Scholarships | Jewish Studies Program

Scholarships

The UNT Jewish Studies Program offers multiple scholarships from seven funds each academic year.

Completed applications, including all letters of recommendation and all college transcripts, must be received by Dr. David Kaplan at david.kaplan@unt.edu and Scholarship Committee Chair, Dr. Cindy Renker at Cindy.Renker@unt.edu no later than April 12, 2024 for scholarships to be awarded for the 2024-25 academic year.

Questions? Contact Dr. David Kaplan at david.kaplan@unt.edu.

Click here for the scholarship application.

Before submitting an application for the Jewish Studies Scholarships please consult the information below for eligibility and requirements.

We also offer scholarships for studying abroad in Israel; if you're interested in studying abroad, contact us for a meeting with Dr. David Kaplan at david.kaplan@unt.edu. Study abroad arrangements can be made through external programs.

Eligibility for All Scholarships

For all scholarships, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • Meet the minimum entrance and continuing academic performance standards of the University in effect at the time of the award.
  • Maintain part-time or full-time enrollment at the University (depending on the scholarship).

Additionally:

Undergraduate

  • Be working toward an undergraduate Minor or Certificate in Jewish Studies.
  • Undergraduate students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 based system (or 3.25, depending on the scholarhip).
  • Provide transcripts of the student's college record.
  • Must be enrolled in or have completed two courses at UNT in the UNT Jewish Studies Program.
  • Provide at least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member in a Jewish Studies Program course at UNT.
  • Submit a 300-word statement describing the student's anticipated course of study within the Jewish Studies Program and their objectives within and beyond the Program.

Graduate

  • Graduate students must have a cumulative grade-point average in graduate school of at least 3.25 on a 4.00 based system (or a 3.5, depending on the scholarship).
  • Submit transcripts of their graduate record.
  • Must be working on a graduate thesis or dissertation in an area of Jewish Studies.
  • Be enrolled in a graduate thesis or dissertation course conducting research in an area of Jewish Studies.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation from faculty attesting to the student's academic qualifications and research concerning a topic in Jewish Studies for the student's graduate thesis or dissertation.
  • Submit a 300-word statement describing the student's thesis or dissertation research concerning Jewish Studies, plans to utilize the research in the future, and career objectives.

Each student awarded a scholarship shall:

  • Inform in writing the Director of the Jewish Studies Program within thirty days as to whether the student will accept the scholarship.
  • Write a letter of thanks to the provider of the scholarship, and submit copies of the letter to the Director of Jewish Studies Program within the same thirty day period (Dr. Kaplan must approve your letter of thanks before you send it. Please write a substantial letter of at least three paragraphs.)

Students are responsible for ensuring that the required letter(s) of recommendation from their Jewish Studies Program professors are submitted by the application deadline. These letters should be emailed directly to the Jewish Studies Program Director.

Completed applications, including all letters of recommendation and all college transcripts, must be received by Dr. David Kaplan, Jewish Studies Program by the application deadline. Please send digital copies of your materials via email to the Jewish Studies Program Director.

The following scholarships are available this year:

Schultz Family Scholarships in Jewish Studies

Established by the Schultz family

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships and have a 3.25 GPA for undergraduate applicants and a 3.5 GPA for graduate applicants.

Howard H. Schultz Scholarship

Established by Jaynie Schultz and Ron Romaner

To be eligible, applicants must meet the general requirements of all scholarships, and have a 3.25 GPA for undergraduate applicants and a 3.5 GPA for graduate applicants.

Richard M. Golden Scholarship in Jewish Studies

Established in honor of Professor Richard M. Golden, Founding Director of the Jewish Studies Program at UNT.

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships.

Watt Family Endowment Scholarships

Established by Howard and Maggie Watt

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships.

Jay and Kathy Wolens Jewish Studies Scholarships in Memory of Max and Florence Wolens

Established by Jay and Kathy Wolens

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships, and have a 3.25 GPA for undergraduate students and a 3.5 GPA for graduate students.

Wisch Family Scholarships in Jewish Studies

Established by the Wisch family

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships.

Samuel A. Pelton Jewish Studies Scholarships

Established by Lou E. and Evelyn Pelton

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the general requirements for all scholarships, and submit one recommendation letter for certificate students and two recommendation letters for undergraduate minors and graduate students.

Scholarships for Study in Israel

Direct all inquiries about these Scholarships to Dr. David Kaplan at david.kaplan@unt.edu.