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Dr. Larry Drake PhD in Media Psychology Fielding Graduate University

Requirements for the Media Psychology PhD program are organized around a core curriculum with elective courses, research practicum experience, a qualifying exam and a dissertation. A pathway master’s is earned along the way. Students customize their graduate program under the supervision of a faculty mentor. There is a low residency requirement and the opportunity to meet with students and faculty at regionals seminars and conferences. The program offers optional concentrations in:

Brand Psychology and Audience Engagement Positive Psychology and Media Social Impact of Mobile Media and Immersive Technology PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Media Psychology (with optional concentrations)

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PSY-525 Foundations of Critical Theory This course addresses basic competencies relevant to student work in media psychology: academic writing from the perspective of organization and expression, generating a research question and following the research process, critical thinking, narrative structure, diversity, and ethics. The objective of this course is not mastery, but rather to familiarize students with these fundamental competencies, which they will further develop throughout their programs. Online activities provide an overview of program requirements, library resources, and the online learning environment. These activities include an overview of professional conduct expectations, and how students will be assessed throughout their program regarding those expectations. PSY-533 Foundations of Media Psychology Media psychology is the application of psychological theory and research to the analysis of media and technology use, development and impact. This course introduces six major domains in psychology–cognitive, social, developmental, biological/neuroscience, individual differences and positive–to provide a foundation for approaching media technologies from multiple dimensions. We will spend time exploring the question “what is media psychology” to think about why a definition matters and to give students the chance to examine their assumptions about media and technology. We will address different topics in the current media landscape, such as social media, collective behaviors, games, media immersion, transmedia messaging, mobile devices and global impact, to see how different perspectives in psychology provide relevant theoretical and practical anchors. PSY-707 Biological Bases of Behavior This course surveys the structural and functional relations of the central nervous system, physiology, sensory processes, and behavior. Study is divided into two subsections: (1) physiological psychology and (2) evolution, genetics, and behavior. Students become familiar with the biology of memory and the biological/ genetic aspects of psychiatric disorders. Knowledge of the functioning of the brain at the anatomical, cellular, and molecular levels underpins any understanding of behavior. Biological Bases of Behavior provides fundamental knowledge of brain functions in the interest of providing an understanding of the foundational grounding from which all behavior comes. Attention is paid to the physiology of the brain, the environmental, genetic and evolutionary influences on the brain; and the ways in which the brain processes information, records emotions, and instantiates memory and learning.

PSY-724A Mind in Technology Inspired by Vygotsky’s Mind in Society, this seminar reimagines technology as a kind of psycho-social and cultural environment that envelops, entangles and exists in tension with cognitive functioning. We explore cognition in and through the lens of current questions that set in relief the relationship between cognition, new technologies and the current digital moment. Topics covered include: cognitive theories and assumptions they make about mind and technology; memory in media environments; technology and attention; visual culture, perception and technology; viral culture and cognition; cognition and mental maps and immersion as a property of cognition. PSY-754 Role of Media in Social Justice This course covers theories of psychology (including media, cognitive and social psychology) and communications as foundations to understanding how the audience processes social information presented in media and how we can use that knowledge to work towards increasing social justice in the real world. Other topics include: social media, journalism, online incivility and narrative persuasion. PSY-773 Media Innovation and Online Education Higher education is seeking those who both create innovative media psychology, emerging media and related content and are familiar with on-line delivery platforms. This seminar is designed to address emerging technology and the creation of virtual courseware for those seeking to deliver educational experiences within degree programs, private executive development and international development programs. Both advanced doctoral students and recent graduates are finding tremendous value in preparing for online course delivery. PSY-724A Mind in Technology This course examines the major tenets of positive psychology and how they are can be applied to media and beyond. Among the topics to be covered are: The deconstruction of happiness and how distinguishing between hedonic and eudaimonic happiness impacts the conceptualization of media use and enjoyment.; the role of empathy and altruism in Internet behaviors; how the role of attachment and affiliation manifest in social media; the neuroscience of positive emotions; the role of social and mobile technologies in individual and collective agency; the positive power of storytelling in making social change and designing games and transmedia narratives for flow.