Bard, A Place to Think - Master of Arts in Teaching

Fellowships & Scholarships

The Carroll and Milton Petrie Fellowships for New York City Teachers

The Petrie Fellowship Program at Bard College was established in August 2004 through a generous grant from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation. Full tuition grants are made by the MAT Program to qualified students through a selection process that considers academic competence, teaching and leadership potential, financial need, and a commitment to working as an educator in the New York City public schools.

Petrie Fellows take all courses and fulfill their apprentice teaching requirements in New York City public schools in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. All students, including Petrie Fellows, must be in residence at Bard for coursework in the summer quarter. Petrie Fellows live in New York City from September through May and attend courses and weekly seminars held at partner schools in the Bronx. The MAT Program will assist Fellows in finding teaching positions in New York City and will provide professional development in the early stages of their teaching careers.

The expectations for Petrie Fellows include a commitment to teaching in the public schools of New York City for at least five years. The Petrie Fellowship represents a call for educational leaders who can address the needs of students in urban schools not only through their work as exemplary teachers in the classroom but also through professional relationships within the larger educational community.

Math for America Fellowship

The Bard College MAT Program formed a partnership that will provide MfA Fellowships to support the graduate studies of prospective teachers for New York City schools. This represents an exciting opportunity for mathematics, computer science and engineering majors to discover a rewarding career in the secondary schools of New York City. Each Fellowship involves a 5-year commitment and carries a total stipend of $100,000. Your first year is a tuition-free fast track graduate program (65 credits) at Bard College leading to the Master of Arts in Teaching in Mathematics Education and New York State certification. The stipend to support living expenses for this year of study is $30,000.

At the conclusion of the degree, you will work in a New York City secondary school at the current beginning teacher salary. We will help place you in a New York City secondary school. Each year for the remaining 4 years of your commitment you will receive, in addition to your salary, Math for America stipends of $13,000, $16,000, $19,000 and $22,000. As a cohort, your group will meet regularly at MfA's professional development seminars and workshops.

For more information on the Bard College MAT Program, contact Cecilia Maple at cmaple@bard.edu.

For more information on this rewarding opportunity and Math for America, log on to www.mathforamerica.org.

James Madison Graduate Fellowships

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 is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the federal government. Funding for the Foundation's programs comes from Congress and generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for a fellowship, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• 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).
• 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.
• Wait at least three years from the time that any previous graduate degree was awarded before applying for a James Madison Fellowship.

Professional Teaching 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.

Financial Aspects of the Award

The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the individual period of study, thus making the James Madison Fellowship the leading award for secondary level teachers undertaking study of the Constitution. 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.

Failure to complete the program requirements in a timely manner will necessitate repayment to the Foundation of all funds paid to the Fellow or on his or her behalf, plus interest.

For more information go to www.jamesmadison.com.

The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation for Mathematics

In the United States, approximately half of all secondary teachers leave the teaching profession within five years. Research on issues of recruitment, retention and induction of secondary science and mathematics teachers indicates that among key challenges facing beginning teachers are a sense of professional isolation and a lack of support and mentoring. The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation for Mathematics (KSTF) Teaching Fellowship program was explicitly designed to meet these needs of beginning high school science and mathematics teachers as they earn a teaching credential and through the early years of their career.

KSTF Teaching Fellows are young men and women who have received a bachelor's or advanced degree in science, engineering, or mathematics and are committed to teaching high school science and/or mathematics in U.S. schools. The fellowship supports them professionally and financially for up to five years-through a teacher-preparation program to eligibility for tenure. For application information, visit www.kstf.org.