Scholarships & Awards

This scholarship was created to honor Alfred I. Johnson who was a Regent of the University and Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. This scholarship provides students with a demonstrated interest in public affairs a stipend for their internships. Scholarship amounts may vary from year to year. Applicants must show evidence of a strong interest in public affairs, with an intention to pursue a career or avocational activities in public affairs, including any kind of community volunteer activity, organizing to affect public policy, service on government advisory committees, and service in elective offices. While students are not expected to have internships confirmed at the time of application, they should present a clear plan for which internships they intend to apply for and explain why these internships will enable them to advance their careers in public service work. Students must obtain a public service internship to receive the scholarship. Financial need will be taken into consideration.

A.I. Johnson Scholarship awardees should expect to complete either a) 15 hours per week of off-campus public service internships during both fall and spring semester of the award year; or b) 400 total hours of public service internships between summer to spring semester of the award year. A single registration of POL 3080 is required. We recommend students complete POL 3080 during the first term of the award year, as completing the course concurrently with the start of an internship will help students to better analyze and understand future internship work.

The purpose of this scholarship is to financially support political science majors in their academic studies. Financial need will be taken into consideration although all political science majors, regardless of financial need, are encouraged and eligible to apply. Students should demonstrate strong academic records and a commitment to timely completion of their political science majors and their degrees.

The Professor Charles Backstrom Undergraduate Scholarship in Political Science is named for Emeritus Professor Charles Backstrom who taught American government courses, particularly state and local politics, at the U of M. Professor Backstrom is also credited with starting the Department of Political Science’s internship program. It is with respect and affection that one of Charles Backstrom's former students, Dr. Leonard Robins, decided to create this scholarship which will assist students with tuition, fees, and the purchase of books and materials.

This scholarship is named for Professor Asher Christensen (1904-1961), who graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1924. He continued his education at the graduate level at the University of Minnesota, the University of Chicago and the Universidad de Madrid in Spain. He taught American government courses and Latin American politics and governments. This scholarship fund was created by the family and friends of Professor Christensen.

The purpose of this scholarship is to support students participating in a study abroad program or learning experience. Doug and Ann Englund attended the U of M where Doug studied international relations. His military career enabled them to live and travel across the world, which the Englunds greatly valued. Doug’s positions included Director of the Russian Missile program for NASA in Russia and Director of On-Site Inspection for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the Department of Defense. The Englunds endowed this scholarship for undergraduate students in the Department of Political Science in 2017.

The Judge Earl and Mrs. Cecill Larson Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students to support their research and academic interests. Judge Larson was a Minnesota native and a graduate of the U of M Law School. During his career, he was active in the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union and the Minnesota Human Rights Commission. The purpose of the scholarship is to permit students to devote more time to their academic pursuits and to support their research interests.

Robert "Bob" Putnam grew up around St. Paul, Minnesota and earned his degree in political science from the University of Minnesota. Also an artist, Bob held various appointments during his professional career - including for the State of California, where he spent his adult life. A frequent traveler to China, Bob served on state delegations from California to China, and was involved in politics and trade diplomacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. His estate endowed this scholarship for undergraduate students in the Department of Political Science in 2017. 

This scholarship is named for Professor William Schaper who was an instructor at the University of Minnesota in 1900. He taught courses in American and comparative government, constitutional law, elements of jurisprudence, theory of the state, and even an introductory course in political science for engineers.

The Jonathan Smaby and Michelle Roberts Scholarship is available thanks to the generosity of Jonathan, who graduated in 1985 from the University of Minnesota with a BA in political science and received his law degree from the University of Michigan. Jonathan practiced law for over two decades until he was named Executive Director of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics in 2009, where he taught legal ethics and professionalism in Texas and around the country before retiring in 2025. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support for gifted undergraduates so they may dedicate themselves to their studies and attain the best possible liberal arts education. Recipients must enroll for 15 credits each semester to retain their scholarship eligibility

Charles and Frances Symes created this scholarship in 2016 to provide support for full-time undergraduate students studying political science, who demonstrate financial need and have an interest in policy development and ethics in government. Charles is a 1967 graduate of the UMN Duluth campus with a BS in geography.

This scholarship was created in memory of Louis ("Lou") E. Vincent, who was born in St. Paul, MN and resided primarily in White Bear Lake. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota and attended Harvard Law School. Upon earning his degree, he and his family moved to California, where he practiced law for 33 years. Lou's family endowed the scholarship for students in the Department of Political Science in 2024.

The purpose of this scholarship is to financially support political science majors in their academic studies. Financial need will be taken into consideration although all political science majors, regardless of financial need, are encouraged and eligible to apply. Students should demonstrate strong academic records and a commitment to timely completion of their political science majors and their degrees.

The William Jennings Bryan Prize is a cash award given to the student who writes the best undergraduate paper in political science in an academic year. Professors nominate outstanding papers which are submitted by students in their classes, subject to the student's approval. The Undergraduate Work Committee evaluates the papers nominated for the prize and awards the prize each spring semester. 

Do you have an opportunity to attend or present your work at a professional political science research conference? Apply for the Political Science Undergraduate Research/Conference Travel Awards. The awards are available for undergraduate political science majors who are presenting research at a conference or for official University of Minnesota political science faculty research.

The application is open October 1-December 1. If funding remains, the application will reopen until May 1 or when all funds are disbursed, whichever comes first.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
• Must be a declared political science major.
• Must complete and submit the application by the deadline.
• If presenting, must explain the plan to submit a proposal or proof of an accepted proposal.
• Must describe how the conference is related to academic and future goals.
• Must be presenting or have some leadership responsibility as a part of the conference, beyond only attending the conference.

Helpful Information

• This award is a maximum of $500/student.
• The money is awarded via reimbursement.

If you have any questions, email our undergraduate advising office ([email protected]).

Students should consider applying for College of Liberal Arts scholarships such as Internship Scholarships and Study Abroad Scholarships. Application due dates may vary.

The University Honors Program Office also coordinates the application process for many prestigious national scholarship competitions. More information on national and international scholarships can be found on the Honors Program Scholarship website. Application deadlines vary. Check with the Honors Program Office for deadlines on specific scholarships. 

Some scholarships are based upon financial need so all students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to maximize their eligibility for all grants, scholarships, work-study, and need-based, low-interest student loans). FAFSAs may be filed after January 1 for the upcoming school year.