Check out the following applications offered by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Apply for Scholarships
To apply for the scholarships below, please visit the Scholarship Hub.
Current Scholarships
Recipients selected primarily on academic excellence; need may also be considered as determined by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Learn more about the Amy Shelton and V.H. McNutt Endowed Presidential Scholarship
This scholarship was established to support the University of Texas at San Antonio in its quest for excellence in the Division of Earth and Physical Sciences at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. It has been funded by both the V.H. McNutt Memorial Foundation and the Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust. The Scholarship honors Amy Shelton and V.H. McNutt for their science leadership and entrepreneurial excellence. The McNutts demonstrated their commitment to higher education and their community throughout their lifetimes.
Vachel H. McNutt was a pioneer petroleum and mining geologist, and, in fact, was most famous for his discovery in 1925 of the first commercial potash deposits in this country in southeastern New Mexico. Mrs. McNutt credited much of her husband's success to his education. He received his B.S. degree in 1910 from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now the University of Missouri at Rolla), the M.A. in 1911, and the E.M. in 1914. He and Amy Shelton were married in 1912.
As a teacher for two years following his M.A., Vachel McNutt organized the first course in petroleum geology taught in any school west of the Alleghenies. In 1913 he opened the first consulting office in oil geology in the Mid-Continent oil fields in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His drilling recommendations resulted in the discoveries of large sources of petroleum in Kansas and in New Mexico. It was while drilling for oil near Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1925 that his keen understanding of minerals and chemistry indicated to him the presence of potash. Three years were spent determining the size of the deposit and in obtaining land leases. The discovery of this large source of potash in the United States broke the German domination of that important substance used in munitions as well as in industry and agriculture. The significance of that discovery resulted in a Congressional Citation.
In 1927, his health failed and he died in 1936. Mrs. McNutt moved to their ranch in Texas, which became and remained famous for decades under her administration as the Gallagher Dude Ranch. In 1952 Amy Shelton McNutt married another graduate of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Robert E. Dye, whose expertise was in gold mining, particularly in Canada. Unfortunately, Mr. Dye died after a three-year illness in 1956, and Mrs. McNutt resumed the name McNutt for business reasons.
Mrs. McNutt established the V.H. McNutt Memorial Foundation in 1960 in memory of her first husband to advance education and research in the sciences. In her lifetime "Momma Mac" was a munificent donor in many areas, in San Antonio as well as Missouri. Over one thousand geology students in Missouri have been recipients of scholarship money contributed by her. She established several other charitable organizations such as the Amy Shelton Charitable Trust which have continued after her death in 1983 at the age of 94.
Award
Amounts vary.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Current undergraduate student, enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours/semester) or
graduate student enrolled full-time (9+ credit hours/semester)
* exception for those in their final semester before graduation and not required to be full-time to graduate - Major: any in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
- GPA: cumulative 3.0 (4.0 scale)
The scholarship supports supplementing the cost of student geological field training and student geological field-based research is awarded based on academic success as determined by the Department Scholarship Committee, as well as situations that may merit special consideration.
Learn more about the Dr. James O. Jones Endowed Scholarship for Field Studies
Dr. James O. Jones (1935–1999)
The Dr. James O. Jones Endowed Scholarship for Field Studies was established in 2003 by family, friends, students and colleagues to honor the life and career of Dr. James O. Jones, one of the founding professors of the Geology Program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Jones taught at The University of Texas at San Antonio from 1977–1999. He maintained a long-term field research program in the eastern Permian Basin (North-central Texas) and also had an extraordinary professional service record at the local, regional, national and international levels. Most students from the 1980s best remember him for the summer field camp program he ran at that time.
Dr. James O. Jones left a lasting impression on all who knew him, the strongest of which were his dedication to the profession of geology and his passion for field geology. This scholarship is intended to aid students pursuing research or training in field geology, that aspect of science that was closest to his heart and that most characterized his legacy.
Award
Amounts vary.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Major: Geosciences
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must submit a letter of recommendation from a geology faculty member
- Must submit a summary of geological field training/field based research and budget
The scholarship is awarded to the student who has demonstrated academic excellence as determined by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Award
$500
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Current undergraduate student, enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours/semester)
* exception for those in their final semester before graduation and not required to be full-time to graduate - Major: Geosciences
- GPA: cumulative 3.0 (4.0 scale)
The scholarship is awarded to the geosciences undergraduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence as determined by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Learn more about the Mrs. Parvathammal Endowed Scholarship
The Mrs. Parvathamal Endowed Scholarship recognizes the year's most outstanding female geology major. The endowed scholarship was established by Chemistry Professor Emeritus, Dr. B.S. Thyagarajan to honor the memory of his mother. This scholarship was established on a Mother's Day and Dr. Thyagarajan wanted this to be a geology award as it symbolizes a respect for Mother Earth.
The award goes to the undergraduate geology major with the best academic performance during the past year as determined by the geology scholarship committee. The award is to go to a female student as long as female students constitute a minority of the geology majors.
Award
Amounts vary.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Current undergraduate student, enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours/semester)
- Major: Geosciences
- Preference given to a female student as long as women make up less than 50% of the students enrolled in the undergraduate Geosciences program
The scholarship supports graduate or undergraduate student working in the area of geophysics or geology and currently enrolled and pursuing a degree in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Award
$300 - $1000
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Graduate student conducting geophysical research, or conducting fieldwork for geological research or undergraduate student engaged in field research
- Major: any in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
- GPA: cumulative 3.0 (4.0 scale)
- Preference given to graduate students conducting geophysical research. In the absence of a sufficient number of graduate applicants engaged in geophysical research, the funds will awarded to graduate students conducting field work for geological research. Undergraduates are eligible if engaged in field research.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Submit a one-page essay describing your research, including a detailed budget outlining expenditures. If using fund to attend a research conference, the essay should include a description of how the participation at the conference is relevant to the educational development as a geoscientist.
Note: awards can be made as reimbursements for past expenditures made with personal funds
The scholarship supports students attending geology summer field camp and is awarded based on academic excellence and need as determined by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Award
Amounts vary.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Geosciences majors attending UTSA summer field camp when offered or support for students attending other field camps as conditions warrant
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Complete the Request for Pre-Approval of Field Geology course form and submit it to the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
The scholarship supports undergraduate research in the field for geology, including sedimentology, geophysics, hydrogeology, paleontology, geomorphology, and climate.
Award
Amounts vary.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
- Undergraduate student conducting in field for geology, including sedimentology, geophysics, hydrogeology, paleontology, geomorphology, and climate
- GPA: minimum 2.0 (4.0 scale)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Submit a written statement describing your research and proposed budget
South Texas Geological Society (STGS) Scholarships
The following Scholarships are offered and awarded by the South Texas Geological Society (STGS). STGS offices are located at 900 N.W. Loop 410, Suite D-100, San Antonio, TX 78209. The contact person is Ms. Doreen Brooner at 210-822-9092.
Application made to the STGS.
Award
Up to $1000 to support student (undergraduate and graduate) research directly related to the geology of South Texas
Deadline
Varies—Awards are made by April 1
Application made to the STGS.
Award
Up to $1500 for summer field camp expenses
The award goes to a "meritorious, needy, or otherwise qualified student" as recommended to the chair by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Name submitted to the STGS.
Award
$500
Deadline
Before the end of April
Additional Scholarship Resources
Visit the main COS scholarships webpage and One-Stop to find more available scholarships.
