Thanks to the ongoing support from our alumni, current students, parents, department faculty, and supporters of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, we are able to offer financial support for high-impact learning through research, study away, and internships. These funds depend on annual gifts to our department. Accordingly, the amounts and frequency with which they are offered may shift from year to year. Currently, all scholarships range from $1000-$1500; awards from $100-$800.

If you are interested in supporting these initiatives and our incredible undergraduate students, please go to our university gift page here – and select “Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.” Then select “Sociology / Anthropology” from the dropdown menu under “Designations.” Thank you.

Study Away Scholarships

Each year, the Sociology and Anthropology department will award 3 need-based scholarships to support study away programs for our departmental majors: 1 for an Anthropology major, 1 for a Sociology major, and 1 for a student to participate in the Maya Archaeological Field School in Belize run by Dr. Rissa Trachman. Students must have declared a major in the department no later than the spring before their study away experience and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students can only receive the scholarship once. Decisions will be made in the spring of the year prior to studying away. No application required.

Sociology and Anthropology Senior Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is awarded to a rising senior majoring in either Sociology or Anthropology who has maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Decisions will be made in the spring preceding a student’s senior year and applied to the student’s fall tuition. No application required.

Conference Travel Award

Availability: Sporadic, depending on annual gifts. Check with Chair for more information.

The Sociology and Anthropology Department recognizes that conference attendance can be a formative experience not only for students presenting their research, but students who are unable to present their research because of conference proposal deadlines. Students presenting at a conference should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Research for reimbursement to support undergraduate conference travel (in amounts ranging from $100 to $500). Students who are not presenting but who have been active in undergraduate research can apply for the Sociology and Anthropology Conference Award.  Award amounts typically do not exceed $200 for an individual student, $800 for a team of 4 or more students.

Individual students must have declared a major in the department. Research teams must be comprised of at least 50% SOC or ANT majors. All students must have junior or senior standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Decisions will be based primarily on an application that includes a description of the benefits gained from conference attendance. Application and faculty recommendation forms must be submitted at least 30 days before the conference (in order to determine whether there are funds available), emailed as a Word document or pdf to the department chair.

Outstanding Anthropology Student Award

Each year, a senior Anthropology student is selected for the Outstanding Anthropology Student Award in recognition of excellence in academic achievement, commitment to the major, and leadership. Students are selected by the full departmental faculty. The award comes with a small financial award. No application is required.

Outstanding Sociology Student Award

Each year, a senior Sociology student is selected for the Outstanding Anthropology Student Award in recognition of excellence in academic achievement, commitment to the major, and leadership. Students are selected by the full departmental faculty. The award comes with a small financial award. No application is required.

Outstanding PERCS Project Award

Each year, a junior or senior student of any major at Elon is selected for the Outstanding PERCS Project Award in recognition of the completion of a rigorous, ethical, and in-depth ethnographic research project conducted while at Elon University. Students are selected by faculty members of PERCS—the Program for Ethnographic Research and Community Studies. Preference is given to students who have completed the PERCS Certificate. The award comes with a small financial award. No application is required.