Scholarships and Aid

Federal and National Programs

The Federal Student Aid Web site contains information on loan cancellation for both Stafford and federal Perkins loans. The qualifications for cancellation are outlined for each. A possible qualification for cancellation with both loan types is teaching in a school designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a "low-income school." Access the database of schools using the Web site listed below.

For information on Summer Student Loans, please visit Financial Aid's website (link)

Cancellation/Deferment Options for Teachers

U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office (link)
The American Federation of Teachers maintains a list of other loan forgiveness programs for teachers (link)

Awards and Scholarships Available To Graduate Students Only

Educational Discount

Beginning in January of 2009, all students who enroll full-time (six credits or more per semester) while maintaining continuous enrollment in the following programs are eligible to receive a scholarship, discounting tuition significantly over the length of your program.

Business, Computer, and Information Technology Education, K-12 (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Spring 2012 and after

Community Mental Health Counseling (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2013 and after

Education Administration, K-12 (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Summer 2012 and after

Educational Studies (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2009 and after

Early Level (PreK-4) Education (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2011 and after

Early Childhood Education (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Spring 2011 and after

Early Childhood Education/Elementary Education (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Spring 2011 and after

Elementary Education-Leading Teacher Program (M.S.Ed.)

ESL - Program Specialist (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2009 and after

Instructional Technology (M.S.Ed.)

Marriage and Family Therapy (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2013 and after

Middle Level (4-8) Education (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Summer 2012 and after

Program Evaluation (M.S.Ed.)

School Counseling (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those beginning Fall 2013 and after

Secondary Education - English (M.S.Ed.)¹

Secondary Education - Latin (M.S.Ed.)¹

Secondary Education - Mathematics (M.S.Ed.)¹

Secondary Education - Sciences (M.S.Ed.)¹

Secondary Education - Social Studies (M.S.Ed.)¹

Special Education - Cognitive, Behavior, Physical/Health Disabilities (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2009 and after

Special Education - Community Mental Health/Special Education Support Program (M.S.Ed.)
* Only available to those who begin the program Fall 2009 and after

Details about this scholarship can be found on the Duquesne University Graduate Studies website.

¹ Scholarship amount for these programs will be at 35% beginning Summer 2012. The same rules still apply.

Graduate Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award

Each year, the School of Education awards one master's level student who has graduated from our Graduate Leading Teacher Program with the Graduate Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award. This award recognizes a student whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program-Leadership, Diversity and Technology-and is framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.
The application deadline for this award, which is presented at the School of Education Diploma Ceremony in May, is April 15. Students who graduated from the Graduate Leading Teacher Program in either December or May of the same academic year are eligible to apply.

Please click on the following link for additional information, including award application critera, requirements and instructions.

Completed applications must be delivered to the Office of Student & Academic Services, Canevin 213/214 by April 15.

Questions? Contact Dr. Kara McGoey, Associate Professor & Chair, SoE Student & Alumni Awards Committee at mcgoeyk@duq.edu.

Graduate Assistant Positions

Look here for assistantships and employment available for graduate students at Duquesne University (link)

Awards and Scholarships Available To Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Dean's Teaching Fellows Award

As an assurance of the quality of the most outstanding graduates from Duquesne University's School of Education, the School designates a limited number of qualifying students as Dean's Teaching Fellows. The Dean's Teaching Fellows must exhibit academic excellence, outstanding student teaching experiences, and significant volunteer/community service. Benefits accruing to Fellows include special consideration for masters or doctorate work at the School, as well as individualized support from the Dean on behalf of a Fellow when that person is a finalist in a school district or private school hiring process. After a rigorous application and screening process each April, the Dean's Teaching Fellows are selected from the graduating classes in the academic year. Those students whose graduation date is at the end of the Summer of Fall semester may apply for this award during the succeeding Spring semester (i.e. if you are graduating in December 2012, you may apply during Spring 2013). Deadline April 19, 2013. Related links: Information Sheet | Application

Undergraduate Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award

Each year, the School of Education awards one undergraduate student who has graduated from our Leading Teacher Program. The purpose of the Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award is to recognize a student whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program-Leadership, Diversity and Technology-and is framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.

The application deadline for this award, which is presented at the School of Education Diploma Ceremony in May, is April 15. Students who graduated from the undergraduate Leading Teacher Program in either December or May of the same academic year are eligible to apply.

