Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University is an innovative global community dedicated to educating scholars, leaders, and practitioners in pursuit of a more just and sustainable world. We do this by providing exemplary interdisciplinary programs within a distributed and relational learning model grounded in student-driven inquiry and leading to enhanced knowledge. 

Fielding's History

Fielding was founded in March 1974 in Santa Barbara, California, by Frederic Hudson, Hallock Hoffman, and Renata Tesch. The founders envisioned a nationally recognized graduate school based on two notions:

• Changing demographics were altering the world of higher education: greater numbers of mid-career adults seeking advanced degrees to enhance already established academic and professional skills. 
• Adults learn differently than adolescents and young adults: The traditional pedagogical method of education-active teacher, passive learner-would not be appropriate. 

Fielding developed a rigorous, supportive learning model that is flexible, adult-centered, self-directed, practice-oriented, global, and competence-based. While most coursework is online, there are several in-person opportunities for students and others.

Values

Academic Excellence: We commit to the highest quality scholarship, research, and practice. 

Community: We support a collaborative learning environment built on inclusion and mutual respect. 

Diversity: We commit to having a faculty, staff, and student body that is diverse and inclusive. We embrace and celebrate the wisdom, knowledge, and experiences of our diverse community. 

Learner-centered Education: We create an interactive experience that responds to the interrelated personal and professional lives of our students. 

Social Justice: We commit to advancing equality and justice in our University, and in the local, national, and global communities impacted by our work. 

Transformational Learning: We inspire a re-examination of one's worldview and underlying assumptions to enable a deeper understanding of self and society

Fielding Facts

• Fielding has two schools and offers several doctoral, master’s, and certificate programs. 
  • The School of Leadership Studies 
  • The School of Psychology 
• Fielding has the only American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral program in Clinical Psychology that incorporates a distance-learning component.
• Fielding has accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
• Enrollment is 1,050 students in doctoral, master's, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs.
• The age range of students is from 22 to 82 years of age.
• Fielding has 170 faculty members in 37 states.
• The student-to-Faculty ratio is 10:1.

Employment at Fielding

From our earliest days, Fielding Graduate University has been deeply committed to examining and eliminating structural inequality in society. By working here, you join a diverse and vibrant community that advances Fielding’s world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. 

Employee Benefits

Fielding Graduate University prides itself on offering a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. Employees of Fielding enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

• Health Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Pre-Taxed Healthcare Premiums
• Childcare Assistance
• Health Savings Account
• Life/AD&D and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off

Fielding’s Administrative offices are located in beautiful Santa Barbara, California, as well as Washington, D.C. Faculty and staff reside throughout North America and serve students who live and work around the world. We take pride in offering competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package to serve the varied needs of our workforce.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Fielding Graduate University has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from our earliest beginnings in the early 1970s. With the founding focus of providing doctoral education to mid-career adults, we offered graduate experiences specifically designed for people who had been left out of traditional education. Since that time, diversity, equity, and inclusion remain an active process that requires continuous commitment to promote collaborative learning and change through attracting, retaining, graduating, and honoring a more diverse population of students, faculty, staff, alums, and community friends. Social and ecological justice is part of our explicit commitment to understanding, analyzing, and acting to reduce inequality, oppression, and social stratification, recognizing the linkages between economic, social, and ecological justice. The university strives to ensure that elements of DEI are embodied in all academic programs, including course content, faculty, staff and student performance, assessment, and accountability. We challenge our community to think boldly and take specific actions that are realistic and measurable.

Fielding’s Global Inclusion Council is an advisory group that provides guidance to the President on issues pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Council members represent the diversity of the Fielding community across different demographics, constituencies, schools, and programs. The council exists to support the university’s commitment to embedding DEI into the culture. 

Fielding sponsors numerous DEI events and learning sessions. These include panel webinars, dialogues and engagements sessions, speakers, and related documentaries led and facilitated by faculty, students, staff, and alums. These interactive learning opportunities cover a myriad of topics and issues like racism and COVID-19, LGBTQIA+ pride, Black feminism, DEI-related book discussions and panels, cultural heritage spotlights, as well as a number of school and program-sponsored learning programs. Learn more at www.fielding.edu/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dei. 

Briefly describe how your organization supports the local community:

Fielding Graduate University was founded on the values of equity, inclusion, and social justice. The university is a leader in higher education providing exemplary interdisciplinary programs for a diverse community of scholar-practitioners within a distributed learning model. Because Fielding is a distributed institution, its students, faculty, and staff are located around the world. Thus, the overall community the university serves is very much a global one. However, Fielding is also an active business leader in the local community of Santa Barbara, California, the location of the university’s main campus and administrative offices. In this role and in keeping with the university’s core values, Fielding actively supports several charitable organizations within the Santa Barbara community, such as the LGBTQIA+ Pacific Pride Foundation, The Association for Women in Communications, The Fund for Santa Barbara, UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures, Child Abuse Listening Mediation (CALM), the Environmental Defense Center, and more.

Briefly describe any interesting recent events at your organization: 

In 2023, Fielding hosted myriad events, including its Global Ecological and Social Justice Service Year, an anniversary celebration in March, Juneteenth programming in conjunction with Pacifica Graduate Institute and its Alumni Association, in-person and virtual graduation ceremonies, monthly observances, and other university-wide and program-specific initiatives. 2024 is Fielding’s 50th Anniversary year, which brings a host of special events and observances throughout the year. This includes a commemorative book published by Fielding University Press, “The Voices of Fielding” film premiere, research presentations, volunteer days, and more events across the United States and world. Learn more about Fielding’s 50th Anniversary at www.fielding.edu/50. Follow the most up-to-date information at www.fielding.edu/news.