Carson Research Award in History
James W. Carson Student Research Award
This award offers up to $500* to junior and senior history majors to support original research in history. The award can be used for travel, access to archives, books, copying, software, equipment, and other necessities directly related to completing a research project undertaken under the supervision of a faculty member in the History Department, either as part of an honors thesis or as a non-honors History 500 (independent study) or History 550 (independent research).
*Note: the monetary award (up to $500 total) will be disbursed for documented expenses related to one research project, either by (a) direct payment of expenses up front (e.g., the history department purchases books, train tickets, etc. on behalf of the award recipient); (b) reimbursement to the recipient after the expense is incurred (e.g. a check issued to cover car mileage used for travel related to the research project); or (c) a combination of a and b.
Application Process
1. Determine your eligibility
To receive the Award you must be:
- A junior or senior history major*
- Have a GPA of at least 3.4 in the major
- Have identified and contacted a history faculty advisor about your project
*Seniors are eligible to apply in either of the two annual funding cycles, fall or spring. Juniors are eligible to apply in the spring funding cycle only.
2. Prepare and submit your proposal.
Submit your application online here.
3. Receive notification of your result.
Awarding of grants is competitive, and based on the following criteria as determined by history faculty:
- Achievement in the major as a whole
- Strength of question/topic
- Level of initial preparation
- Feasibility of the plan
There are three possible outcomes of your application: (1) Full funding; (2) Partial funding; or (3) No funding. Partial funding is usually the result when the department has received a number of strong proposals in a given funding cycle and cannot fully fund all of them, but would like to partially support as many of the strong projects as possible. Students who receive a "No Funding" result may wish to consult with their faculty advisor about how to strengthen their proposal, and then apply again in a future funding cycle, if still eligible.
Funding Cycles and Application Deadlines
The Carson Research Award has two annual funding cycles. The first funding cycle has a fall semester application deadline and is open to senior history majors only. The second funding cycle has a spring semester deadline and is open to both junior and senior history majors.
The deadline to apply for funding in the Fall 2026 Funding Cycle is Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 at 5pm (Open to senior history majors only)
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN AS OF SEPT. 17, 2026 VIA THIS LINK. Review of applications will begin Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. All applications received by the deadline (Wed., Oct. 21 at 5pm) will receive full consideration.
The History Department strongly encourages senior history majors who already know they will pursue honors and/or are taking or will take HIST 500 and/or HIST 550 in AY 2026-27, who expect to incur travel or other expenses related to their research, and who are able to provide a short, estimated budget for their research costs, to apply for funding during this first award cycle of the academic year. If funding is granted, the research can be undertaken any time during the Fall 2026 semester, winter break 2026-27, or Spring 2027 semester, as long as it is related to the same project discussed in the proposal. (You may also apply to have the grant reimburse you for expenses you've already incurred, as long as the expenses were related to your current research project, were incurred during Fall 2027, and you have saved receipts or other documentation of your expenses.)
Deadline to apply for the Spring 2027 Funding Cycle is Friday, April 23, 2027 - (Open to junior history majors, and senior history majors who have not previously received Carson funding)
Juniors are eligible to apply in this funding cycle if they are taking a HIST 500 or HIST 550 in Spring 2027, OR they have a definite intention to pursue an honors or independent research project in their senior year (and have already identified a possible faculty advisor for the honors or independent research project). Expenses to be covered by the grant may be incurred during the spring 2027 semester, or, if related to an honors or independent research project to be completed during the senior year, during summer 2027 or fall 2027. (Juniors who are awarded a grant during this funding cycle are eligible to apply again for Carson research funding in the fall funding cycle of their senior year, if they have further expenses not covered by the first grant.)
Seniors pursuing honors projects or taking a HIST 500 or HIST 550 in Spring 2027, who have not previously received Carson Award funding for the same project, are also eligible to apply during this funding cycle. If funding is granted, the expenses must be incurred before the end of the Spring 2027 semester in order to be covered by the grant. (You may also apply to have the grant reimburse you for expenses you've already incurred, as long as the expenses were related to your current research project, were incurred during the Spring 2027 semester or over winter break 2026-27, and you have saved receipts or other documentation of your expenses.)