It is with great pleasure that we share a comprehensive list of online positive psychology courses, workshops, training, webinars, graduate programs, audiotapes, and MOOCs.
We also include the renowned Master of Applied Positive Psychology course brought to you by many universities, organizations, and professionals from around the globe.
We appreciate that there are so many people who would like to know where to study positive psychology, and we love sharing information on where you can learn positive psychology the right way.
Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.
The best way to start this industrious list is to include the options that are globally accessible. Online learning via online platforms has numerous benefits, some of which include self-paced courses, flexible schedules, access to highly skilled lecturers, and very accessible and open channels of communication.
With that in mind, the first course is highly-acclaimed and presented by one of those highly skilled lecturers.
If you are passionate about helping others improve their lives in meaningful ways, this masterclass is for you because you will master the six most important pillars of emotional intelligence and learn to explain and implement them.
This six-module course is designed to help professionals and is completely science-based.
Mastering resilience will not only benefit you for the remainder of your life, but being able to teach others how to realize their resilience is a coveted skill to have. If you are passionate about helping others deal with life’s challenges in a more resilient way, this masterclass is for you.
The Meaning & Valued Living Coaching Masterclass is an online program for therapists, psychologists, counselors, coaches, and practitioners who want to help their clients find meaning and discover their values.
With increasing rates of depression, substance misuse, suicide, divorce rate, and burnout around the world, feelings of isolation and meaninglessness are more pervasive than ever. To better help clients, patients, students, and employees struggling with these issues, this course will show you how to help your clients find meaning and discover their values, connecting them to their ‘why’ so that they can bear any ‘how’.
As mentioned by a business owner who attended the course “..this knowledge will help to create an atmosphere at the workplace that will allow everyone to experience more meaning and feel more fulfilled at the end of the day.”
This coaching masterclass offers essential insights and practical tools for building a healthy, self-accepting relationship with the self. In this course, you will learn how to build a lasting sense of being good enough, regardless of failures, meeting external standards, or gaining approval from others.
The Science of Self-acceptance Masterclass introduces a new, science-based method for understanding and applying positive psychology. Using this method, you will learn and practice the essential skills that practitioners need to effectively help people to create a more accepting and satisfying relationship with themselves.
If you want to obtain a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology, you can enroll in a course at the Flourishing Center. The 9 month-long course is structured in 6 modules: positivity, engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement and vitality.
This online version of the on-site 6 months program is especially for students from outside of the USA and Canada.
The VIA Institute on Character is a non-profit organization founded in 2001. The idea behind the work of the Institute came from Martin Seligman and Neal Mayerson who were looking for general and universal definitions of “positive individual traits” in association with Positive Psychology.
Nowadays, the VIA Classification of character strengths and virtues and the VIA Survey are known and widely used by researchers. Several courses are offered by the VIA Institute:
Character Strengths at Work: Using strengths to engage employees, clients, and students
Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) (also intensive version)
Mindfulness and Strengths in Daily Life (+ Mindfulness Report)
Character Strengths Interventions: Learning to Unleash What’s Best in You and Your Clients
The Positive Psychology Practitioner Certificate (PPPC) is the first course in the history of positive psychology that brings together all the big names of the field.
Barbara Fredrickson teaches Positive Emotions, Lea Waters teaches Positive Education, Ryan Niemiec teaches Strengths, Matthieu Ricard teaches compassion and altruism, Sonja Lyubomirsky teaches Happiness, James and Suzie Pawelski teach Positive Relationships, Suzy Green teaches Positive Coaching, and the list goes on.
The PPPC is taught online, with both recorded and live sessions. It is an applied course, providing you with the tools to offer high-quality positive psychology activities. The course is running through the School of Positive Transformation which is fully accredited by the CPD and upon completion, you will receive a formal certificate of a Positive Psychology Practitioner.
During this 5-week course, you will understand the basic principles of positive psychology, how to benefit from expressing gratitude and accepting your own and others’ emotions, and how to maintain such changes, eventually transforming them into positive habits.
The course is very flexible since each class lasts only 60-90 minutes and you can take it at any time during the five-week online course. It is entirely up to you to decide the level of dedication towards the course since there are no grades, nor any homework evaluations. At the end, when all lessons are completed, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Positive Psychology Masterclass: 8 live webinars from May – June
This course is especially for professionals who want to add positive psychology to their practice or anyone who wants to work on his/her personal development.
Miriam Akhtar & Chris Johnstone lead the 8 live webinars that cover the most important elements of positive psychology, building on Martin Seligman’s PERMA theory of wellbeing. In addition to the webinars, participants get access to an online resource of videos, articles, handouts and discussion forums.
