Scholarships & Awards
Through generous gifts, endowments and grants, the Department of Psychology is proud to annually recognize our undergraduate and graduate students' academic excellence, research creativity, service, and educational resilience.
If you like to contribute to our ability to offer these awards, then please consider making a designated gift through our donation page.
General Instructions
For all scholarships, “student” refers to any matriculated individual in good standing pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at San José State University. Scholarships will be distributed in the 2026-27 academic year. Students who are seniors and graduating either Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 are not eligible for undergraduate student scholarships as they will have completed their studies at the time the scholarship is granted.
“Psychology major” refers to an undergraduate student who has officially declared a major in Psychology. “Psychology graduate student” refers to an individual currently accepted and enrolled in a Master’s Program within the Department of Psychology. “Qualified” refers to any Psychology major or graduate student who meets the stated requirements for a given scholarship.
Note that being qualified and submitting an application alone do not guarantee an award. These scholarships are competitive, and applications will be judged on their merit. The number of scholarships awarded and amount of money for each scholarship will vary each year depending on the number of qualified applicants and available funds.
How to Apply:
- Sign in to Spartan Scholarships using your MySJSU login details.
- Complete and submit the General Application to be considered for scholarships and awards, including those in Psychology. Your responses in the General Application will automatically be used to identify any Psychology scholarships for which you are eligible, and the system will guide you to any additional questions required for those opportunities. Please note that you may not see the names of specific Psychology scholarships (listed below) as part of this application process. Once you have completed and submitted all questions presented to you, your application for all eligible Psychology scholarships will be complete.
- Provide any requested supplemental application material (e.g., evidence of research conference presentations, etc.) if applicable.
- Questions should be directed to Dr. Christina Tzeng (christina.tzeng@sjsu.edu).
Psychology scholarship applications will close on Wednesday, April 15.
Psychology Scholarships
FRANK D. PAYNE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
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In memory of Dr. Frank Payne, Professor of Psychology and former Chair, two scholarships will be awarded to Psychology majors or Psychology graduate students. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 overall and 3.5 in Psychology, and have plans to pursue a career that includes psychological research. In their personal statements, students must describe how they plan to pursue a career that includes research in psychology.
JOHN AND VIVIAN MACRAE SCHOLARSHIP FOR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESILIENCE
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Dr. John MacRae was deeply devoted to his students and served as a faculty of our department from 1954 to 1980 and as Department Chair. Thanks to a generous gift in honor and memory of John and Vivian MacRae, an annual scholarship will be awarded to one current SJSU Psychology undergraduate or graduate student who is succeeding in their education in spite of great personal challenges.
JAMES AND BECKY MCGAUGH RESEARCH AWARD FUND
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This award has been established to recognize Dr. James L. McGaugh's (SJSU BA 1953 Psychology and Faculty member of the Department of Psychology from 1957 - 1961) significant contribution to research and education in psychology and neuroscience. Eligible candidates will be SJSU Psychology undergraduate or graduate level students whose research is being presented (or has been presented) at an annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association. In considering worthy candidates, preference is encouraged but not required for students whose research involves advancing society’s understanding of learning, memory and/or biopsychology. Financial need is not required.
ROBERT AND MARALEE HICKS SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is in memory of Maralee J. Hicks (SJSU BA 1956 Philosophy) and Robert A. Hicks, PhD. (SJSU MA 1960 Psychology and Emeritus Faculty member of the Department of Psychology). Eligible candidates will be SJSU Psychology undergraduate or graduate level students whose research is being presented (or has been presented) at an annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association. In considering worthy candidates, preference is encouraged but not required for students whose research involves advancing society’s understanding of motivation. Financial need is not required.
ALAN E. KAZDIN SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is to provide reimbursement for future or past convention/conference expenses for graduate Psychology students. Recipients will present a paper/poster in an annual convention/conference of a national or international organization (regional, state, and local organizations and conferences do not qualify). The student must be the first or sole author of the paper/poster or the person giving the presentation.
BRANT CLARK
In memory of Dr. Brant Clark, who joined the Psychology and Philosophy Division at San José State College (as it was then known) in 1936. During World War II, he left the faculty to serve in the US Navy, where he was a Navy Psychologist studying motion sickness and perceptual disorientation in pilots. Dr. Clark returned to San Jose State after his military service and later began a funded collaborative program of research with NASA scientists at NASA Ames Research Center. Dr. Clark retired from the San Jose State faculty around 1975 but continued to collaborate with NASA scientists until his death in 1980. The collaborative research model that Dr. Clark developed at NASA Ames, bringing faculty, students, and NASA scientists together, was continued by Dr. Kevin Jordan (Emeritus Professor), who established this scholarship. The Department of Psychology maintains collaborative relationships with scientists at NASA Ames. Applicants must be outstanding graduate students serving in a student research assistantship in the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames Research Center. The amount of the scholarship will vary based on available funds. Financial need is not required.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCH
Annual scholarship awarded to one or more Psychology graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding research activities in any area of Psychology while students at SJSU. In their personal statements, students must describe how their research activities meet the criterion of “outstanding research” and provide supporting documentation. Relevant information includes descriptions of awards for research activities; first-author publications, presentations, or posters; or any other evidence of outstanding research-related activities. Supporting documentation includes published articles, conference programs, and so on.
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
Annual scholarship awarded to one or more Psychology students who have demonstrated exceptional service to the University and/or the community while students at SJSU. In their personal statement, students must describe how their activities have demonstrated exceptional service. Relevant information includes descriptions of volunteer work inside and/or outside of the University, participation in service learning courses, participation in community programs, work on University committees, participation in student governance (e.g., Associate Students), mentoring activities, participation in honor societies, and so on.
Endowments
PSYCHOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
This scholarship is for students in the Psychology Department.
THE ALAN E. KAZDIN ENDOWED LECTURE IN PSYCHOLOGY
This annual lecture is supported by an endowment from Alan E. Kazdin, PhD in grateful acknowledgement of the impact that the faculty in Psychology has had on his career and no doubt on the careers of many others. Kazdin is Sterling Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry at Yale University and an alumnus of the SJSU Psychology Department (1967).
PSYCHOLOGY EMERITUS FACULTY COLLOQUIUM FUND
Edward W. Minium, Professor of Psychology, taught at SJSU from 1948 until his retirement in 1982. Both he and his wife, Juanita, shared a love and respect for the university. This gift from Dr. and Mrs. Minium was made in deep respect and fond memory of Robert L. Baron (SJSU '51, '57) to assure annual support for programs or projects that foster interchange among students, faculty, and significant workers in the field of psychology.
SPITZE ENDOWMENT FOR PSYCHOLOGY
This scholarship is for students majoring in psychology who are enrolled full time and qualify for financial aid.