This course is part of the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

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Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

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Offered By

Foundations of Positive Psychology SpecializationUniversity of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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Dr. Martin E.P.  Seligman—renowned worldwide as the “father of Positive Psychology”—has led visionary leaps in the scientific research, empirical data and personal understandings of human flourishing. This course explores the past, present and future of positive psychology as a journey through the key scientific leaps led by Dr. Seligman and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center and Master of Applied Positive Psychology program. 
There are no prerequisites.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 1 of 5 in the

Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Understand the scientific foundations of Positive Psychology
Explain how skills of well-being can be learned and taught
Describe why mind and body flourish together
Discuss inspiring new developments in the field of Positive Psychology

Skills you will gain

Character Strengths And Virtues
Gratitude
Positive Education
Positive Psychology

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 5 in the

Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.89/5 (1,244 Ratings)

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology & Director, Positive Psychology Center

Positive Psychology Center

104,364 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(35,651 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

5 hours to complete

Positive Psychology Introduction by Dr. Martin Seligman

5 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 62 min), 5 readings, 3 quizzes

10 videos

Course Introduction1mModule 1 Introduction1mPositive Psychology: Toward a Balanced, Empirical Understanding of Well-being7mWhat Do We Mean by the "Positive" in Positive Psychology?6mSeeds of Flourishing: The Personal in Parallel with a Developing New Field7mHow Do People Explain Bad Events? Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Depression5mHealth is a Skill: Learned Optimism6mLaying the Foundation: Defining, Measuring, and Testing Happiness and Flourishing8mBuilding Blocks: PERMA: Defining Wellbeing12mTry This At Home: Building the Skill of Gratitude. Suggested Exercise: What Went Well?3m

5 readings

Dr. Martin Seligman Biography5mKey Point: Learned Helplessness3mKey Point: Optimism can be learnedPERMA Overview15mWhich Character Strengths Are Most Predictive of Well-Being?10m

2 practice exercises

Try This At Home: What Went Well10mModule 130m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

The Skills of Well-being Can Be Learned, Taught, and Transformative

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 80 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

13 videos

Module 2 Introduction1mBuilding Skills to Flourish7mPositive Interventions: Testing What Works2mStage 1: Teaching Skills for Wellbeing Proactively Can Prevent Anxiety and Depression in Children8mStage 2: The Leap from Research to Policy in the United Kingdom3mStage 3: The Science of Grit and a New Understanding: How to Foster Flourishing in Schools3mStage 4: Transcending Curriculum to Transform Culture in Schools7mStage 5: From Whole Schools to Whole Communities4mStage 6: Whole Force Resilience11mPositive Education: Teaching Academic Success and Well-Being9mPositive Education: Taking It to Scale9mPositive Education: Replicating Success Worldwide7mTry This At Home: Building Positive Relationships Through Active Constructive Responding4m

2 readings

Review of Flourish by Richard Layard15mWell-being and Public Policy15m

2 practice exercises

Try This At Home: ACR10mModule 220m

Week3

Week 3

5 hours to complete

Being Whole: Mind/Body Flourishing Throughout Life

5 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 68 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

10 videos

Module 3 Introduction1mDrawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology9mDrawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology Part 26mDrawn By the Future: The Science of Prospection8mPositive Health: Mind and Body Flourish Together6mNew Directions in Mental and Physical Health8mPositive Aging: Creativity and Strengths Throughout Life4mCreativity and Imagination10mCreativity and Imagination Part 28mTry This At Home: Know and Grow Your Strengths3m

7 readings

Watch This Video: Can You Believe Your Eyes?2mHomo Prospectus Review10mMore about the Selective Attention Test20mOptimistic Minds and Healthy Hearts20mThe Creative Life and Well-Being20mWhat Are Your Signature Strengths vs. What's Your Type?20mShare Your Strengths10m

2 practice exercises

Know and Grow Your Strengths10mModule 3 Quiz30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Future Directions in Positive Psychology

3 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 91 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

10 videos

Module 4 Introduction1mThe Future of Positive Psychology: Key Topics3mConstructive Journalism22mConstructive Journalism - some Q&A with Cathrine Gyldensted15mPositive Psychology and Spiritual Experience7mPositive Psychology and Spiritual Experience Part 26mWorld Well-Being and Big Data10mWorld Well-Being and Big Data Part 217mTry This at Home: Fun Vs. Philanthropy3mDrawn by the Vision of a Flourishing Future3m

3 readings

Learn More about Constructive Journalism15mTruly Awe-some Science15mWhat Your Tweets Say about You and Your World18m

2 practice exercises

Try This At Home: Fun vs. Philanthropy10mModule 430m

Reviews

4.9

1879 reviews

5 stars
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3 stars
1.07%
2 stars
0.25%
1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY: MARTIN E. P. SELIGMAN’S VISIONARY SCIENCE

by MWSep 28, 2020

Thank you Dr Seligman for a wonderfully insightful and efficient course on Positive psychology. This was the perfect course to take during COVID, when we could all use some positivity in our lives

by JMJan 15, 2022

The course is well-organized and taught. The information was presented in an exciting fashion that was captivating, instilling even more interest and curiosity into the subject of Positive Psychology.

by MMJul 10, 2017

I like the course material. I would like to suggest the format to be changed. Currently there is too fragmented with too many interruptions. It would be better to run the lectures more consecutively.

by MKAug 25, 2018

Glad to learn lot of experimental positive psychology tools to use in day to day life and helped to practice positive psychology coaching through this course. Thank you Coursera for this opportunity.

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About the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

The University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman welcome you to Foundations of Positive Psychology. Our five-course specialization provides you with the key theories and research in the field of positive psychology as well as opportunities for application.

Course topics include • Positive Psychology: Martin E.P. Seligman’s Visionary Science with Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman • Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions with Dr. James Pawelski • Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods with Dr. Angela Duckworth & Dr. Claire Robertson-Kraft • Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills with Dr. Karen Reivich • Positive Psychology Specialization Project with Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain