Scholarships

Scholarships are available for Judaic Studies majors and minors

Your Bachelors degree is within reach! In the Judaic Studies Program, we have the caring faculty and the savvy academic advisors to support your success -- as well as scholarships to make college education affordable. When you choose Judaic Studies as your major or minor, you are eligible for an array of scholarships at Portland State University.

We’re making it easier for Judaic Studies students to receive scholarships. For the next two years, we are trying out a new way of awarding scholarships: direct award. Direct award means that students do not to apply through the Scholarship Universe system. Rather, the scholarship committee will assess the academic records of all Judaic Studies majors and minors and award scholarships based on academic performance, GPA, and any other relevant factors.

This means that you don’t have to prepare an application as you do for other scholarships. Of course, if you have a specific interest in any scholarship you are welcome to reach out to Professor Meir and discuss.

New Judaic Studies scholarships (2025):

Goldwyn Writing Award
This monetary award will be given each year to the best paper/essay written in a Judaic Studies course. Throughout the year Judaic Studies faculty will be on the lookout for excellent papers. Near the end of the academic year we will put their heads together and select a deserving recipient, who will be announced at our End-of-Year gathering.

Sydney Kahane and Bernard Abramson Scholarship
This monetary award will be given each year on the basis of financial need.

Slide deck overview of Judaic Studies scholarships

In just over one minute, you can get an overview of our scholarships specifically offered to Judaic Studies majors and minors. This is a silent slide deck video. Slides advance every eight seconds. Just click pause if you'd like more time to read a slide.

Let's get started!

Eligibility: Which scholarship(s) should I apply for?
Scholarships offered to Judaic Studies majors only
Scholarships offered to Judaic Studies majors and minors
Additional Scholarships Available

1. Eligibility: Which scholarship(s) should I apply for?

Not sure if you can afford college education? Undecided whether Portland State University is the right school for you?

Consider applying for the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship. As a prospective student you can apply for this scholarship in conjunction with your application to Portland State University. If you receive the scholarship award you will have a significant portion of your four years of education completely paid for. This scholarship supports Judaic Studies majors up to $7000 per year throughout your entire undergraduate career at PSU (up to four years). Learn more about the criteria and application procedures for the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarships.

Are you already enrolled at Portland State University?

Once you are an enrolled PSU student, you have an array of scholarships available to you.

If you are considering majoring in Judaic Studies, you are eligible to apply for the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship.

If you are already a Judaic Studies major, you are eligible to apply for the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship, even if you are new to the program. For the other scholarships, you must have accrued at least twelve credits of coursework in Judaic Studies to be eligible to apply.

If you are a Judaic Studies minor and have done at least eight credits of coursework in Judaic Studies, you are eligible to apply for three scholarships: Cogan, Jacobs-Kaufman, and Aspen Mitzvah.

Scholarship short name	Amount	Open to Judaic Studies Majors	Open to Judaic Studies Minors	Deadlines to Apply
Schnitzer Family	$5000-$7000 (per year x 4)	Yes	No	Apr. 1 of each year
Shleifer	Full cost of tuition and fees for an in-state student.	Yes	No	Apr. 1 of each year
Lokey Israel Travel	$1000-$5000	Yes	No	Apr. 1 of each year
Aspen Mitzvah (Hebrew language study)	$1000	Yes	Yes	Apr. 1 of each year
Cogan (internship)	$500-$1000	Yes	Yes	Flexible
Jacobs-Kaufman	$500	Yes	Yes	Apr. 1 of each year

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2. Scholarships offered to Judaic Studies majors only

⬧Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarships

The Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarships offer Judaic Studies majors renewable tuition support of $5,000 annually for their entire undergraduate career at PSU (up to four years). Learn more [link] about the criteria and application procedures for the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarships:

Requirements/Eligibility for the Schnitzer Family Scholarship

· Field of study: Undergraduate students pursuing their B.A. in Judaic Studies. Applicants may be entering first-year students, transfer students, and current PSU students.

· Academic record/GPA: Selection will be merit-based with a focus on demonstrated academic rigor and achievement; Students must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

· Community service/civic involvement: Preference will be given to those applicants who are actively engaged in any kind of community service and/or volunteering activities and demonstrate leadership potential.

· Award limit: Students will be eligible to receive the scholarship for a maximum of 4 years.

⬧The Lorry I. Lokey Endowed Fund for Israel Scholarship

The Lorry I. Lokey Endowed Fund for Israel Scholarship provides between $1,000 and $5,000 annually for a Judaic Studies major to travel to and study abroad in Israel. Explore study abroad opportunities through the International Affairs: Education Abroad office.

⬧Shleifer Scholarship

The Lois Berlin, John May, Ida & Sam Shleifer Endowed Scholarship pays for the entire cost of tuition and fees for an in-state student. Awarded annually.

How to apply

3. Scholarships offered to Judaic Studies majors and minors

► Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Scholarship and Internship

The Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to full-time Judaic Studies majors or minors who undertake credit-bearing internships in local Jewish communal and cultural organizations. This internship program is a wonderful opportunity to gain real-world experience working at a local Jewish community organization. This scholarship will cover the cost of internship for six credits of tuition (three credits each over two terms of study) for 1-3 students.

Please note that the application process for this scholarship is different from the others offered by the Judaic Studies Program. Interested students should contact the Academic Director directly to start the application process, which is internal to the department (email Prof. Natan Meir: meir at pdx dot edu).

► Abigail Jacobs-Kaufman Scholarship

The Abigail Jacobs-Kaufman Scholarship awards $500 annually to one full-time Judaic Studies major or minor who are pursuing a degree in Judaic Studies, and demonstrate financial need to cover tuition. Applicants will be selected on the basis of academic performance and demonstrated financial need.

► Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship

The Department of World Languages & Literatures offers renewable scholarships of up to $1000 to students enrolling in and completing second- and third-year modern Hebrew sequences. The award will be used to meet tuition costs and related educational expenses at Portland State University. Preference will be given to students in the more advanced (300-level) sequence, and to students undertaking the Major or Minor Degrees in Judaic Studies. Learn more about the Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship.

► Mary Ausplund Tooze Scholar Travel Award

The PSU School of Art and Design offers this scholarship. The award encourages travel needed to engage in field study and research in Ancient and Islamic Art. This helps students to better understand the cultures and traditions of a rich and complex Middle Eastern world. It is open to juniors, seniors and graduate students from all majors. Learn more about The Mary Ausplund Tooze Scholar Travel Award.

How to apply

4. Additional Scholarships Available

Please visit PSU's Scholarship Universe page to access the scholarship information outside of The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies.

Scholarship detail pages