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J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice College of Arts and Sciences

Scholarships

The Department of Criminal Justice has funding available for need-based and academic achievement for each academic year. Please read the requirements and guidelines for the following scholarships before submitting an application.

Criminal Justice Scholarships

  • DYS Scholarship

    The DYS scholarship is for students who are interested in some aspect of corrections. It can be juvenile or adult, and can include prisons, probation, parole, reentry, or counselling services. Students should meet the following qualifications:

    • Applicants should be majoring in Criminal Justice.
    • Junior or senior.
    • 3.0 GPA or better (on a 4.0 scale) in coursework completed prior to the time of application.
    • Preference will be given to students who are interested in an aspect of corrections.
    • Number of awards: 1
    • Application period: October 1 to February 1
    • Required Documents: scholarship application, resume, essay, and two letters of recommendation from UAB Faculty members
  • Palo Alto Scholarship

    The Palo Alto scholarship is for criminal justice students who are majoring in digital forensics. Annually, two awards would be given to students who demonstrate excellent academic achievement or financial need. Students should meet the following qualifications:

    • Applicants should be majoring in Digital Forensics.
    • 2.5 GPA or better (on a 4.0 scale) in coursework completed prior to the time of application.
    • Preference will be given to female and minority students.
    • Preference will be given to students who demonstrate excellent academic achievement.
    • Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
    • Number of awards: 1 or 2 (depending on funding availability)
    • Application period: October 1 to February 1
    • Required Documents: scholarship application, resume, essay, and two letters of recommendation from UAB Faculty members

Note: All Criminal Justice scholarship awardees in the current academic year are not eligible to apply for the same scholarship in the following consecutive academic year (for example, if you are an awardee of one of these scholarships in academic year 2019-2020, you are not eligible to apply for the same scholarship in academic year 2020-2021).

Other Scholarships

The university and UAB's College of Arts and Sciences offer many other scholarships to incoming and current students. You can explore these options and apply through the UAB BSMART scholarship system. Other information about scholarships and financial aid can be found on the UAB Paying for College website.

Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Application

  1. The scholarship committee considers your essay to be the most important component of the application. It is the first thing we see and is often the piece that sets one application apart from the others. As such, you should spend time constructing a thoughtful, detailed, and error-free essay. It may also help to have someone else review your essay before submitting.
  2. Applicants who fail to demonstrate their qualification for a particular scholarship may be removed from consideration. Ensure that your essay is tailored specifically to the scholarship you are applying for and that it explains why you are a good fit for the award. For example, if the scholarship is granted to students interested in Juvenile Justice careers, your essay should include a testament to your interest in Juvenile Justice, including your specific career goals and how the scholarship assists you in pursuing those goals.
  3. Your essay should also include information regarding why and how the scholarship would benefit you financially (e.g., any financial hardships, outstanding loans, etc.).