PhD Scholarships
Through the generosity of donors to the School of Social Work who believe in the potential each student has to make a difference in our communities, we are pleased to offer the following scholarships in support of students pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) in social work.
PhD Scholarships
Below you will find brief descriptions of each scholarship. Scholarship amounts are also listed, but please note that these are estimates and are subject to change.
Students may apply by using the online application. Only one application is needed for consideration for all scholarships. Applications will be screened to determine eligibility for each award. The 2024-2025 application is now available at go.illinois.edu/PhDApp2425.
Please Note: This year’s application form is adaptive. Based on your responses, you will be shown or not shown certain questions. As such, every student’s application experience will be unique. If you need to pause your application and return later to complete it, you may click the ‘save’ icon at the bottom of your screen. You will then be sent a link to finish your application when you are ready to do so.
| Scholarship | Description | Award Criteria | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ackerson Scholarship for Excellence in Student Teaching | Dr. Barry Ackerson completed his MSW and PhD in 1978 and 1998, respectively, at the University of Alabama. In 1998, he joined the faculty at the School of Social Work here at Illinois as an assistant professor. In 2002, Dr. Ackerson became the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, a position he held until his retirement in 2015. Over his long career in academics and practice, Dr. Ackerson’s clinical and research interests focused on mental health services and policies. Additionally, he serves on several boards and national organizations, including the Illinois chapter of NASW and the Council for Social Work Education. He is widely published in respected social work journals, contributed several book chapters on mental health, and co-authored a new mental health policy textbook. In addition to teaching classes on mental health policies and mental disorders, Dr. Ackerson also frequently taught the doctoral seminar on social work education and pedagogy. This scholarship is awarded to a deserving student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to teaching while pursuing a doctoral degree. | Awarded to a deserving student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to teaching during the pursuit of a doctoral degree. Letter of support required from SSW faculty, peer doctoral students, or students of the applicant. | $1,110 |
| Cynthia J. Bell, PhD Memorial Scholarship | Dr. Cynthia Bell (DSW, ’78, MSW, ’65, BALAS, ’63) was a school social worker for four years with Champaign Unit 4 schools before moving on to work in child welfare with DCFS in Champaign, where she earned progressively more responsibilities as a supervisor, assistant district administrator, acting district administrator, and assistant guardianship administrator. She also worked as the project director of the Standards for Foster Family Services System Project, cosponsored by the American Public Welfare Association and the Children’s Bureau. She was a lecturer in the School of Social Work during her doctoral studies. Eventually, she would go on to work as a forensic social worker with Family Court Services in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This scholarship was established to honor Dr. Bell’s memory and is awarded to a deserving doctoral student with a demonstrated interest in research related to child welfare and/or the law. | Awarded to a deserving doctoral student with demonstrated interest in research related to child welfare and/or law. | $1,575 |
| Dr. Jan Carter-Black Scholarship for Commitment to Diversity and Leadership | After a 21-year career at a private residential child welfare agency that included direct practice and administrative positions, Dr. Jan Carter-Black (PhD, ’05, MSW, ’95, BALAS, ’77) joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2005. Dr. Carter-Black teaches the Diversity: Identity & Issues course, which is required of all undergraduate students in social work, and an option for all other undergraduate students on campus to fulfill a general education course requirement. Put simply, Jan directly and profoundly impacts hundreds of students each semester. This scholarship was created in her honor by former students who credit Dr. Carter-Black for their successes. This scholarship is awarded to a deserving social work student who demonstrates high academic achievement, a commitment to the School and the campus community through involvement and leadership, and a commitment to diversity through research or practice. | Awarded to a deserving SW student who demonstrates high academic achievement, a commitment to the School and the campus community through invovlement and leadership, and a commitment to diversity through research or practice. Letter of support required. | $1,000 |
| Ernie Gullerud Dissertation Scholarship | Dr. Ernest Gullerud grew up in North Dakota on the family farm his grandparents had started after immigrating from Norway in the late 19th century. Dr. Gullerud, Ernie to his friends, attended a college preparatory program focused on agricultural training. He attended the University of North Dakota, majored in mathematics, and minored in sociology. He completed his MSW at the University of Kansas, focusing on psychiatric services. After receiving several exemptions from service during the Korean War to finish his degrees, Dr. Gullerud completed his service with the US Air Force in Witchita Falls, TX, in the psychiatric ward of the military hospital. Afterward, he spent five years in Colorado Springs providing family counseling services before he attended Washington University in St. Louis to complete his PhD in social work. Dr. Gullerud joined the School of Social Work faculty in the mid-1960s and spent much of his time observing and overseeing the student’s agency service projects while finishing his dissertation. Dr. Gullerud remained on faculty until his retirement. He and his wife Lois created this award to support PhD students focusing on mental health and/or substance abuse. | Awarded to deserving doctoral students who are ready to defend their dissertation. Must have successfully completed any qualifying exams and passed their dissertation proposal hearing. | $1,000 |
| International Studies Dissertation Scholarship | Dean and Professor Steve Anderson (MSW, ’75, BALAS, ’74) joined the School of Social Work in 2011 and became the dean in 2017. Dr. Anderson was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to China in 2010, where he taught and studied social work and nonprofit agency development. Dr. Anderson has been involved in teaching and research collaborations in China with several universities over the past 10 years, especially through the Council on Social Work Education supported China Collaborative. Dr. Anderson created this award to support international doctoral students in the dissertation writing stage. | Awarded to an international doctoral student who is in the dissertation writing stage. All other components of the doctoral degree must be completed for consideration, including coursework, qualifying exams, and proposal defense. Preference given to students whose research focuses on social work or social development issues in a developing country. If no highly regarded student meeting these criteria is at the dissertation stage in a given year, a student meeting the criteria above and studying either international or domestic poverty issues may be considered. | $3,680 |
| John Poertner PhD Scholarship in Child Welfare | Dr. John P. Poertner (DSW, 1979) is an alumnus of the School of Social Work and a retired professor emeritus who has served as associate dean and director of the Children and Family Research Center. His career spanned over 25 years in teaching, research, writing, and social administration. Dr. Poertner’s research was often focused on public child welfare. He created this fund to support doctoral students focusing on child welfare. | Awarded to deserving doctoral students specializing in child welfare. | $5,365 |
| Daniel S. Sanders Scholarship in International Social Development | Daniel S. Sanders was a scholar, humanitarian, educator, and international leader in efforts to achieve world peace, human rights, and social justice. His vision for peace and development, his ability to empower people, and his personal example of integrity and commitment to peace have inspired many. The quest for social justice and his belief that the profession of social work, particularly at the international level, could make a difference is reflected repeatedly in his writings. “The only lasting peace is a just peace based on respect for human rights and mutuality in relationships… Social work, along with other disciplines, has the potential to contribute to shaping the development of a social vision and a new social ethic that will foster respect for life, appreciation of diversity, cultural pluralism, justice in human affairs, and participation of people in their own development and peace.” Prof. Sanders served as Dean of the School of Social Work and the President of the Inter-University Consortium of International Social Development. He was awarded the United Nations Messenger of Peace Award in 1988. His wife, Ms. Christobel Sanders, established the award in her late husband’s memory, intending to support PhD students with research focuses on international social development. | Awarded to a deserving School of Social Work student with preference given to students who demonstrate an interest in working with and/or researching aging and aging populations. | $2,750 |
PhD Scholarships and Requirements