Website: www.jamesmadison.com
For More Information Contact: National Scholarships Office – scholarships@umd.edu
Who Can Apply: US Citizens or US Nationals - Graduating Seniors, Recent Grads, Teachers
IMPORTANT: Must be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level (grades 7-12).
Description: The James Madison Memorial Fellowship was established by Congress in 1986 for the purpose of improving teaching about the United States Constitution in secondary schools. The fellowship funds graduate study leading to one of the following master’s degrees, listed in order of preference: a Master of Arts (MA) degree in American history or in political science (also referred to as “government and politics” or as “government”); a 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); or a Master of Education (MEd) degree, 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 study should include at least 12 semester credits of constitutional coursework. Six of these semester credits will be earned at the Foundation’s 4-week Summer Institute on the Constitution held every July at Georgetown University. Expenses for the Summer Institute are included in the fellowship.
There are two types of fellowships:
Junior Fellowships are awarded to students who are about to complete, or have completed, their undergraduate course of study and plan to begin graduate work on a full-time basis. Junior fellows have 2 years to complete their degree.
Senior Fellowships are awarded to teachers who wish to undertake work for a graduate degree on a part-time basis through summer and evening classes. Senior fellows have up to 5 years to complete their degree.
Program Preferences: Applicants are evaluated on their demonstrated commitment to a career in teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level, and who demonstrate an intent to pursue and complete a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers instruction in that subject. Applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence.
Preference will be given the candidates who demonstrate devotion to civic responsibility and an aptitude for graduate study and performance as classroom teachers.
Service Obligation: After earning a master’s degree, each James Madison Fellow must teach American history, American government, or social studies in grades 7-12 for no less than one year for each full academic year of study under the fellowship.
Award Amount: The fellowship awards up to $24,000 for graduate study leading to a master’s degree, prorated over the individual period of study. Fellowship payments cover the actual costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board but cannot exceed over $12,000 per academic year.
National Deadline: See here for the current deadline.
