Awards, Scholarships & Bursaries

David L. J. Sealy Award

The David L. J. Sealy Award is offered every year to one currently registered, full-time student who through an essay, report, project or dissertation has shown a superior understanding of and interest in the connections between issues of race and ethnicity and questions of law and order in Canada. Recipients must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons and an Ontario resident who demonstrates financial need. The award may be given to a second-year undergraduate (minimum of 30 earned credits) or higher, or to a graduate student. This award is given in memory of Professor David L. J. Sealy and has been made possible by contributions from David’s friends, colleagues, and other loved ones.

Application Process:
The Department of Social Science will issue an annual call for papers. Students with permanent disabilities can submit a paper application form available from a registered campus service provider. Nominations will be submitted to the Teaching & Development Committee for their adjudication.

Department of Social Science Award

The award is an annual prize of approximately $800 given to one student who is majoring in one of the Social Science programs, who has completed between 30 and 60 credits with a GPA of 6.0 or higher, who is currently registered in a minimum of 18 credits, who is a Canadian citizen/permanent resident, Ontario resident, and who demonstrates financial need. The Office of Student Financial Services will select the recipient in the fall.

Ellen Baar Award in Social Science

This annual award of approximately $1250 honours the memory of Professor Ellen Baar, a member in the Department of Social Science from 1971 until her death in 1998 who was strongly committed to the Department’s interdisciplinary teaching. It is given to one student entering his / her final year as a major in one of the interdisciplinary programs who received the highest GPA in his / her third year of studies, will have completed at least two Department courses in the program, and demonstrates financial need. (If the student with the highest GPA does not demonstrate financial need, a transcript notation will record his / her achievement, and the funds will be distributed to the next-highest student who meets the criteria.)

FAAS application is not required to be eligible for this award. Further information regarding this award may be obtained by contacting the Department of Social Science.

Gordon Lowther Scholarship

This annual prize of approximately $700 is awarded to one student entering second year and enrolling in a Department interdisciplinary program who achieved the highest GPA in his/her first year. The student must be currently registered in a minimum of 18 credits, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and an Ontario resident, and demonstrate financial need.

Application Process:
FAAS application is not required to be eligible for this award. Students will be selected based on academic merit. Further information regarding this award may be obtained by contacting the Department of Social Science.

Jaime Llambias-Wolff Award for Academic Achievement and Commitment to New Canadians

The Jaime Llambias-Wolff Award for Academic Achievement and Commitment to New Canadians will be awarded annually to an undergraduate domestic student enrolled in a Social Science program such as African Studies, Business & Society, Criminology, Health & Society, Interdisciplinary Social Science, International Development Studies, Law & Society, Urban Studies, or Work & Labour Studies. The award is valued at $1,000.

Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 6.0 and must submit a one-page statement outlining the impact of their volunteerism/community engagement with an organization that either works with immigrants or refugees (that is, new Canadians and Canadians without citizenship). The students will also be required to submit a letter of recommendation from the respective organization.

Application Process:
FAAS application is not required to be eligible for this award. Send your application to Prof. Teresa Abbruzzese (Chair, Teaching Development Committee) by March 8 to teresa@yorku.ca. Please email Prof. Abbruzzese if you have any questions.

Lillian Lerman Book Prize

This $100 award honours Lillian Lerman, a member of the Department who retired in 1991, in recognition of her dedication and contribution to undergraduate teaching. It is awarded to one student writing the most outstanding essay in a 1000-level Social Science course. Nominations are made by course directors. For further information please contact the Department of Social Science.

Application Process:
FAAS application is not required to be eligible for this award. Further information regarding this award may be obtained by contacting the Department of Social Science.

Otto Friedman Memorial Scholarship

An annual prize of $300 is awarded to up to two students entering fourth year and who, at the time of application, is enrolled in one or more upper-level social science courses. Students are required to submit a brief statement showing your interest in one or more of social theory, social policy and planning, or the role of the Arts in society. Applicants should have a grade point average of 7.00 (B+) or better. The Teaching & Development Committee reserves the right not to make an award in a given year.

Application Process:
FAAS application is not required to be eligible for this award. Applications will be accepted from any York University student who, in the year of application, is registered in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Applicants should submit a brief statement indicating: 1) Intellectual and cultural interests, and his/her academic (to the extent know) professional intentions; 2) Social Science courses are taken pertaining to social theory, planning and policy, and arts society.