Scholarships

The School of Social Work has several scholarships for social work students that are awarded on the basis of the candidate's academic performance and other specific criteria. Usually, applications for these scholarships are distributed to the current student body each Spring semester. A Scholarship Committee from the School reviews applications based on established criteria and makes the final decision about scholarship awards.

We are offering the following awards and scholarships to our students. All applications will be due Friday, March 21, 2025 at 5pm PST via email. Late Applications or Nominations will not be accepted. Please submit all applications to the Social Work Field Education office at: socialworkfieldeducation@sjsu.edu 

Awards will be given out at the end of the year Community Connections Ceremony in May. More details to follow. 

Students Must attend the in person end of the year Celebration of Community Connections at the end of Spring semester in order to receive the award. If you are an Online/Hybrid MSW student, please email the field office.

If you are chosen as an award recipient and receive a monetary award, it must be reported to the SJSU Financial Aid office as it may impact your Final Financial Aid Award. Please consult with the SJSU Financial Aid office prior to submitting your application in order to ensure that your Financial Aid package is not impacted. 

SJSU Financial Aid: https://www.sjsu.edu/faso/about/contact-us.php 

Some Scholarships also require you to complete your FAFSA. Please read directions and requirements carefully as your application must be fully completed in order to be considered for the scholarship and/or award. 

  1. The Alicia Nájera Memorial Scholarship
  2. BASW Field Agency of the Year Award
  3. The Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship
  4. The Dorothy A. Miller Scholarship
  5. The Helen S. Hansen Gerontology Scholarship
  6. The Helen Walsh Soderstrom Scholarship
  7. MSW Field Agency of the Year Award
  8. Shaaron Gilson BASW Field Instructor of the Year Award
  9. Shaaron Gilson MSW Field Instructor of the Year Award
  10. The Stanley “Stan” Lee Memorial Scholarship

 

CSWE Scholarship and Fellowships


Learn more HERE.

Substance Use Disorders Education and Leadership Scholars Program 


Learn more HERE.

The Substance Use Disorders Education and Leadership Scholars Program is supported by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and was created to engage BSW and MSW students by developing a cohort of social work leaders specializing in substance use disorders using practice, research, and policy mentors. The cohort will provide scholarships to students to incentivize their opportunities to practice in this specialty area, create opportunities for social work field instructors and their agencies to enhance their training and mentorship of social work students, and strengthen agency/university partnerships to evaluate innovative practice interventions through social work research. For more information, view here.

 

Minority Fellowship Program


Learn more HERE.

CSWE's Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) opportunities support the mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to reduce the effects of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities by increasing racial/ethnic minority individuals who are trained to work with underrepresented and underserved persons with or at risk for mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

The 2025–2026 MFP MSW application period is now closed. To be notified of the 2026-2027 MFP MSW application opening, please complete the interest survey. 

 

Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship


Learn more HERE.


The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), and Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) announce the inaugural Social Work Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship and are accepting applications for this opportunity to connect social work research with policymaking in Washington, DC. This program will create an opportunity for social work doctoral fellows to make a stronger link between their research and policy, expose them to the ways their research experience and backgrounds are used by practitioners in government to influence and inform policy, promote the value and significance of investments in social work and social work research on Capitol Hill, and cultivate a cadre of social work researchers who can both advocate for investments in social work education and research, as well as disseminate this information amongst their communities of practice.