RMIT University offers an online course on the ‘Happiness and Positive Psychology’, coordinated by Dr. Lydia Ievleva. If you want to reach a basic understanding of the science of positive psychology and happiness and how it impacts the health and wellbeing, this online course might be a good option.
At the end of the course, you will be able to: distinguish between myth and fact for happiness and wellbeing factors (based on research), analyze core concepts of this field like: ‘happiness and wellbeing’, ‘optimal experience and flow’, ’character strengths and virtues’, ‘learned optimism’, ‘resilience’, ‘mindfulness’, ’kindness’ and ‘gratitude’.
You’ll also learn how to apply the PERMA (Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement) Theory of Psychological Wellbeing.
The Greater Good Center launched this free happiness course in 2014 and since then over 450,000 students have registered. In this course, the roots of a happy and meaningful life are explored through science and practice.
Discover how cutting-edge research can be applied to your own life. It is also possible to follow the course and get a certificate of verification or CE credit hours, but then there is a fee. The course exists of video lectures and ‘homework’ that can be done online and at your own pace.
Where: Online.
Dates: Anytime.
Duration: 8-week course (but 6 months to complete).
Price: Free of charge (certificate $169, CE credits: 6 hours: $99, 16 hours: $199).
Counseling and Coaching in Existential Wellbeing (free)
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven has an online course on ‘Counseling and Coaching in existential wellbeing’ available.
You’ll be taught to concentrate on physical, social, and personal values, like health, strength, happiness, success, power, belonging, love, integrity, freedom, authenticity, truth, and wisdom, which will help you to obtain wellbeing and satisfaction in life.
The whole course extends to about a year. Each participant will decide how to organize the monthly 20 hours of studying period.
The University of Missouri offers you the chance to obtain an Online Master’s Degree in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership. This 30-credit hour program is perfect for athletic coaches, classroom teachers, club and organization advisors, counselors and administrators.
The courses are spread over the different semesters, so the order will depend on your start date.
Where: Online.
Dates: Start in August, January, June.
Duration: Full-time: one year / part-time: 2,5 years (own pace).
MU also offers a 15-credit hour Online Graduate Certificate in Positive Psychology. This program emphasizes applied interventions and theory in building thriving individuals, families, communities, and organizations.
UCLA designed an online course, named ‘Happiness: Theory, Research, and Application in Positive Psychology. During this course, you’ll be introduced to the positive psychology theory through lectures, readings, papers, and in-class exercises.
You’ll find out that happiness can be measured and you’ll be trained to do that; you’ll learn about the factors which can determine you to become happy, strengths and virtues, the role of positive emotions and relationships + resilience.
Where: Online.
Dates: 2019 Enrollment Closed; 2020 Dates To Be Announced.
This program is led by Margaret Greenberg, co-author of Profit from the Positive. This certificate program is for coaches, managers, and consultants who are interested in leadership and engagement content and in how they can also apply positive psychology to their team or organization.
The program includes access to editable PowerPoints and worksheets, which you can customize for your own internal employees or external clients for no fee.
The online classes run over a five-week period, twice per week for 90 minutes each.
Zur Institute gives you a chance to obtain a certificate in aging and positive psychology.
This program includes courses about happiness and what increases happiness in older adults. The course counts as 10 CE credits and
explores the factors that help people age better and live longer in contrast to focusing on decline and pathology.
School of Coaching Mastery is offering the chance to pursue a Positive Psychology Tools for Coaches program.
This is a 12-week, 24-hour online course for coaches who are interested in learning more about the tools that are effective in positive psychology coaching and how to use them.
Salt Lake Community College offers an introductory program to Positive Psychology. This program is one of many, and takes 30 hours to complete.
This program teaches participants how positive psychology theory relates to happiness and well-being, while looking at key concepts and interventions in the field such as strengths, values, and the pursuit of positive emotions. Students also learn how to apply positive psychology interventions to promote flourishing and meaning in their personal environments.
Where: Online.
Dates: Anytime.
Visit the Intro to Positive Psychology website, or explore the whole range of SLCC programs
CQUniversity (Australia)
The Graduate Certificate in Positive Psychology course at CQUniversity aims to teach how applying positive psychology strategies can improve the mental health of a society.
This course includes topics about positive emotions, relationships, optimism and wellbeing and resilience of groups, organizations, and individuals.
