Description.
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 for the purpose of improving teaching about the United States Constitution in secondary schools. The Foundation offers two types of fellowships. Junior Fellowships are awarded to students who are about to complete, or have recently completed, their undergraduate course of study and plan to begin graduate work on a full-time basis. Junior Fellows have two years to complete their degree. Senior Fellowships are awarded to experienced 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 five years to complete their degree.
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 individual entering the James Madison Fellowship Program 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 or in political science (also referred to as "government and politics" or as "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);
- 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 at least 12 semester credits in 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.
Benefits.
The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the individual period of study, and each year the Foundation makes 55 awards Fellowship payments cover the actual costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board but cannot exceed $12,000 per academic year. Normally, Fellows receive less than these maximum amounts. Fellows are expected to attend the Summer Institute the summer after the year of their award and the commencement of their first year of graduate study. The four-week Summer Institute is held in July at Georgetown University. 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.
Eligibility.
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
- Applicants 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).
- Applicants who already have a graduate degree must wait at least three years from the time that degree was awarded before applying for a Fellowship.
- Applicants must either currently possess a bachelor’s degree, or plan to receive a bachelor’s degree no later then August 31 of the year in which you are applying.
Bowdoin’s Internal Selection Process. Since Bowdoin is only allowed to nominate two students annually for the James Madison Graduate Fellowship Program, the Committee will review the materials listed below to select Bowdoin’s two nominees. Please bring five collated packets of the following materials to the Office Student Fellowships and Research by the “Initial Bowdoin Deadline” (see above):
- A printout of a complete online James Madison Graduate Fellowship Program application, except for the Recommendations section. Do not list recommenders or their email addresses in the online application until after you have been named a Bowdoin nominee.
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcript (print off of Bearings)
- Two or three letters of recommendation (If desired, recommenders may send their letters directly to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research by the “Bowdoin Deadline.”)
Materials for Final Consideration. If you receive Bowdoin’s nomination, it is your responsibility to continue revising and collecting your materials. By the “Final Bowdoin Deadline,” a Bowdoin nominee must:
- Electronically submit a completed, online James Madison Fellowship Application form, which includes:
- Information about the applicant’s academic/professional background
- Information about the applicant’s career plans/professional goals
- A constitutional essay
- At least one and preferable three letters of recommendation. The applicant will enter the name and email addresses of recommenders. Once the email addresses have been entered, the online system will automatically generate an email to the recommender listed within 24 hours. The recommender’s email will contain a URL and information for completing the online recommendation. All recommendations must be completed online by the “Final Bowdoin Deadline” in order for the application to be considered.
- Transcripts that pertain to the applicant’s undergraduate degree. If the applicant has already started a master's degree program, he/she should also include the most recent transcript from that institution. All transcripts must indicate the courses taken and grades awarded.
More about the Selection Process.Applications will be considered and evaluated by an independent Fellow Selection Committee, which will then recommend the most outstanding applicants to the Foundation. Applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. Applicants are evaluated on their demonstrated commitment to a career teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level; demonstrated intent to pursue and complete a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers instruction in that subject; demonstrated devotion to civic responsibility; demonstrated capacity for study and performance as classroom teachers, and their proposed courses of graduate study.
Please note that applicants are responsible for all photocopying needed for the internal selection process and as required by the foundation.
