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.
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About this Specialization
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Learner Career Outcomes
80%
Started a new career after completing this specialization.
13%
Got a pay increase or promotion.
What you will learn
Master strategies and tools that enable individuals and organizations to thrive.
Discover key theories and research in the field of positive psychology as well as opportunities for application.
Apply key concepts from Positive Psychology to your personal and professional life.
Skills you will gain
Gratitudegoal settingResearch MethodologyResilience
Learner Career Outcomes
80%
Started a new career after completing this specialization.
13%
Got a pay increase or promotion.
100% online courses
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible Schedule
Set and maintain flexible deadlines.
Beginner Level
This course is appropriate for all learners.
Approx. 4 months to complete
Suggested 7 hours/week
English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, German, Japanese
How the Specialization Works
Take Courses
A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.
Hands-on Project
Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.
Earn a Certificate
When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.
There are 5 Courses in this Specialization
Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science
2,795 ratings
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.
Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
1,230 ratings
Positive interventions are one of the building blocks for the application of positive psychology in our day-to-day lives. In this course taught by Dr. James Pawelski, we explore positive interventions through theory, research and practice. We provide learners the basic tools for using and measuring positive psychology in professional or personal contexts. Suggested prerequisite: Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science.
Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods
709 ratings
Learners discover how apply to research methods to their study of Positive Psychology. In this course, we study with Dr. Angela Duckworth and Dr. Claire Robertson-Kraft. Through an exploration their work "True Grit" and interviews with researchers and practitioners, you develop a research hypothesis and learn how to understand the difference between internal and external validity. You also begin to understand and apply the strengths and weaknesses associated with different types of measurements and evaluation designs. You then interpret the results in an empirical study. Suggested prerequisites: Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science and Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions.
Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills
1,123 ratings
Learn how to incorporate resilience interventions into your personal and professional life with Dr. Karen Reivich. In this course, you are exposed to the foundational research in resilience, including protective factors such as mental agility and optimism. Several types of resilience interventions are explored including cognitive strategies; strategies to manage anxiety and increase positive emotions such as gratitude; and a critical relationship enhancement skill. Throughout the course, you will hear examples of individuals using resilience skills in their personal and professional lives. Suggested prerequisites: Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science, Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions and Positive Psychology: Character, Grit & Research Methods.
Offered by
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
Reviews
4.7
TOP REVIEWS FROM FOUNDATIONS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
by LBApr 20, 2019
Great intro course to Positive Psychology! Leaves you wanting more and I can't wait to start the next course in the specialization. I feel privileged to hear Dr. Seligman speak. He's great!
by JUFeb 16, 2020
A good follow-up on the first course in this specialization. I liked the fact that we got a lot of home work assignments, as it really helped in anchoring those things which were taught.
by RJDec 4, 2018
Love the instructor. She is so great! It keeps me engaged and love coming back for more information. Would highly recommend this course and the certificate specialization.
by GPJul 10, 2017
out of the four courses in the specialization this one was probably my favorite. The presentation was very hands on and specific on using resilience skills.
by PASep 23, 2017
I learned about so many possibilities in positive psychology that I opted to pursue the specialization. How wonderful for science and humanity to meet!
by AKAug 26, 2017
The full specialization was amazing! I have learnt a lot, I have flourished, I have got a lot of inspirations for my private and work life. Thank you.
by HHFeb 3, 2018
I loved this course so much I'm going to do the 5-course specialization. And, potentially enter the MAPP program. It's exactly what I was looking for.
by JFAug 4, 2017
This was an excellent class and I learned a great deal. I look forward to taking all the courses required for the Positive Psychology specialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the refund policy?
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Can I take the course for free?
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How often will Sessions of individual courses be offered?
Sessions for each course will start every two weeks on a Monday. Enrollment closes five days after a Session starts.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
Each course in this specialization is four modules/weeks long and can be completed at your own pace once the Coursera session begins.
Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions: 4-6 hours/module
Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods: 4-6 hours per module
Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills: 5-7 hours per module
Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being: 2-5 hours per module
What background knowledge is necessary?
No specific background knowledge is needed in order to complete the courses in the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
The courses in this specialization can be taken in any order. However, the course Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being is intended to be a culminating capstone experience and should be taken last. Why? Because your growing knowledge and experience throughout the other courses is what matters most, and will deliver the greatest benefit from this special project-based course.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
The University of Pennsylvania does not offer credit for any of the non-credit courses on Coursera.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Describe the past, present, and future of the science of positive psychology
Use intervention strategies to improve well-being
Read critically as a consumer of the research literature in positive psychology
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.