Laurier offers two fully online comprehensive programs in positive psychology offered by a Canadian University, one of which is the 5-course Positive Psychology Certificate. Learn how to promote wellbeing by applying the scientific foundations and applied interventions of positive psychology through a combination of practical and theoretical approaches in this certificate.
Laurier also offers a Certificate in Positive Education. This online module offers the knowledge and skills to effectively support students and institutions to thrive.
Theoretical and practical approaches in resilience, optimism, and wellbeing are combined. Participants will explore their individual and collective strengths in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how to optimize their organizational culture and to maximize their teaching and learning potential.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a positive psychology course online through Coursera.
Discussed are the most recent research findings in the field of positive psychology by Barbara Fredrickson and her colleagues. Practical applications are offered so that participants can immediately put the material to use and live a full and meaningful life.
The Flourishing Center (Multiple locations, USA, Canada & Online)
If you want to obtain a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology, you can enroll in a course at the Flourishing Center (located in 12 cities across the US and Canada, as well as online).
This 240-hour, 6-month training program (or 9 months for the online version) is designed around the model of Flourishing developed by Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology, and enhanced with an added emphasis on physical wellbeing.
It consists of six modules focusing on increasing Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement and Vitality (PERMA-V™). Graduates integrate and enhance their personal and professional lives through their structured training in flourishing and measurably build their wellbeing.
Practitioners get slides, worksheets, audio materials, videos and lots of materials to repurpose in the application of PP. CAPP grads can participate in continued education and be trained as coaches, facilitators, and trainers.
LIFE offers a Master’s degree program in Positive Psychology with two tracks: General Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.
At LIFE, psychology students study flourishing and positive human functioning year-round, uniquely specializing in both the key theoretical understanding and core skills necessary for professional coaching, as well as training in contemplative science, contemplative studies and contemplative psychology, such as mindfulness meditation and Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT).
1. Coaching Psychology:
Where: Online.
Dates: Beginning of each quarter.
Duration: Three online quarters, with three in-person, quarterly residences.
2. General Positive Psychology:
Where: Online.
Dates: Beginning of each quarter.
Duration: Three online quarters, with three in-person, quarterly residences.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program, during which you will learn to apply the principles of positive psychology to your professional life. This program can also prepare you for advanced studies (PhD., M.D., J.D.).
The MAPP program gives you the opportunity to meet and interact with a vibrant community of intelligent and well-prepared people, who share your interest in this field of study.
Claremont Graduate University was the first university in the Western United States that offered a Ph.D. and an MA program focused on positive psychology. A ‘Quality of Life Research’ was founded in 1999, making way for research on a large number of topics related to positive psychology.
Nowadays, Claremont has several MAPP Programs in Positive Psychology: Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation, Positive Health Psychology, Positive Organizational Psychology, and Evaluation. Also, there are two Ph.D. programs: Positive Developmental Psychology and Positive Organizational Psychology.
The Certified Positive Psychology Coach® Program is an ICF-Accredited distance training that prepares new and experienced coaches for professional careers in positive psychology coaching.
Students also receive assistance in building their businesses. Graduates go on to successfully practice executive coaching, life coaching, wellness coaching, business coaching, speech coaching, and other coaching specialties.
This flexible program has three levels and typically takes six months to two years to complete, depending on the level the student has chosen to join. Our goal is to help you become the best coach possible and have a thriving business. Live classes are small, interactive, and fun; students come from virtually every continent, and new classes start every month.
Entry Requirement: None for beginners, Advanced placement requirements vary.
Where: Online, USA.
Dates: New classes start every month.
Duration: Six months to two years, depending on the level.
Wilfrid Laurier University offers two certificates specific to the scientific evidence and applied interventions of positive psychology: Certificate in Positive Psychology & Certificate in Positive Education.
These certificates explore evidence-based best practices, supporting positive mental health and wellbeing in workplaces, educational settings and for personal growth and resilience.
Graduates of the certificates will use validated measures of wellbeing and tested interventions to promote optimal learning and flourishing environments. Activities, assignments and a capstone project help participants apply the different concepts and strategies to their own settings.
The two certificates share the first two modules before splitting into the two streams. The Positive Psychology Certificate is a 23-week program while the Positive Education Certificate is a total of 16 weeks.
The Graduate Institute offers a certificate in Positive Psychology, Emotional Wellbeing & Happiness. The goal of this program is to create happier and healthier individuals so that they can contribute to the co-creation of healthier organizations and communities.
The content of the course focuses on qualities like self-awareness, interpersonal awareness, emotional intelligence, resilience, courage, self-esteem, optimism, and wisdom, etc. At the same time, it tries to integrate both positive psychology and a holistic perspective.
