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Positive Psychology Specialization Project

Design Your Life for Well-being

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.

Peterson Theory on Psychological Mental Illness as defined as an Excess, an Absence, or an Opposite of a Character Strength rather than by the Presence or Absence of a Symptom in the DSM

Module 2 presents Chris Peterson's unfinished theory on mental illness. Specifically his belief that the absence of strengths, the excess of strengths, and the opposite of strengths might define 72 conditions of character weakness, and that these shortcomings might be a better framework than the DSM which uses a checklist of symptoms.

Developing a Positive Intervention using a signature strength to bolster a strength absence or strength opposite. Hypothesis & Experiment Design for Personal Positive Intervention

Module 3 has the learner target an area for remediation from among Peterson's inventory of 72 deviant strengths and craft a positive intervention using a signature strength.

Putting the Positive Intervention into Action

Module 4 has the learner put the positive intervention into action, assess and the share the results, and finally reduce the positive intervention to writing so it can be shared.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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

Positive psychology specialization conclusion

Learners say that the "Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being" is an informative and engaging conclusion to a five-course specialization. While the course, like the specialization as a whole, assumes prior knowledge, it is described as the easiest of the five. The course is considered to be well-structured and builds on concepts from the prior modules. It challenges learners to design and implement a positive intervention in their own lives, which is viewed as a valuable and practical exercise. Some learners found it repetitive, as it includes some videos and materials from the earlier courses. The assignments are considered to be somewhat light in comparison to the other courses in the specialization. Overall, learners found the course to be a positive and worthwhile experience.

Well-organized with clear structure.

"I enjoyed every module of the 5 specialisation project."

"The course is well-structured and builds on concepts from the prior modules."

Easiest of the five courses.

"it is, perhaps surprisingly, perhaps appropriately, the easiest of the five, if you have already completed the previous 4."

Involve applying concepts to personal life.

"The practical project that can potentially built into one's daily life for overall well-being improvements."

"This final module needs to be taken to draw upon knowledge and skills from past modules by completing a project on how to create a flourishing life in relation to PERMA; positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement."

Learners are expected to have completed prior courses.

"This is a fun, engaging, educational, celebratory, culmination to the 5 courses."

"it builds upon the previous 4 courses and assumes that you have knowledge acquired in them."

Does not confer a University grade or course credit.

"The other issue is that it would be helpful if some of the lecturers were online to answer some questions as I was a bit lost on a few occasions and my fellow students don't have answers either."

"Overall 4 out of 5 from me."

"Probably the weakest course of the 5 included in the Positive Psychology Specialization."

"A lot of notions already seen including some videos."

"And very few courses."

"I would have liked the concept of absence, excess etc. of strengths much more developed."

"It's a brilliant idea."

"Last thing concerning the certificate of the specialization."

"It looks nice but although I'm fully aware it's not worth an on campus diploma, half of the text written on it is to say how low quality it is related to a full on campus degree."

"And it's written twice !"

"Even the idea that someone else could have followed the course is too much in my opinion."

Limited online support from lecturers.

"The other issue is that it would be helpful if some of the lecturers were online to answer some questions as I was a bit lost on a few occasions and my fellow students don't have answers either."

Some videos and materials are repeated.

"Also, I was disappointed in the number of participants that seemed to not take the assignments seriously."

"I really enjoyed this course and appreciated the research assignment. For content alone, I give this course 5 stars."

"I especially loved the feature on Peterson's unfinished work. This is information I hadn't seen anywhere else, and I have already applied it to my personal and professional life."

"Also, I was disappointed in the number of participants that seemed to not take the assignments seriously."

"At times, this meant that grading my peers was difficult and frustrating."

"All that aside, I highly recommend both this course and the 5-course Specialization."

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speaker

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Minister

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Leader

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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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

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

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.

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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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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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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