University of Pennsylvania
Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

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University of Pennsylvania

Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

Positive Psychology: Well-being for life. Master strategies and tools that enable individuals and organizations to thrive

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.
James Pawelski, Ph.D.
Claire Robertson-Kraft, Ph.D.

Instructors: Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

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4.8

(7,241 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.8

(7,241 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll 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.

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Taught in English

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63%
of certificate graduates report career improvement
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Specialization - 5 course series

What you'll 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'll gain

Category: Optimism
Category: Psychology
Category: Positive Behavior Support
Category: Personal Development
Category: Resilience
Category: Creativity
Category: Education and Training
Category: Research
Category: School Psychology
Category: Working With Children
Category: Human Development

What you'll learn

  • Understand the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Interventions

  • Use strategies for classifying character strengths and virtues

  • Choose goals that support your personal well-being

  • Describe why it's important to cultivate a healthy emotional life

Skills you'll gain

Category: Psychology
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Category: Goal Setting
Category: Creativity
Category: Self-Motivation
Category: Optimism
Category: Persistence
Category: Personal Development
Category: Productivity
Category: Cognitive flexibility
Category: Empathy
Category: Growth Mindedness
Category: Self-Awareness
Category: Positive Behavior Support
Category: Curiosity
Category: Overcoming Obstacles

What you'll learn

  • Assess whether a hypothesis is good based on its characteristics

  • Make use of best practices for research data collection

  • Utilize inferential statistics for data analysis

  • Describe the basics of research methodologies and design

Skills you'll gain

Category: Research Design
Category: Reliability
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Data Collection
Category: Surveys
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Persistence
Category: Growth Mindedness
Category: Psychological Evaluations
Category: Program Evaluation
Category: Tenacity
Category: Qualitative Research

What you'll learn

  • Understand the protective factors that make one resilient

  • Describe thinking traps and how they undercut resilience

  • Make use of non-cognitive strategies that decrease anxiety

  • Create a buffer of positivity that boosts resilience in stressful situations

Skills you'll gain

Category: Resilience
Category: Optimism
Category: Mindfulness
Category: Communication
Category: Self-Awareness
Category: Cognitive flexibility
Category: Relationship Building
Category: Stress Management
Category: Adaptability

What you'll learn

  • Identify your five signature strengths

  • Describe the character strengths that promote well-being

  • Craft a positive intervention using a signature strength

  • Share your work by writing a post-intervention assessment

Skills you'll gain

Category: Research
Category: Positivity
Category: Curiosity
Category: Creativity
Category: Self-Awareness
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Psychology
Category: Mental Health Diseases and Disorders
Category: Research Design
Category: Personal Development
Category: Program Evaluation

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Instructors

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
2 Courses139,990 learners
James Pawelski, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
1 Course56,609 learners

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Frequently asked questions

¹Based on Coursera learner outcome survey responses, United States, 2021.