Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University, previously Fielding Graduate Institute, and The Fielding Institute, is an accredited, nonprofit post-graduate distributed learning institution headquartered 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 was the first university to offer a Ph.D program in Media Psychology. All PhD Programs at Fielding Graduate University have a integrative online learning center.

The Fielding Learning Model

The learning model utilized by Fielding is 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 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, PhD
• Marilyn Price-Mitchell, columnist, PhD
• Tara Brach, author, PhD
• Janja Lalich, professor of sociology at California State University, Chico, PhD class of 2000
• Brian Emerson, author, PhD

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