Upcoming Deadlines
James Madison Graduate Fellowship Deadline (for future or current teachers of US government, US history and/or civics at the secondary level)
Date and Time
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Description
The James Madison Fellowship offers pre-service and in-service teachers of government and history up to $24,000 to complete a Master’s degree in fields related to the U.S. Constitution. The Madison Memorial Fellowship supports 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.
Professional Teaching Obligation:
After receiving the master's degree, each Fellow must teach American history, American government, or civics 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.
Financial Aspects of the Award:
The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the period of study, and in no case shall the award exceed $12,000 for one academic year of study. Payments are made only for the actual costs of tuition, required fees, and books (as well as room and board if required to live away from your principal residence), and are made only for the minimum number of credits required for the award of the degree for which a Fellow is registered.
Eligibility Requirements:
Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the state of their legal residence except for some privately funded fellowships. To be eligible to apply for a fellowship, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or civics at the secondary school level (grades 7-12).
- 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.
Failure to complete the study for which the fellowship is awarded, to attend the Summer Institute on the Constitution, or to teach qualifying subjects in grades 7-12 for the requisite amount of time entailed by the award will result in forfeiture of the fellowship and require the return of all funds paid under the fellowship, plus applicable interest under federal law.
Types of Fellowships:
The Foundation offers two types of fellowships:
- Junior Fellowships are awarded to outstanding college seniors and college graduates without teaching experience who intend to become secondary school teachers of American history, American government, or civics in grades 7-12. Junior Fellows are expected to complete graduate study within two academic years of full-time study.
- Senior Fellowships are awarded to outstanding current teachers who are required to complete graduate study within 5 calendar years of part-time study.
Choice of Graduate School and Degree:
Each Fellow will be expected to pursue and complete a master's degree from an accredited university in one of the following disciplines (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 will not 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. MEd degrees without required constitutional coursework will not be approved.
Constitutional Coursework:
The Fellow’s proposed plan of graduate study must contain substantial constitutional coursework. Whatever institution and whichever degree a Fellow selects, at least 12 semester credits (or 18 quarter credits) of constitutional study must be part of the Fellow’s program. Six of these semester credits are earned by the Fellow at the Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution, a six-credit graduate course held in Washington, D.C.
Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution:
A major component of the James Madison Fellowship Program is the successful completion of the residential four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution, "The Foundations of American Constitutionalism," held in Washington, D.C. Fellows are required to live on campus for the duration of the Summer Institute. Fellows attend the Summer Institute after they have matriculated in a graduate program and commenced coursework. The Summer Institute is also an opportunity for interaction with other secondary teachers whose varied interests and knowledge can lead to enduring friendships and professional associations. Expenses for the Summer Institute are included in the fellowship.
The academic focus of the Institute is a graduate course taught by constitutional scholars. This course studies the principles, framing, ratification, and implementation of constitutional government in the United States. It is designed only to be six credits of your master’s degree program and will not subsume all other courses on the Constitution funded by your Fellowship. It will, however, provide a more in-depth focus on the Foundations of the Constitution.
This event has been tagged as academic, careercenter, cuse, education, and fellowships.
Information
For more information, please visit: http://www.jamesmadison.gov/fellowship-information/fellowship-eligibility
Contact
For more information, contact fellowships at: [email protected] or visit https://www.jamesmadison.gov/fellowship-information/fellowship-eligibility.