W.E.B. DuBois Sociology Scholarship

Beginning in fall 2022, each year UNI awards the W.E.B. DuBois Sociology Scholarship to two sociology majors. 

“It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness…two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”  W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk, 1903

As we know, college students have complicated lives, balancing multiple identities. As sociology theorist W.E.B. DuBois notes, students are living everyday his concept of double consciousness. They are a student, AND a child/parent/sibling/first-generation student with identities including considerations of gender/race/sexual orientation/sexuality/size, etc.

The W.E.B. DuBois Sociology Scholarship recognizes the lived experience of double consciousness in students’ lives, and splits these scholarship monies in two equal parts, to both symbolize the concept, as well as to help out two UNI students rather than just one. 

We also want to recognize and honor W.E.B. DuBois for his influential contributions to the field of sociology – he was the first African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard University, and he was a founding member of the NAACP. DuBois is an important part of sociology, and of American sociology in particular – his productive work life has benefitted us all.

This scholarship was developed collectively with over 30 unique donors, and fall 2022 is the rollout semester of this scholarship.

The W.E.B. DuBois Scholarship is open to students who satisfy the following requirements: 

• Applicants must be sociology majors of junior or senior standing, must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and complete an essay that will be an additional part of the UNI Scholarship application.
• The scholarship is not renewable.  
• All students who meet the basic scholarship requirements are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: January 15.

Students are encouraged to apply on-line through the Common Scholarship Application through UNI Financial Aid. For more information please contact the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology by calling (319) 273-2786.