Special Recognition Award

This award is presented to a graduate student in Sociology who has made a significant service contribution to the Department, the Faculty, the University or students. No person will receive the award more than once within a degree program. The value of this award is $500.


Suzanne Kanuka Memorial Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship, in honour of a former student, is awarded to a second-year MA student in Sociology who is pursuing research in the area of mental health and wellness. The value of the award is $2,000.

Scholarships for International Students


Drs. George and Susannah Kurian Doctoral Scholarship in Sociology

Dr. George Kurian, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology, was founding editor of the Journal of Comparative Family Studies, and a noted scholar in family sociology. Dr. Susannah Kurian is a Calgary physician. This award for an international student is made possible through their generosity and commitment to the doctoral program in sociology at the University of Calgary. The 2020 value of the award is $9,000.

Award Database

International Student Fee Differential Scholarship

The Alberta Government requires that international students pay a Fee Differential. When possible, the Department of Sociology may offer a Fee Differential Scholarship to international students admitted to our program. The Scholarship may pay for a portion of the Fee Differential for students during the first two years, for MA students, and during the first four years, for Doctoral students.