Program Description
(Students do not apply for this fellowship.) First year: Fall and Summer Semesters fellowship only. This fellowship was established to increase the enrollment, retention, and successful graduation of under-represented minority students within the Social Science (Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science departments only) doctoral programs at Texas A&M University.
The fellowship provides two stipends within the students first year of graduate work and allows for continued participation in professional development workshops. Each participating SBE department is allotted the opportunity to fill two slots for incoming graduate students. Each student can expect to receive the following:
- Diversity Fellowship: $3,000 fellowship given at the beginning of the Fall semester; $3,800 fellowship awarded at the beginning of the Summer
- Participation in Professional Development: Includes workshops and networking opportunities at Texas A&M University as well as within the EDGE-SBE alliance consisting of University of Texas-Austin, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California.
- Mentoring: In addition to any advisors assigned by their department, EDGE fellows are provided with a faculty mentor and a graduate student mentor in their discipline. These mentors work with EDGE-SBE to help the student make a successful transition to graduate school and to academia.
- Conference Attendance: Opportunity to participate in all expense paid annual conferences such as the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, the largest minority doctoral level conference in the country.
Preferred Qualifications & Eligibility
Graduate deadlines vary by major; however, departments generally begin accepting applications in September. Texas A&M University encourages students to submit their application using the online system. There is a $50 application fee; though, application fee waivers are available to all students who qualify for a GRE Fee Waiver. Final applications are due in late November to early December. Incoming underrepresented graduated students are nominated for the EDGE-SBE program by their department admissions committee. Students are nominated based on their proven ability to maintain high ranking scholarly and research activities. Students must be willing to participate in professional development conference opportunities arranged by campus SBE program coordinator.