Entry Requirement: / (For credit: Bachelor Degree with 2.5 or higher)
International Applied Positive Psychology (IAPP) (Chile)
The Latin American Center of Applied Positive Psychology (Celappa, in its Spanish abbreviation) offers a postgraduate course in Applied Positive Psychology.
Celappa is an academic entity founded in Chile with the purpose of providing professional advisory services, research and education within the educational, organizational, clinical and sports areas. The requirements for the course is to have graduated with a degree in Social sciences, Education, or Health. The course is taught in Spanish.
Entry Requirement: Bachelor Degree in Social sciences, Education or Health.
The Brazilian Institute Positive Psychology (BRIPP)
The Brazilian Institute Positive Psychology (BRIPP) aims to spread positive psychology in theory and practice through creating accessible and relevant content, providing expert education and professional training.
The services include Positive Coaching, Consulting, Leadership Development, Positive Education, Parental Training, access to positive films and media, and a monthly study group.
Where: Onsite/ online
Dates: TBA
Location and Price: Different locations and pricing
Instituto de Bienestar Integral & Wholebeing Institute (Mexico)
Instituto de Blenestar Integral and Wholebeing Insitute offer a year-long Certificate in Positive Psychology for the Spanish-speaking world.
This extended online and onsite course offers an in-depth, integrated exploration of the science and direct application of positive psychology—the study of individual and societal flourishing. The course is composed of eight online modules and two onsite immersions, which take place in Tepoztlan, Mexico.
The program was developed by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, Megan McDonough, and Maria Sirois. The online content has been translated into Spanish, and the immersions include simultaneous translation. WBI’s and IBI’s faculty are present during the immersions and participants come from all over the world to be part of this one-of-a-kind program.
Positive Psychology Training provides courses in positive psychology from leading practitioners in the UK.
These include regular, open courses such as the 2-day Positive Psychology Masterclass, which is delivered by visiting lecturers on the MAPP and Positive Psychology Foundations, a webinar course accessible to anyone worldwide which is based on a PERMA+ model and focuses on positive psychology in practice.
Positive Psychology Training also offers bespoke training and coaching in positive psychology at work, in mental health, resilience, strengths, happiness habits, workplace wellbeing, and education.
The company is run by Miriam Akhtar, one of the first positive psychologists in Europe and a contributor to the World Book of Happiness. She is on the faculty of the University of Lisbon’s Executive MAPP and you can email her for information.
1. Positive Psychology Foundations:
Positive Psychology Foundations (Miriam Akhtar MAPP & Dr. Chris Johnstone) is an online course aimed at people wanting to use positive psychology, either in their work or for their personal development.
Entry Requirement: /
Where: Online
Dates: May – June
Duration: 8 weeks
Price: £295 (early bird: £245)
2. Positive Psychology Masterclass:
Entry Requirement: /
Where: Bristol, UK
Dates: July & November
Duration: 4 days
Price: £575 + VAT (early bird: £395 + VAT) per two days
Birkbeck University of London (UK)
The short course Critical Approaches to Positive Psychology focuses on topics as happiness and it causes, the psychology of flow, hope, and optimism, positive self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
This course also teaches how you can apply positive psychology to mental health, education and businesses.
WorkMad Ltd teaches professionals what positive psychology is and how it can be applied in the workplace.
WorkMad offers two positive psychology masterclasses in the science of happiness, strengths, and wellbeing. The workshops can both be useful for personal development and professional development.
Why not take one of the positive psychology courses in London, such as the short course at the City University of London?
Generally, positive psychology has three central concerns: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. You’ll learn how to understand positive emotions and experience contentment about yesterday, happiness in the present day and hope for tomorrow.
You’ll be taught how to look for positive individual traits, like self-control, courage, compassion, curiosity, creativity or self-knowledge. Understanding positive institutions refer to the strengths that help the health of the communities, like justice, teamwork, responsibility, tolerance or parenting. You can apply this knowledge to your workplace, community or family.
The University of East London offers an MSc course called Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology both on campus and distance learning.
This course is one of the very first in the world to combine positive psychology and coaching psychology, with a foundation in research and theory on wellbeing. The course includes topics such as happiness, positive emotions, strengths, goal-setting, motivation, career guidance and so on.
Entry Requirement: Grade C in GCSE English and Maths. Minimum 2.1 honors degree, preferably in Social Sciences.
Where: University of East London/ online.
Dates: September / January.
Duration: 1 year 6 months fulltime, 2 years six months parttime.
Bucks New University offers a range of courses that allow students to explore cutting-edge ideas in this field, as well as a chance to further their development.
