Doctoral-Only Scholarships
The 2024-25 scholarship application period has ended. The Bobcat Online Scholarship System (BOSS) allows you to search and apply for university and external scholarships. The opportunities include scholarships specific to your college, major or area of interest.
Students can apply for multiple scholarships. Each scholarship application must have a SEPARATE online form completed.
Scholarship recipients MUST attend the Annual Alumni Reunion and Student Celebration
Only scholarships listed on the current year application form will be awarded
1) The Frank and Ivy Boehm Geography Scholarship
honors Frank and Ivy Boehm for their strong support of education as an avenue by which
individuals can significantly contribute to improving our society. One scholarship is awarded
each spring pending available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. be a Ph.D. student in geographic education
2. be competitive with a high grade point
3. submit a 250 word request to the Director of the Grosvenor Center for
Geographic Education that addresses need and qualifications
4. students in the Summer Cohort program will get preference
5. this award will be decided in consultation between the geography
department chairperson and the Director
of the Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
6. extracurricular activities will be considered
2) The Ray and Marian Butler Environmental Geography Scholarship
honors Ray and Marion Butler of Omaha, Nebraska for their ongoing support
of geography, travel and fieldwork and in honor of their 50th wedding
anniversary on November 20, 1999. One scholarship is awarded each spring
pending available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. be a Ph. D. student in environmental geography
2. use the award to support the costs of fieldwork on a dissertation topic
examining environmental physical
geography in the mountains of the western United States
3. submit a 1,000-word essay describing his or her dissertation fieldwork and
how the Ray and Marian Butler Scholarship would aid that fieldwork
4. be enrolled in at least nine semester hours
3) The Detlefsen Doctoral Dissertation Scholarship
honors Mr. Bernard "Bernie" Detlefsen for his service to our country and his interest in
places and maps. One scholarship is awarded each spring pending available funding,
and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. have an approved dissertation proposal
2. have a of scholarly productivity and leadership
4) The Detlefsen Graduate Field Study Travel Award
· Applicants must:
1. be registered as a Masters or Ph.D. student in a Texas State’s Geography Department.
2. use funds for field and archival research, not for attendance at academic meetings, workshops, training, or language acquisition.
3. have a clear field research proposal narrative, proposed budget, c.v. and letter of support from their advisor. Research must be conducted during the dates specified in the proposal.
4. recipients of previous Field Study Awards are ineligible to apply with the exception that previous winners at the Master’s level may apply for the Ph.D. level award.
· Applicants should submit a single document which includes:
1. Fieldwork Proposal Narrative: 3 pages, double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman.
2. Proposal Budget: Include transportation costs. Budget capped at $1,500.
3. Curriculum Vitae: 2 pages maximum including most relevant information.
An Advisor Letter of Support must be sent by the applicant's Faculty advisor directly to the Scholarship and Awards Committee Chair (Dr. Blue: sblue@txstate.edu).
5) The Detlefsen Doctoral Candidate Scholarship
honors Mr. Bernard "Bernie" Detlefsen for his service to our country and his interest in places
and maps. One scholarship is awarded each spring pending available funding, and applied to the
following fall.
Applicant must:
1. have passed comprehensive / qualifying exams
2. have a record of scholarly productivity and leadership
6) TWO Detlefsen Doctoral (Recruitment) Scholarships
Applicant must:
1. have masters GPA >3.75
2. have strong record of professional activities
3. be highly recommended in admission letters of reference.
7) The Detlefsen Doctoral Excellence Scholarship
honors Mr. Bernard "Bernie" Detlefsen for his service to our country and his interest in
places and maps. One scholarship is awarded each spring pending available funding,
and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. be a 2nd year student
2. demonstrate excellence in coursework
3. have a record of research productivity
8) The Sandra E. Estaville Dissertation Research Scholarship
honors Sandra Estaville for her support of the development and implementation of
the Geography Ph.D. programs at Texas State University-San Marcos. One scholarship
is awarded each spring pending available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. write a proposal for dissertation research including research goals and time
period
2. submit letters of recommendation from the applicant’s research advisor and
two members of the dissertation committee
3. have a high GPA.
9) The Foster Family Doctoral Educational Fund in Geographic Education
honors Ellen J. Foster, Ph.D., the third generation in her family to receive an education
degree from the institution now known as Texas State University-San Marcos. One scholarship is
awarded each spring pending available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. be enrolled in a minimum of 3 semester hours at Texas State in the doctoral program
2. be a Texas resident who demonstrates financial need
3. be pursuing a doctorate in Geographic Education
4. be at the ABD level, working on his/her dissertation within the 3 semester hours of enrollment
5. be the recipient of the funds only once.
10) The Sally Ann Karnau Geography Dissertation Research Scholarship
honors Sally Ann Karnau, one of the first five students in the Texas State
Geography doctoral program. The scholarship will help other students who
wish to pursue careers in geography. One scholarship is awarded each
spring pending available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. write a proposal for dissertation research including research goals and time
period
2. submit letters of recommendation from the applicant's research advisor and
two members of the dissertation committee
3. have a high GPA
11) The Mao-Geng Zhan Scholarship for Academic Excellence
honors Mao-Geng Zhan's (Dr. F. Benjamin Zhan's late grandfather) emphasis on
education, and inspired Dr. F.B. Zhan to seek academic excellence during
his early childhood. One scholarship is awarded each spring pending
available funding, and applied to the following fall.
Applicant must:
1. be a geography doctoral student at Texas State
2. have authored or coauthored (as first author) an article that has been
published or accepted for publication
by an international or national refereed journal
3. have conducted the cited research at Texas State University