Please click on the following link for additional information, including award application critera, requirements and instructions.
Completed applications must be delivered to the Office of Student & Academic Services, Canevin 213/214 by April 15.
Questions? Contact Dr. Kara McGoey, Associate Professor & Chair, SoE Student & Alumni Awards Committee at mcgoeyk@duq.edu.

For Employees Of Roman Catholic Affiliated Institutions

Lay Teachers

Current full-time lay teachers or high school administrators required to obtain Administrative I Certification in a Catholic School located in Roman Catholic schools in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, or Altoona-Johnstown Dioceses or lay teachers from other dioceses who have completed a minimum of two years of full-time teaching in a Catholic school may be eligible to receive a 50% discount of basic tuition rate of school or rate of school enrollment, whichever is lower.

Lay Ministers

Men and women employed as lay ministers within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh as Pastoral Associates, Professional Youth Ministers, Parish Social Ministers, and Campus Ministers may be eligible to receive a 50% discount of basic rate, or rate of school enrollment, whichever is lower. Eligibility must be verified by the Institute for Ministers of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

*Please note that multiple University-issued awards and scholarships cannot be issued to a student's account. For example, a student cannot receive both the Lay Minister Discount and the Educational Discount.

External Scholarships

TEACH Grant

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reported that no significant teacher shortage areas exist for the 2013-2014 year.

Study Abroad Scholarships in Turkey for American Minority Students

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has a diverse array of scholarship programs that support its educational mission. One of these programs provides up to 100 scholarships to African American, Hispanic American and Native American students who choose Turkey as their study abroad destination.

TCA Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 per student:

$2,000 for a semester or year at a Turkish institution.
$1,000 for Turkish language studies at a Turkish institution.
$1,000 for summer programs lasting for more than 4 weeks at a Turkish institution.
$500 for summer programs lasting up to 4 weeks sponsored by US educational institutions or Turkish institutions.
$500 for participants in university/college-sponsored study tours to Turkey.

And these are awarded to college and graduate students who are:

U.S. citizens of African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American ethnic origin.
Enrolled full time, in good standing at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Accepted to a study abroad program or language program at a university in Turkey.
Willing to share experiences in Turkey, TRNC or Bosnia Herzegovina with the TCA community and Diversity Abroad.

For more information, or to apply, please visit: www.turkishcoalition.org

Jack Wilson Fund Scholarship

Students are invited to apply for the Jack Wilson Fund scholarship. This scholarship was created to provide financial assistance for innovative, international opportunities that foster an appreciation of and better understanding among different cultures. Priority will be given to ideas that promote peace and community development.

Students eligible to apply must have completed at least three years of undergraduate work or be enrolled in a graduate program.

Electronic copies of the application are available upon request from turnerd@pghfdn.org or may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website (link).

If you have any questions contact the e-mail address listed above or 412.394.2649.

The Jack Wilson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to provide financial assistance for innovative, international opportunities that foster an appreciation of and better understanding among different cultures. Priority will be given to ideas that promote peace and community development. In order to be considered for this full or partial fellowship, applicants must:

Have completed at lease three years of undergraduate work or be enrolled in a graduate program at one of the following: Carlow University, Chatham University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, St. Vincent College, University of Akron or the University of Pittsburgh.
Have completed degree work in or be majoring in one of the following fields: international affairs, political science, world cultures, inter-cultural communications, social work, education, art, or music.
Have a plan to visit another country for the purpose of increasing understanding of other cultures. This plan should include a specific service-oriented project.
Complete an application and include requested attachments and a one and a half page essay explaining how this project will promote peace and community development or is of some other use to the country being visited.
Demonstrate financial need to undertake travel and project.
Provide an interim report acknowledging receipt of funds and arrival at the destination and a detailed follow-up report of their project within two months of its completion.

These must be mailed to The Pittsburgh Foundation at the address indicated at the bottom of the application.An Advisory Committee will select the recipient (subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Foundation). No member of the Advisory Committee, or his or her immediate family, shall be eligible for assistance during his or her tenure on the Advisory Committee.

The Pittsburgh Foundation shall notify the chosen recipient(s) of its decision. All scholarship checks will be made payable to the university for the student or appropriated designated organization.

Award and Scholarships Available to Alumni

Leading Teacher Program Alumni Excellence Award

Beginning in May 2013, the School of Education will annually recognize one School of Education alumnus or alumna whose performance in a professional setting demonstrates excellence in one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program-Leadership, Diversity and Technology-and is framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.

The application deadline for this award, which is presented at the School of Education Diploma Ceremony in May, is April 15.