The MSc in Positive Psychology course is a flexible and distributed learning option for postgraduates, while the Positive Psychology in Coaching course can be done part time.
The courses encourages the proper application of each student’s skills while studying the knowledge and applications of positive psychology.
Professional, engaging, and efficient tutors from the university’s own psychology department, are involved in these courses, as well as guest experts.
Positive Psychology Learning Ltd (PPL) is run by leading positive psychology practitioners and researchers Dan Collinson & Lesley Lyle employed as Associate Lecturers on the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) course at Bucks New University.
As Academic Partners of Bucks University, they are able to offer a 2-day ‘Introduction to Positive Psychology’ course accredited by Bucks New University, which entitles delegates to a 10% discount on enrolment fees, including distance learning courses (£900 on the full MAPP program) and counts towards CPD hours.
Bespoke training, coaching and consultancy work is offered in a number of positive psychology topics such as positive organizations, happiness and positivity, workplace wellbeing, positive aging and resilience at various locations in the UK and also work with International organizations and government departments (currently USA, Middle East, Japan & South Africa).
Entry Requirement: /
Where: Various locations in UK and overseas
Dates: Every month
Duration: 2 days
Price: £650 (Currently offering 50% discounts on the first 6 places of each course)
Unlike standard masters in positive psychology programs that take place in only one location, the I-MAPP program enables students to study applied positive psychology in two prestigious scholastic locales- Cambridge and Paris.
This program is specifically tailored for the advancement of knowledge, research, and skills necessary for optimal positive psychology practice by offering a blended learning design composed of online lessons, research methods, and self-directed study over the span of 1 to 3 years.
While enrolled in the program, students are prompted to select four learning modules from twelve available options, along with one quantitative or qualitative research module, and one major project. Students are given the option of completing their studies either in Cambridge, in Paris, or both locations depending on what modules are selected.
Entry Requirement: /
Where: Cambridge
Dates: September / January
Duration: Full-time: January start, 15 months, September start, 12 months / Part-time: January start, 27 months. September start, 24 months
The University of Bolton offers a master’s in Counselling and Positive Psychology. This program is designed for those who are working or want to work in the field of healthcare and education.
This course includes modules about the foundations and practice of positive psychology as well as critical positive psychology and psychology dissertation.
The Langley Group Institute offers an original course after which you receive an internationally-recognized diploma in positive psychology.
It is for coaches, psychologists, human resource professionals, business leaders, teachers and others who want to build expertise or who are seeking to redesign their personal and professional life in a positive way.
It is a credible training in applied positive psychology below post-graduate level and is informed by research and best-practice. The course enables you to increase individual, business, and collective wellbeing and offers you practical tools to make a significant and positive difference in people’s lives.
Institute of Child Education and Psychology (Ireland)
The Institute of Child Education and Psychology offers three different Positive Psychology courses for a fee of €99.
Teaching Hope & Optimism: Positive Psychology for Resilience focuses on the key practices for optimism and hope and helps you to cope with adversity.
Teaching Happiness: Positive Psychology for Learning and Wellbeing explores topics as happiness, wellbeing, learned optimism, character strengths, preventing stress and burnout, increasing motivation and mindfulness.
Building Strengths and Creativity: Positive Psychology for learning and living is about coping with everyday challenges and boosting your strengths and creativity.
At the end of the courses, you’ll receive a Continuing Professional Development Certificate and a Learning Log.
Entry Requirement: /
Where: The Institute of Child Education and Psychology
The University College Cork offers a master’s program called Applied Psychology (Positive and Coaching Psychology).
This program includes modules such as positive psychology and coaching, wellness coaching, positive psychology in group settings, positive organizational psychology, and so on. The aim of this course is to train students in helping people to become their best possible selves.
Entry Requirement: Undergraduate Honours degree
Where: University College Cork
Dates: September
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years parttime
Price: Irish/EU Full-time: €8,080.00 Part-time Year 1: €4,100.00
IE Business School is one of the best business schools in Europe according to The Economist and Bloomberg Businessweek. They offer an Executive Master in Positive Leadership, Strategy, and Transformation.
This program includes modules in Positive Self-Development, Positive Teams and Organization, Positive Behavior and Business, Positive Economics and Organization Design, Positive Marketing, Negotiation, and Strategy.
Entry Requirement: Bachelor degree or equivalent, English language proficiency
The program that Maastricht University (one of the best universities in the Netherlands) offers includes both a familiarization with the concepts that underlie positive psychology as well as a more profound approach to this field.
