Scholarship Opportunities
Professor Howard Roepke was a
faculty member in the Department of
Geography from 1955—1985. Following the
death of both Dr. and Mrs. Roepke, their
estate provided a $500,000 gift to the
University of Illinois Foundation to support
geography undergraduate students.
The Department of Geography offers five types of financial awards for majors:
Academic scholarships for freshmen and sophomores. Freshmen and sophomore geography majors may apply for a $1,000 academic scholarship. Forms may be found on the department website or in the departmental office at 220 Davenport Hall.
Research Opportunities for juniors and seniors. Our goal is for undergraduate students to learn how to identify significant research questions, develop hypothesis, collect primary data, perform appropriate data analysis though the use of statistical and mathematical methods, and geographic information systems technology.
The Research Opportunities offer undergraduates a chance to work directly with a geography faculty member as part of their research team, to aid in the collection and analysis of data, and writing of papers and manuscripts.
Undergraduate students become a member of
a geography faculty members research team
either by 1) the student meets a faculty
member, probably by taking a course with a
faculty member, and hears about the kind of
research that person is involved in, or 2) a
faculty member identifies an undergraduate
geography major that shows intellectual
curiosity about their research, and discusses a
research opportunity with that student. Either
way, this proactive approach on the part of
the student or the faculty member allows for
students to work with world leaders in their
field at the undergraduate level.
Students should identify the geography faculty
member with whom they have discussed a
Research Opportunity, and together with that
faculty member, write a one page letter to the
Undergraduate Committee that 1) describes
how the student’s research is part of thefaculty members research, and 2) what
specifically the student will do as part of that
research. This faculty member will serve as
the Research Opportunity Advisor for that
student.
Research Opportunities may be for one or
two semesters or for 2 to 3 months during the
summer. The number of hours a student
works will depend on the student's course
load, the nature of the research project, and
the type of work to be performed. Research
Opportunities during the academic year will
not exceed 10 hours per week.
Study Abroad. Geography majors that intend to apply for either Study Abroad or Courses Abroad may also apply to the Roepke Fund for financial assistance. Further information can be obtained from the department office.
Summer Field Camp. The Department of Geography is developing a summer field camp program for both physical and human dimensions of the discipline. We recognize the financial hardship for some students to attend, therefore funding assistance may be available through the Roepke Fund.
Internship support. Internships with government agencies or companies not located in the Champaign-Urbana area, and that incur financial hardship for students because of extended travel or lodging mayapply to the Roepke und for assistance. A written description of the nature of the internship, and the agency or company, accompanied with documentation of the internship offer must be submitted to the Department of Geography. Currently there is a $1,000 maximum award.
Criteria for Selection
Students must be declared as a geography
major. Undergraduate Scholarships will be
awarded on a competitive basis. The
Undergraduate Committee of the Department
of Geography, composed of three geography
faculty embers, will select recipients for
these awards. Criteria for selection will be
based on academic performance. The financial
awards will be deposited in the student’s
UIUC account.
Academic Credit
Research Opportunities do not earn
academic credit. However, credit can be
earned if 1) the experience results in a tangible
product (e.g. original map, research report,
manuscript), and 2) the student enrolls in
GEOG 390 (Honors). In all such cases, a
short written contract should be developed
among the faculty advisor and the student that
outlines the nature of the work to be
performed, an anticipated product and the
amount of credit to be earned. The facultyadvisor and student should sign this contract.
The extent to which the contract is fulfilled
will serve as the basis for assigning a grade for
GEOG 390.
Examples of Successful Student Research
An environmental geography major in the
GIScience option worked with Professor
Tom Frank for two years, assessing six years
of NASA satellite imagery to study the spatial
and temporal variability of aerosols in the
atmosphere over California.
The manuscript that resulted from this research was also used as her capstone project for the Environmental Fellows minor. A student in the Earth, Society and Envrionment option worked with Professor Tom Bassett, to investigate and map hunger throughout the world, which contributed to publication of the Atlas of Hunger.
The book is under contract but not yet published.
A student in the Physical Geography option worked with Professor Bruce Rhoads on the analysis of stream flow characteristics of streams in Illinois and their influence on flood regimes.
For further information, contact the Department of Geography at 333-1880,220 Davenport Hall, or visit our website at www.geog.uiuc.edu.