The Science of Happiness Course:
Theory & Practice
Transform Your Habits
Uplift Your Mood
Change Your Life
Introductory Course Curriculum
Introduction to the Science of Happiness and Positive Psychology
- What Happened to Happiness?
- Birth of a New Science
- Habits of Happy People
- Introduction Quiz
Next Step: Proficiency Certificate Course
Excellent introduction - interesting, clear, motivating!
I enjoyed the course.
I like the idea of happiness soup and the connection of life skills with happiness.
The 7 categories that identify that determine your levels of happiness was very insightful.
Wonderful food for thought, and a great jumping off point for personal growth.
Very informative and educational. This should be a channel on public tv!
This is brilliant.
Life is not complete without happiness!
I learned a lot specially the difference between Positive Psychology and the Science of Happiness. Thank you.
Loved this, completely fits with my perspective and will learn more and utilize as add on in private practice!
Alot of really good information to build a platform in discovering what is happiness really about.
I thought I was happy . After listening to this I feel I can reach a higher level of happiness!
I feel elated. This information in invaluable!
It took me years to find the same info that I gathered from multiple sources.
I have been a student of happiness for many years and I still was able to learn a lot from the mini course. I am looking forward to taking the certificate course next.
I enjoyed the videos. They helped me a lot.
It's very educative lecture that has made me look at happiness in a different way..The pyramid on Abraham Maslow hierarchy of needs has given a totally different context here.
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Key Topics
Positive Psychology
Learn about leading theories and applications of Positive Psychology on personal happiness and well-being, by pioneers Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
The Science of Happiness
The Science of Happiness is accelerating. Explore the practical “habits of happy people” through new discoveries in the social and natural sciences.
New Discoveries
Learn about remarkable new discoveries in the Science of Well-being including "food for mood," the power of goal-setting, and finding meaning.
What People Are Saying
I am a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur in the college admission counseling business. I enrolled in the Science of Happiness (Proficiency Tier) in January 2021. I was drawn in by the simplicity and logic of the course, which provided me with a clear, big picture of happiness. What I need is a better understanding of happiness so I can strive toward it in the right direction. That’s what sets the course apart from the others. Before taking the course, I was immersed in a wide variety of happiness research and knowledge. The course enabled me to build up a systemic structure.
Bailey Li
This House…welcomes the collaboration between the service and the Pursuit of Happiness project, based in New York, an initiative of a group of psychologists and educators dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge about happiness and depression prevention, with the volunteers being the first students from a university in Scotland to undertake (the Science of Happiness Course) training by the project.
UK Parliament (Early Day Motion, 3/21/2022)
I love The Science of Happiness: Theory and Practice! The Mini-Course is an excellent introduction to the topic with well written, easy to follow content on an easy to use electronic format. I appreciated the background data on depression, diabetes (and more!) as much as I enjoyed learning about the pioneers of happiness psychology. The current recommendations for a happy life are thoughtful, as is the suggestion to concoct one’s own particular “happiness soup.” Thank you for such a user-friendly, info-packed introductory course that’s effortless to access online any time, anywhere!
Jo Becker
I was recommended to do this course by a friend in Australia. I am usually very active but with the resections brought about by Covid -19 this gave me an interest. The Course was well structured and presented. Very clear and easy to understand. The content was interesting. At the end I wanted to continue learning. My only comment for improvement would be to have the last module on what we could study next and how to go about it. I am looking forward to learning more about happiness.
Glenys Simon
Available Courses
- 11 Mixed Media Videos
- 7 Modules on the psychology and neuroscience of well-being
- 8 Challenge Modules with mood-boosting practical exercises
- 7 Video Guides (Prisha’s Tips)
- Proficiency Certificate of Completion
- 11 Mixed Media Videos
- 7 Modules on the psychology and neuroscience of well-being
- 8 Challenge Modules with mood-boosting practical exercises
- 7 Peer Support Video Guides (Prisha’s Tips)
- Detailed Lesson Plans
- PowerPoint Slides for Easy Class Instruction
- Weekly drop-in Q & A (optional)
- Advanced Certificate of Completion
About Us
Pursuit-of-Happiness.org is a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of well-being and depression prevention through education and peer support.
Recent scientific studies show that specific life skills can prevent depression, enhance well-being, and even slow down neurodegeneration. Pursuit-of-Happiness offers online courses on the new and rapidly unfolding Science of Happiness based on scientific research.
The Team
Narration & Production:
- Mark K. Setton, D.Phil., Oxon.
Research Team:
- Paul Desan, PhD, Harvard.
- Anthony Arciero, PhD, George Mason
- Saira Qureshi, MA, LMHC.
- Miguel Toribio-Mateas, PhD, Middlesex
Video Editing:
- Fahim Nirob
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the intro course take to complete?
As long as you like. Each of the three videos lasts about 10 minutes. The Introductory and Proficiency Courses are completely self-paced.
What's so special about this course?
- Firstly, instead of following a particular school of thought, our educational programs follow the Science of Happiness as it unfolds. For example, major systematic reviews published from 2021-2 indicate that:
- Regular, mixed physical exercise generates large quantities of the brain growth hormone BDNF, which protects against both depression and neurodegeneration.
- Walking through rural or urban forested areas, for only 15 mins, alleviates both depression and anxiety.
- Some fermented foods contain probiotic bacteria, called “psychobiotics,” that can relieve depression.
- Secondly, our material is drawn from the natural sciences (including “food and mood,” sleeping habits, exercise, etc) as well as modern psychology, including Positive Psychology (positive emotions, signature strengths, etc).
- Finally, through step-by-step outlines and practical exercises, we show how these new discoveries can be applied to daily life and exert a powerful impact on mood.
How can I benefit from this course?
- 76% of students who practice only one of the “habits of happy people” described in the course, report feeling happier.
- About 50% of our students take the Proficiency Course to improve their personal wellbeing and find relief from depression.
- About 25% of our students are mental health professionals, including counselors, psychologists, nurses, and life coaches, seeking online training, including peer support training, on wellbeing and depression prevention.
- The provision of curricula and courses on mental health in schools is a top priority. About 25% of our students are K-12 and university educators.