James Madison Graduate Fellowship
Apply through Independent Application Process
» Scholarship's official website
Description
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers $24,000 James Madison Graduate Fellowships to individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. As funding permits, the Foundation plans to offer one fellowship per state per year.
After receiving the master's degree, each Fellow must teach American history, American government, or social studies in grades 7–12 for one full year for each academic year of funding received under a fellowship, preferably in the state from which the recipient won the fellowship.
The fellowships are intended exclusively for graduate study leading to a master's degree. James Madison Fellows may attend any accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Each Fellow will be expected to pursue and complete a master's degree in one of the following (listed in order of the Foundation's preference):
- Master of Arts (MA) in American history, political science, or government
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) concentrating on either American Constitutional history (in a history department) or American government, political institutions, and political theory (in a political science department). MAT degrees without required constitutional coursework cannot be approved.
- Master of Education (MED) or the Master of Arts or Master of Science in Education with a concentration in American history or American government, political institutions, and political theory
The Fellow's proposed plan of graduate study should contain substantial constitutional coursework. Fellows are encouraged to choose institutions that offer courses that closely examine the origins and development of the U.S. Constitution, the evolution of political theory and constitutional law, the effects of the Constitution on society and culture in the United States, or other such topics directly related to the Constitution.
Eligibility
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be a teacher, or future teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level
- Must possess a bachelor's degree or plan to receive a bachelor's degree no later than August 31 of the year in which you are applying.
Selection Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on their demonstrated:
- commitment to a career teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level
- intent to pursue and complete a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers instruction in that subjectdemonstrated devotion to civic responsibility
- capacity for study and performance as classroom teachers, and their proposed courses of graduate study