The course offers the chance to practice a wide range of positive psychology intervention techniques (from simple journaling exercises to mindfulness meditation).
Moreover, the program will help you learn how to design a research project on positive psychology. Through lectures, interactive meetings, practical workshops, group discussions, and student presentations, the attendants will become familiar with the field of positive psychology.
Positief Onderwijs (Positive Education) intends to apply findings from the academic field of positive psychology in the Netherlands, addressing young people in particular.
By using the positive psychology model, the educational process becomes more friendly, increasing the chances of a successful and satisfying life. Positive Education promotes the focus on strengths, positive emotions, involvement, intrinsic motivation, positive relationships, empathy, and resilience.
Universiteit Twente is organizing a master’s programme based on positive psychology theory and research (Positive Clinical Psychology and Technology). After graduating from this course, you’ll be able to work as a coach, counselor, or advisor.
For the master’s thesis, you can conduct research by examining the effectiveness of positive psychological interventions on the happiness and wellbeing of children and adults. Each of the courses included in this programme is offered twice a year.
The Center for Positive Psychology in Denmark offers several courses based on the latest research in the field of positive psychology. The courses are all thought-provoking and provide useful knowledge on topics such as coaching, leadership, personal strengths and motivation and etc.
Where: Denmark.
Several dates, Duration, and Prices. (Also tailor-made courses).
Directed by Dr. Illona Boniwell, one of the leading global researchers in positive psychology, Positran serves as a premier consultancy that strives to apply positive psychology to help resolve issues around the globe by providing customized consultations, education, and training to interested parties.
Guided by the belief that focusing on positivity and potential facilitates human flourishing, Positran is dedicated to applying avant-garde positive psychology research findings to real-world settings in order to help clients obtain the highest level of excellence.
Drawing from empirical evidence, Positran provides services in three formats depending on the needs of the client. Services take place in the form of mini sessions, midi workshops, or maxi programs that are spread out over the course of two years.
European Institute of Positive Psychology (Spain, Italy, Columbia)
The European Institute of Positive Psychology (IEPP) offers courses (both face-to-face and online) in positive psychology for psychologists, companies, athletes, and individuals. They have several locations in Spain and one in Italy and the another in Colombia.
They provide a free orientation service if you are not sure what course is the most suitable for you.
Executive Master of Applied Positive Psychology (Lisbon, Portugal)
In March 2012, James Pawelski, from Penn University, USA, launched the 1st edition of the Executive Master of Applied Positive Psychology (EMAPP) held in Portugal, at the School of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP), Lisbon University. 37 students enrolled, from very different backgrounds (economy, law, history, geography, management, psychology, sociology, social service…).
The course Positive Psychology (PSY209) sets its focus on what is right with the human mind, in contrast to the traditional emphasis of psychoanalysis and modern practices on psychopathologies.
The goal is to find out what constitutes a fully functional life and enhance the functioning of the mind, personality, emotions and human behavior.
The aim of the course is to clarify the distinction of Positive Psychology and traditional psychology and to analyze the influences of Eastern and Western perspectives on human wellbeing in Positive Psychology and get an insight into research techniques valuable for this field.
Moreover, it is of great importance to get an understanding of your own strengths and values and acquire knowledge that can contribute to your own wellbeing after the course. For more information contact Dr. Ann Moir-Bussy via email.
The School of Positive Psychology is the pioneer education and training facility in Singapore and Asia, established to promote the art, science, and practice of positive psychology. Apart from providing education and credentialing, they promote research, training, and the dissemination of positive psychology.
Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology
The course introduces students to the study of the human mind and behavior in individuals and groups. Students will consider how aspects of their biology, ways of thinking, social environment, relationships, and social identity combine to make us who we are. Students will be taught the practical side by being exposed to the field of counseling and psychotherapy.
Entry Requirement: Diploma holder from Polytechnic or recognized PEI, or 2 GCE ‘A’ Level H2 passes with either KI or GP, or Mature students with a minimum of 2 years working experience holding either: 5 GCE ‘O’ Level credits with minimum C6 grade in English or equivalent TE Higher NITEC
Where: The School of Positive Psychology (Singapore)
Dates: Intakes in Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Duration: 12 months part-time
Price: SGD $7,704 w/GST
Graduate Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology
The Graduate Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology is designed to educate students on psychology and more specifically on positive psychology at a graduate level. This program looks deeper into practicality and applications rather than just theories to enable students to effectively use and disseminate positive psychology.
