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
Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization Certificate
Positive Psychology: Well-being for life. Master strategies and tools that enable individuals and organizations to thrive
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About this Specialization
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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
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
Course1
Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science
4.8
2,323 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. There are no prerequisites.
Course2
Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
4.8
1,040 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.
Course3
Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods
4.3
605 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.
Course4
Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills
4.9
946 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.
Instructors
James Pawelski, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Senior ScholarPositive Psychology Center
Angela Duckworth, Ph.D.
Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of PsychologyPositive Psychology Center
Claire Robertson-Kraft, Ph.D.
Director, ImpactEDPositive Psychology Center and Fels Insititute of Government
Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.
Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology & Director, Positive Psychology CenterPositive Psychology Center
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
Director of Resilience Training ServicesPositive Psychology Center
About 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.
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.
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