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Positive Psychology Specialization Project

Design Your Life for Well-being

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

4.8

Based on 884 ratings

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Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

You are encouraged to take the first four courses of the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization before starting this course and completing the Specialization Project. This course, taught by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman brings all the key concepts from the first four courses to practice as you develop and test a new positive intervention for an audience of your choice. You identify opportunities in your daily life to increase the wellbeing by using knowledge you developed in the first four courses of the Specialization. In this final project, you evaluate the efficacy of a positive intervention based on subjective and objective measures. Then, you compare how empirical and non-empirically-based positive interventions can be applied to influence a person's wellbeing. Lastly, you reflect on how the fundamental elements of research methods are important in the everyday application of positive psychology.

After completing all five courses, learners earn a certificate signed by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, Dr. James Pawelski, Dr. Angela Duckworth, Dr. Claire Robertson-Kraft and Dr. Karen Reivich.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Character Strengths: One Concept to Rule them All

Module 1 of the Positive Psychology Capstone reviews the VIA Character Strengths Classification and in particular asks the learner to identify his or her five signature strengths and assess if they are authentic.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines character strengths as a way of understanding mental illness, offering a fresh perspective on mental health

Taught by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, a renowned psychologist and expert in positive psychology, providing learners with access to valuable insights and cutting-edge knowledge

Provides a structured approach to develop and test a positive intervention, empowering learners to apply positive psychology principles in real-world settings

Requires knowledge gained from the first four courses of the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization, limiting accessibility for beginners

Assumes learners have a foundational understanding of positive psychology, making it less suitable for those new to the field

Focuses on individual interventions rather than addressing systemic or environmental factors influencing well-being

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Reviews summary

Apply positive psychology to your life

According to learners, this capstone project course serves as a valuable culmination of the specialization, providing a highly practical opportunity to apply core positive psychology concepts learned in the prerequisite courses. Students found the project of designing and testing a personal intervention for well-being to be deeply insightful and personally impactful, helping them to design their own lives for well-being. Some reviewers noted that while the overall concept is strong, the instructions for the project design and evaluation could sometimes be clearer, and the peer review process occasionally presented challenges. Overall, the course is seen as a powerful practical exercise that effectively brings theory into practice.

Designing the intervention offers deep personal insight.

"Designing my own life for well-being through this project was a transformative experience."

"I gained so much personal insight from identifying my strengths and designing an intervention around them."

"This course is highly valuable for personal development and self-understanding."

"The project allowed for significant personal reflection and growth."

Course allows applying theory to real life.

"This course really helps tie all the concepts from the specialization together and provides a practical way to apply them."

"I finally got to use what I learned in the previous courses to make a real change in my own life."

"The hands-on project forced me to move from theory to practice, which was incredibly valuable."

"It was great to apply the positive psychology principles directly through the intervention project."

Quality of peer feedback varies.

"The peer review aspect was hit or miss; some feedback was helpful, others not so much."

"Grading based on peer review can be frustrating when reviewers don't seem to understand the material."

"I wish there was more instructor involvement in the grading or feedback process."

"Relying solely on peers for evaluation felt inconsistent at times."

Instructions for project design could be clearer.

"While the concept is good, the instructions for designing the intervention were sometimes confusing."

"I struggled a bit with understanding the exact requirements for the intervention evaluation."

"Could use more detailed examples of successful interventions and how they were evaluated."

"I felt the guidance on how to structure and measure the intervention results was a little vague."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being with these activities:

Positive Character Strength Identification Exercises

Show steps

Practice identifying your positive character strengths through exercises and questionnaires to build a strong foundation for understanding character strengths and their role in well-being.

Show steps

Take the VIA Character Strengths Survey
Reflect on your top 5 character strengths
Identify situations where you use your strengths

Show all one activities

Career center

Learners who complete Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Positive Psychology Coach

Positive Psychology Coaches help individuals and groups to develop their strengths and live more fulfilling lives. This course is a great fit for you if you are interested in becoming a Positive Psychology Coach. The course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to help your clients to achieve their goals and live happier, more fulfilling lives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Positive Psychology Coach

Speaker

Speakers give speeches and presentations to audiences. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a speaker. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to deliver engaging and inspiring speeches that promote well-being.

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Freelance Writer

Freelance Writers write articles, blog posts, and other content for clients. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a freelance writer. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to write engaging and informative content that promotes well-being.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and manage their own businesses. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as an entrepreneur. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to build a strong foundation for your business and to achieve your goals.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and support to businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a consultant. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your clients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

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Minister

Ministers provide spiritual guidance and support to individuals and communities. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a minister. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to create a positive and supportive community for your congregation.

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Non-Profit Leader

Non-Profit Leaders are responsible for leading and managing non-profit organizations. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a non-profit leader. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to create a positive and productive work environment for your employees and to achieve your organization's mission.

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Business Leader

Business Leaders are responsible for leading and managing organizations. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a business leader. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to create a positive and productive work environment for your employees.

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Healthcare Professional

Healthcare Professionals provide care and support to individuals who are facing health challenges. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as a healthcare professional. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your patients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

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Educator

Educators play a vital role in helping students to learn and grow. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills as an educator. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to create a positive and supportive learning environment for your students.

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Clinical Psychologist

As a Clinical Psychologist, you will be responsible for diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. You will likely earn a doctoral degree, typically a PhD or PsyD. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills in psychological assessment and intervention. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your clients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

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School Psychologist

School Psychologists provide support and services to students who are struggling with academic, social, or emotional challenges. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills in school psychology. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your students and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Psychologist

Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and Family Therapists help couples and families to improve their relationships and resolve conflicts. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills in marriage and family therapy. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your clients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marriage and Family Therapist

Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and services to individuals, families, and communities who are facing social and economic challenges. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills in social work practice. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your clients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

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Counselor

Counselors provide support and guidance to individuals and groups who are struggling with mental health issues or life challenges. This course may be useful for you as you develop your skills in counseling and psychotherapy. The course's focus on positive psychology can help you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your clients and to develop interventions that promote well-being.

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Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being.

Authentic Happiness