SIUC History Department Undergraduate Scholastic Opportunities

Students majoring in history at SIUC have numerous opportunities for financial assistance and experiences outside of the classroom. The department offers scholarships and awards to outstanding undergraduates. It also encourages students to participate in internships in government, law firms, museums, and elsewhere. Participation in student organizations, especially in Phi Alpha Theta (the History Honors Society), is encouraged. The department also publishes Legacy: A Journal of Student Scholarship, which highlights the historical work of a number of undergraduates each year.

Scholarships and Awards

Each Spring at Honors Day the history department awards the following scholarships and prizes:

William A. Pitkin Memorial Scholarship--given to an outstanding history student who shows the greatest potential for success

Caldwell-Sanders Award -- given to a graduating senior history major with the highest grade point average in history courses who has done all baccalaureate work at SIUC.

History Alumni Award -- presented to several history majors who show particular promise as historians

John Leason Scholarship - for outstanding junior or senior history major(s) preparing to teach history in a secondary school

Edward J. O'Day Research Paper Prize - awarded for the best undergraduate research paper in a given year.

Civil War Institute Scholarship - awarded to an outstanding History Education student to attend the Summer Civil War Institute in Gettysburg

For SIUC Collegiate Scholarships (College of Liberal Arts and College of Education) go to: http://www.siu.edu/~fao/scholarships/index.htm and click on the college that interests you.

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Internships

Students in the Department of History may choose to serve internships, which allow them to gain on-the-job experience as well as academic credit and sometimes a salary. Some of our students have completed individually arranged internships with the Illinois Regional Archives Depository located on campus; with county historical societies; and with historical restoration projects. Other state and federal internships, including positions as legislative aides to government officials, may be arranged. See the Director of Undergraduate Studies for details about internships.

Joey Hargraves, a history major, participated in the internship program by working at a law firm. Here is the report he submitted at the end of that experience.

Here is a list of possible internships and their associated websites.

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Student Organizations

There are some 450 registered student organizations at SIUC--social, recreational, religious, political, and special interest. Integral to the undergraduate program at SIUC are student organizations related to the major fields. The activities of these groups, supported and encouraged by administration and faculty, supplement your formal education.

Qualified history majors may join Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society, which has an active chapter at SIUC. This organization provides a forum for talks by students, faculty, and outside speakers, and hosts gatherings where students may meet one another and faculty in an informal setting. Students can also attend regional or national meetings of Phi Alpha Theta.

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Legacy: A Journal of Student Scholarship

In 2001, the History Department together with the Sigma Kappa Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta published the first issue of Legacy: A Journal of Student Scholarship. This journal publishes articles by undergraduate students. The articles are based on research papers students write in their classes and must contain historical content and analysis. An issue of Legacy will be published each year. Students interested in submitting a paper for publication should contact the faculty editor, Dr. Kay Carr.

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