The History Department offers a variety of Assistantships, Fellowships and Scholarships to entering and continuing graduate students.  Generally these must be applied for separately from your application for admission, and the deadline for application is usually in early April, to take effect in the next fall semester.  The number and terms of the fellowships vary from year to year, those listed here are the ones most recently offered. You should contact the Department or the Graduate Director for the most up to date information. 

The deadline for application for the following is March 21, 2012.

Graduate Assistantship (A, B)

DESCRIPTION: Two assistantships for graduate students in the Master of Arts program of the Department of History. Applicants need a GPA of 3.00 overall for undergraduate and graduate work completed. Work load is 20 hours per week.  The Graduate Assistant will be assigned to assist a professor teaching one of the History of Civilizations courses (one each semester). The assistants will attend all main lectures, teach discussion sections in the fall and spring semesters, grade written work submitted by students, assist in preparing and proctoring quizzes and tests and be available to students in office hours.   Recipient will receive nine hours of in state tuition remission a semester, and a stipend of approximately $12,000 paid in ten equal installments, beginning in August of the year of appointment.

Graduate Assistantship (C)

DESCRIPTION: (C) One assistantship for a graduate student in the Master of Arts program of the Department of History. Applicants need a GPA of 3.00 overall for undergraduate and graduate work completed.  Work load is twenty (20) hours per week. The graduate assistant's primary responsibility will be to assist a visiting assistant professor in his/her online History 101 courses. As time allows the assistant will help the department staff and faculty with small administrative and research tasks. The recipient will receive a stipend of $10,500 paid in ten equal installments beginning in August of the year of the appointment.  

Department Assistant Position

DESCRIPTION: Entering or continuing students in the Master of Arts program of the Department of History.  Applicants need a GPA of 3.00 overall for undergraduate and graduate work completed. Work load is approximately 16 hours per week, paid at $9.00 per hour.  Duties revolve around assisting the departmental office staff and helping professors with minor administrative and grading functions. Assistant must be available to begin work by August 23, 2011

Filson Historical Society Internship
DESCRIPTION:  Entering or continuing students in the M.A. program.  Work load is 10 hours per week.  Duties include general assistance to the Filson Historical Society (see www.filsonhistorical.org).  Recipient will receive a stipend of approximately $6000 per semester plus nine (9) hours of in state tuition.  Students may also register for History 608 - Practicum in Public History and receive course credit for the internship.

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum Internship
DESCRIPTION:  Available to a senior History major or to a graduate student.  The internship includes hands-on public history experience running the Conrad/Caldwell House Museum (1402 St. James Court); living in the house for $250/month rent; working 10 hours a week for the house; being available to work in the house during the St. James Art Fair, the Shakespeare in the Park Festival, and the Christmas season.

Jurdem Graduate Scholarship in U.S. History
DESCRIPTION: A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to an outstanding graduate student who intends or has already begun to work toward an M.A. with a concentration in U.S. History.  Students who apply for a Graduate Assistantship or the Filson Internship in the Department of History may apply for the Jurdem Scholarship, but the Scholarship cannot be held concurrently with a Graduate Assistantship or Internship.  Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.00 overall for undergraduate and graduate work completed.

Ryant Memorial Awards for Graduate Students
DESCRIPTION: Awards of $250 are available for History graduate students.  Selection will be based on the applicant's academic qualifications (e.g. GPA, GRE scores, distribution of courses, and GPA in courses most directly relevant to the preparation for graduate study in history).

Thomas Hamilton Graduate Scholarship in U.S. History
DESCRIPTION This scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding graduate student who intends or has already begun to work toward an M.A. with a concentration in U.S. History.  Currently the scholarship is worth $1,000.  Students who apply for a Graduate Assistantship or the Filson Internship in the Department of History may apply for the Hamilton Scholarship, but the Scholarship cannot be held concurrently with a Graduate Assistantship or Internship.  Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.00 overall for undergraduate and graduate work completed.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION
To apply for any of the above awards, submit a letter of application, official transcripts of undergraduate work and of any graduate work already completed, GRE scores, and three letters of recommendation to Professor Tracy K'Meyer, Chair, Department of History, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292.  At least two of these letters must be from professors familiar with the candidate's performance.  Entering students may use their two admissions application letters of recommendation but will also need a third letter which speaks to the student’s potential for success in advanced studies and research in history.  Continuing students must have at least one, and preferably more than one, letter of recommendation from a member of the U of L History faculty which indicates that the applicant is making reasonable progress toward the degree.  Current UofL students may print and submit unofficial transcripts through the online registrar.
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Also available:
The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Kentucky offers Graduate students enrolled in Kentucky universities the opportunity to apply for an annual $1,000 award.  Students should have an identified research project related to the colonial era of American history.  The winner will also be invited to address the Society at one of its meetings.

Internships in Public History

There are a number of historical agencies and organizations in the Louisville area who regularly
offer internships for Graduate students in history.  Some of them have money available, and
some do not.  The availability and financing for each of these organizations changes from year to year,
but if you are interested in any of them, you should ask!  These are real opportunities to gain practical
experience in public history.  (Note that the Conrad/Caldwell House and the Filson Historical Society
internships are regularly offered and financed on a competitive basis, see a separate advertisement
for more information about those programs)

Museums/Archives:

- Carnegie Center (formerly the Floyd County Museum)

- Filson Historical Society

- Frazier International History Museum

- Howard Steamboat Museum

- Kentucky African American Heritage Center

- Kentucky Derby Museum/Churchill Downs Archives

- Oral History Collection of the University of Louisville Archives

- Portland Museum

- The U.S. Army Armor Center and the Armor Museum

Historic Homes:

- Historic Home Foundation

- Conrad/Caldwell House

- Farmington

- Locust Grove

Other:

- Creative Films Inc.: a local company producing documentary films for cable television

- Genealogical and other research for individuals

- Research projects for community organizations

Students receive credit for the internship through HIST 608: Public History Practicum. Some internships also pay a small stipend.  Interested students should contact Dr. Tracy K’Meyer at tracyk@louisville.edu.