Joint Scholarship in African American Studies and Jewish Studies

We are not currently accepting applications for the Joint Scholarship in African American Studies and Jewish Studies.
Please check back in August 2026 for information about the next application period.

This scholarship provides financial support to a student pursuing coursework in both African American studies and Jewish Studies. Learning about African Americans and Jews will encourage students to delve into the history of two minority groups whose distinct experiences illuminate questions of race and ethnicity. By taking courses in these fields, students will gain a deeper understanding of both groups and their encounters with American society as a whole.

The successful applicant will receive:

$13,000 for completion of 3 courses in African American Studies and 3 courses in Jewish Studies or
$15,000 for completion of 3 courses in one department plus a certificate or major in the other department

Eligibility:
To apply for the scholarship, students must have taken (or be currently taking) at least one course in Jewish Studies or African American Studies.

To apply:

Please provide the 3 items below as a single pdf with a file name that follows this format: Last Name.First Name. Send the file simultaneously to Professor Nina Caputo (ncaputo2@wisc.edu) and Professor Christy Clark-Pujara (clarkpujara@wisc.edu).

Application form (click here)
Writing sample: An essay of at least 750 words on any subject. (The sample could be an essay written for a course or taken as part of an exam.)
Your UW-Madison transcript (An unofficial transcript is acceptable.)

Questions? Contact scholarships@cjs.wisc.edu

To learn more about a certificate in each department:

African American Studies Certificate Information

Jewish Studies Certificate Information

To view courses offered by each department:

African American Studies Courses

Jewish Studies Courses

This scholarship is part of the Joint Initiative in African American and Jewish Studies, which was designed to encourage a comparative, cross-disciplinary approach to the study of African Americans and Jews.

Launched in 2023, the Joint Initiative in African American and Jewish Studies is made possible by a fund originally established by Esther Leah Ritz.

Please note that receiving an award may affect your financial aid package. To learn more, contact the UW-Madison Office of Financial Aid at finaid@finaid.wisc.edu.

To apply:

This scholarship is part of the Joint Initiative in African American and Jewish Studies, which was designed to encourage a comparative, cross-disciplinary approach to the study of African Americans and Jews.

Launched in 2023, the Joint Initiative in African American and Jewish Studies is made possible by a fund originally established by Esther Leah Ritz.

Please note that receiving an award may affect your financial aid package. To learn more, contact the UW-Madison Office of Financial Aid at finaid@finaid.wisc.edu.

Scholarship payments are made to students’ tuition accounts or paid via UW payroll, depending on residency status.