The Science of Happiness and Well-Being

The course translates findings from academic research, particularly in positive psychology and behavior change, into attitudes, behaviors, and practices that students can adopt to have happy, fulfilling, and meaningful lives. We explore the foundation of happiness and what makes us happy, set goals, and chart a path for achieving a greater sense of happiness. The course goes beyond knowledge acquisition and requires hands-on student engagement with weekly reflections and practices for behavior change. We also survey the growing range of happiness technology—tools and technologies that support individuals in their quest for a more fulfilling life—and explore entrepreneurial ideation for creating new happiness technology ventures.