Entry Requirement: A recognized Bachelor Degree holder or Diploma holder from Polytechnic with a minimum of 5 years working experience can be considered on a case-by-case basis
Where: The School of Positive Psychology (Singapore)
Dates: Intakes in Jan, May, Sep
Duration: 6 months part-time
Price: SGD $9,523w/GST
Postgraduate Diploma in Positive Organisational Psychology and Leadership
The Postgraduate Diploma in Positive Organisational Psychology and Leadership is a course offered in affiliation with Anglia Ruskin University. Through this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of positive organizational psychology and the various tools and strategies used to deliver high-impact interventions that enhance the psychological capital and optimize the wellbeing of your staff, team or coaching clients.
This program is suitable for psychology graduates, human resource professionals, corporate leaders, life coaches and trainers who will be able to use the skills acquired to influence government, business, education, and communities. We offer a wide selection of modules that allow you to tailor your learning to your career goals.
Entry Requirement: A postgraduate level education in a related discipline (with bridging modules GDAPP 02 and GDAPP 05), or a Graduate Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology from TSPP, or a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Business Psychology or equivalent (with bridging modules GDAPP 02 and GDAPP 05)
Where: The School of Positive Psychology (Singapore)
HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (Hong Kong)
The HKU offers you the chance to obtain a Certificate in Positive Psychology. It is taught in Cantonese with English teaching materials. The program aims to introduce students to the core concepts and fundamental principles of positive psychology, including its philosophical approach and its practical applications.
The Langley Group Institute runs a Diploma of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing in Australia.
The Diploma (10653NAT) offers inspiring, practical and robust training designed for coaches, psychologists, educators and other busy professionals who want to learn how to apply positive psychology in their work and lives, informed by research and best-practice.
Featuring university-level content in a flexible, self-paced format, the course combines intensive face-to-face workshops with online learning and work-based activities.
Candidates can specialize in positive coaching, leadership, human resources, education, parenting or community, gaining the knowledge and skill to increase individual, business, and collective wellbeing. The course is designed by Sue Langley and facilitated by seasoned positive psychology practitioners.
The Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing is a government certified course with recognized qualifications according to the Australian National Regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority. The course is also approved by the British Psychological Society, Learning Centre for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Association and New Zealand Positive Psychology Association.
University of Sydney offers a Coaching Psychology Program, which consists of a master’s course, diploma, and certificate courses focused on coaching in business and organizational settings. Moreover, the University of Sydney offers several courses in Positive Psychology.
1. Graduate Certificate in Coaching Psychology:
Entry Requirement: 3-year Psychology Degree or 3-year Degree in a cognate discipline & 3 years work experience
Where: Camperdown/Darlington in Sydney
Dates: March
Duration: 1 year part-time
Price: $32,000
2. The Graduate Diploma in Coaching Psychology:
Entry Requirement: 3-year Psychology Degree or 3-year Degree in a cognate discipline & 3 years work experience
Where: Camperdown/Darlington Campus in Sydney
Dates: March
Duration: 1 year full-time/1,5 year part-time
Price: $32,000
3. The Master of Science in Coaching Psychology:
Entry Requirement: 3-year Psychology Degree or 3-year Degree in a cognate discipline with credit average & 3 years work experience
Where: Camperdown/Darlington in Sydney
Dates: March
Duration: 1 year full-time/ 2 years part-time
Price: $32,000
4. The Philosophy of Happiness (PHIL2647) will discuss the definition of happiness from a philosophical point of view.
Entry Requirement: 12 junior credit points
Where: Camperdown/Darlington in Sydney
Dates: July
Duration: 1 semester
Price: $793
5. Applied Positive Psychology (PSYC4730) teaches how positive psychology can be applied to coaching in work contexts.
The Master’s course offered here intends to provide the attending students with the necessary knowledge and skills to competently utilize positive psychology principles. The course emphasizes critical thinking and promotes scientific methods, while empirical research is evaluated in order to find best-practice processes.
The course focuses on engaging the students in a variety of both theoretical and applied tasks, involving them in multiple learning tools such as debates, case studies, journaling, and role plays, as well as encouraging them to apply what they learn to their own daily activities.
At the end of this Master of Applied Positive Psychology, students will possess a solid sense of professional integrity and the necessary knowledge to successfully apply positive psychology.
The university also offers a Professional Certificate in Positive Psychology, which includes topics about positive emotions, relationships, engagement, and meaning.
Where: Carlton Victoria & Parkville campus in Melbourne
The Professional Certificate in Education (Positive Behaviour and Learning) focuses on promoting positive learning by exploring research-validated interventions. The emphasis on students with additional needs and on the function of challenging behavior.
