Honors, Awards & Funding

Learn how to apply for departmental honors, find and join sociology Greek honor societies, qualify for Sociology Department awards and apply for additional GW funding and aid resources.

Departmental Honors

Students interested in earning special honors in sociology to be noted on their transcript must:

Meet Columbian College requirements for Special Honors
Meet specific requirements for their major

Application Requirements for Honors in Sociology

final overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (pending confirmation by the department)
final GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher (pending confirmation by the department)
enrollment in SOC 4195: Senior Research Seminar
a grade of “A” on the SOC 4195 thesis

Application Requirements for Honors in Criminal Justice

final overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (pending confirmation by the department)
final GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher (pending confirmation by the department)
enrollment in SOC 4195: Senior Research Seminar
a grade of “A” on the SOC 4195 thesis

Greek Honor Societies

Alpha Kappa Delta is dedicated to excellence in sociological research and scholarship. Membership is open to undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members from active chapters.

Visit the National AKD website for details.

Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduates

Must be a declared sociology major or minor
Must be at least a junior (third-year) student
Must have a GPA of 3.3 in sociology and overall (Note: Our departmental standard is higher than the national AKD standard of 3.0.)
Must have completed at least four regular courses in sociology before initiation

How to Apply

A call for applications will be sent once per semester via the GW Sociology listserv. If you are not on the listserv or have questions about the process please email socgwu [dot] edu (soc[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Application packets include:
- The application form
- A transcript (unofficial or official)
Once you are accepted, we will collect the $50 payment for your lifetime membership.

Alpha Phi Sigma is an accredited honor society for criminal justice students. Membership is open to undergraduate through doctoral students, faculty and professional and honorary members.

Visit the National APS website for details.

Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduates

Must have an overall GPA of 3.0
Must have a GPA of at least 3.2 within the criminal justice major
Must have completed at least four regular courses in the major prior to initiation

How to Apply

A call for applications will be sent once per semester via the GW Sociology listserv. If you are not on the listserv or have questions about the process please email socgwu [dot] edu (soc[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Application packets include:
- The application form
- A transcript (unofficial or official)
Once you are accepted, we will collect the $70 payment for your lifetime membership.

Sociology Department Awards

Ruth A. Wallace Memorial Fund

Background

Open to sociology majors and minors, the Ruth A. Wallace Memorial Fund provides one annual $500 prize for excellence in research or writing on gender, and can also support students facing financial emergencies in meeting tuition or living expenses.

The fund was established in 2017 by Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, BA ’98, and James A. Coriden in memory of Ruth Wallace. Wallace was a professor of sociology at GW and a prolific and pioneering scholar in the sociological fields of gender and religion. To apply, please email or call the Sociology Department.

Learn more about Ruth Wallace's life and legacy.

Past Winners

2025: Stephanie Spector
2024: Teya Franks
2023: Taylor MacChia
2022: Rebecca Amadi, Allyson Clark
2021: Yurdum Cokadar
2020: Alexandra La Pinta
2019: Lauren Danielowski
2018: Caroline Elias
2017: Ana Deros

Hilda Haves Manchester Prize Fund

Background

The endowed Hilda Haves Manchester Prize Fund was established in 1969 by Emilie Margaret White in memory of Hilda Haves Manchester. The award recognizes a woman in the field of sociology for outstanding scholarship. Each year, the award is given to the student in the Sociology Department with the highest grade point average.

Past Winners

2025: Ava Svolos
2024: Shayda Vandyoussefi
2023: Maram Baider
2022: Emma Shumaker
2021: Tess Bolen
2020: Kimberly Krane
2019: Victoria Russell
2018: Michelle Berger, Johanna Kichton, Ashlee Skeens
2017: Celia Islam
2016: Emily Daenzer
2015: Shayla B. Keating

Academic Achievement Awards

Each spring the department also recognizes outstanding students majoring in sociology and criminology. Visit the Human Services and Social Justice Program website for award information on that program.

Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Writing Award

2025: Thomas Doody
2024: Alexa Manning, Savanna Tess
2023: Abigail Cohen
2022: Megan Schremp
2021: Emi-Lee Commisso
2020: Joshua Gomez
2017: Julian Berkowitz
2016: Marwa Moaz, Maya Weinstein
2015: Marcus Andrews, Rachealle Sanford

Outstanding Senior in the Field of Sociology

2025: Sophie Maraghi
2024: Mariko Hokamura, Ella Marsh
2023: Erin Fleming
2022: Amy Guerrero
2021: Jenny Wolski
2020: Laura Gonzalez
2019: Ariel Waldman
2017: Andrew Barondess, Alexandra DeLessio
2016: Shaun Harrison
2015: Lauryn King

William J. Chambliss Outstanding Senior in the Field of Criminal Justice

2025: Michael Barboa
2024: Sophia Kaufman
2023: Katriana Hafemeister
2022: Emily Zhang
2021: Rachel Witt
2020: Catherine Williams
2019: Sam Disario
2018: Jacqueline Groccia
2017: Nicole LeFort
2016: Vera Kiefer
2015: Stephanie Demetry, Emily Messing

GW Funding and Aid Resources

Center for Career Services
Take advantage of career and job search coaching, self-assessment services, résumé development, networking and more. (Services offered to students and alumni.)

Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research
Search and apply for undergraduate fellowships and research awards.

Luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Apply for a fellowship to support a research project carried out over several weeks or across multiple semesters.

Sigelman Undergraduate Research Enhancement (SURE) Awards
Apply for a $500 grant to fund research project supplies, conference travel, off-site archival visits, videography and more.

Student Accounts Office
View current tuition and aid information. Applicants who request financial aid will be considered for all forms of aid available based on criteria including undergraduate GPA, courses taken, recommendations, extracurricular activities and GRE scores.

Student Financial Assistance
Look for scholarships, Federal Work-Study positions, military benefits and other funding assistance.

Student Research Commons
Find paid research jobs, fellowships, seminars and other events available in the GW community.

Undergraduate Research Award
Apply for this $5,000 research award, open to first-years, sophomores and juniors.