Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University, previously Fielding Graduate Institute, and The Fielding Institute, is an accredited, nonprofit post-graduate institution of higher learning based in Santa Barbara, California, USA.

Fielding Graduate University was founded in March, 1974, in Santa Barbara, California, the realization of the vision of three founders: Frederic M. Hudson, Hallock Hoffman, and Renata Tesch.^[1] They designed Fielding as a graduate program for mid-career professionals that were not being served by traditional universities.

The university's learning model is geared toward adult professionals seeking master's and doctoral degrees. The university offers accredited degree and certificate programs through three schools: Psychology, Human & Organization Development, and Educational Leadership & Change. Based on the concept of distributed learning, the programs utilize distance learning via an on-line campus; individual faculty-student mentoring and assessment; and face-to-face events of various types, in many locations, and throughout the year.

The professions targeted include clinical psychology, media psychology, higher education leadership, healthcare, organizational management, human development, and leadership within the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. Fielding is known for having an APA accredited Ph.D program in Clinical Psychology and for being the home of the first Ph.D program in Media Psychology in any university.

The Fielding Learning Model

The learning model utilized by Fielding is based on the principles of adult learning and designed to accommodate the needs, requirements and learning styles of midlife and mid-career professionals. The Fielding learning model combines theory with practice in a program that emphasizes academic understanding, research and writing skills and applied activities.

Students in each degree program learn through a mix of independent study and structured course work, learn peer to peer or collaboratively with faculty, utilize a range of learning modalities, including face-to-face and via distributed education systems in courses, seminars and electronic mail. Fielding offers flexibility for students to create their own learning roadmap and outstanding faculty who act as mentors throughout each student's learning process.

The elements of Fielding's learning model include a student learning plan, contract-based learning, competency-based assessment, student to student peer feedback, project and portfolio reviews, and final thesis or dissertation.

Notable alumni

• Marshall Colt, former actor who received Ph.D. in clinical psychology through Fielding
• Marilyn Price-Mitchell,columnist and youth development expert who received Ph.D. in Human Development through Fielding.
• Donald Nobbs, organizational academic who received a PhD in Organizational Development through Fielding.
• Eli Sopow, book author, lecturer, and transformation expert with a Ph.D. in Human & Organizational Systems from Fielding.

References

External links

• Fielding website

Coordinates: 34°26′3.68″N 119°42′50.19″W / 34.4343556°N 119.7139417°W / 34.4343556; -119.7139417