The course Positive Psychology & Leadership focuses on how to apply positive psychology in the workplace. Topics include leadership, self-management and creating a healthy workplace.
Positive Difference offers a Short Course in Applied Positive Psychology at various locations. The PERMA model from Martin Seligman’s book Flourish, forms the framework for this 2-day intensive course.
This course is highly recommended for school teachers and schools, but corporates are also welcome.
As part of an undergraduate degree at the Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, the University of Queensland offers the course ‘Positive Psychology’.
The course focuses on psychological wellbeing and identification of character strengths and virtues that promote ‘flourishing’.
Master of Positive Psychology, MAPP (Potchefstroom, South Africa)
Located at the North-West University on the Potchefstroom Campus in South Africa, this masters program strives to bestow students with knowledge regarding cross-contextual applications of Positive Psychology in order to help enrich the lives of others within the span of four consecutive weeks per year.
The program examines key areas of interest in positive psychology such as positive emotions, the experience of meaning, optimism, and resilience. Students will have the ability to refine their research skills as they explore these topics within the ever-diverse context of human development and culture.
The MAPP program at North-West University strives to uphold the conviction that recognizing one’s strengths and potential is essential to facilitating human growth.
The ‘International Positive Psychology Association’ offers an alphabetized list of many universities whose faculties have positive psychology classes and also a list of positive psychology faculties.
‘The Happiness Training Plan’ is created by Dr. Chris Johnstone and Miriam Akhtar in the form of a self-help audio programme. Its aim is to enhance your level of happiness by using positive psychology techniques whose efficiency is already established.
The audio programme is delivered as a CD, condensing a lot of interesting facts about positive psychology into 12 easy-to-follow strategies. Each of these 12 strategies requires only about 5 minutes and it’s recommended to listen to the whole CD and after that, to practice only one, maximum two strategies at a time. The CD’s price is £10.
“The Science of Happiness” is the first MOOC to teach the ground-breaking science of positive psychology, which explores the roots of a happy and meaningful life. Students will engage with some of the most provocative and practical lessons from this science, discovering how cutting-edge research can be applied to their own lives.
Created by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, the course will zero in on a fundamental finding from positive psychology: that happiness is inextricably linked to having strong social connections and contributing to something bigger than yourself—the greater good. Students will learn about the cross-disciplinary research supporting this view, spanning the fields of psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and beyond.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill created an online course about Positive Psychology. Barbara Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology, teaches this course.
She will share her knowledge of the field of positive psychology in a six-week online course. Included study-topics are positive emotions, love and connection, flourishing, resilience and so on.
These courses will provide you with the theoretical framework to gain a better understanding of how emotions work, but even better, they will teach you how to make changes in your life, family, organization or community.
You’ll be able to enjoy life satisfaction and become more optimistic, happy and creative, thus improving your health. All you have to do is choose the course that suits you the best and start on your path to happiness.
Take part!
In case you know of any other positive psychology courses, workshops, training, webinars, audio tapes, MOOCs or the like, please let us know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.
Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410-421.
About the author
Seph Fontane Pennock is a seasoned entrepreneur and the business mind behind PositivePsychology.com. With his background in online marketing and a passion for helping therapists and coaches, he co-founded the new mental health application Quenza that helps practitioners better help their clients with digital support.
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What our readers think
Mira
on August 27, 2020 at 13:16
Thanks for such a great list of opportunities to learn Positive Psychology. But one point. Is it MAPP program at UPenn cost $28,024?
As far as I know, the fee is about $60 000. Please, could you clarify this?
Hi Mira,
These values have come from UPenn’s website on this page, which puts the fees for the upcoming fall semester at about $30k. However, these prices may change without notice, so I’d suggest reaching out to the program organizers to confirm.
– Nicole | Community Manager
This is a great list and I really appreciate your collection of information on all fronts. I also wanted to alert you of two other online certificate programs for positive psychology. They are both the Wholebeing Institute – you have the Mexico listed, there is also a United States and a Brazil. The links are below. https://wholebeinginstitute.com/course-overview/cipp-overview/west-coast/ https://www.wholebeing.com.br/
Central Queensland University has a progressive Master of Applied Positive Psychology. Starts with a Graduate Certificate, to a Graduate Diploma, finishing with a MAPP. 2 years full-time 4 years part-time.
I believe positive psychology has immense scope in improving the health and well-being of individuals ,I hope this field flourishes in my country as well
#positive psychology? #India??
Living a smart and productive life brings about happiness. But is it really true this positive psychology course is not available in Africa? Such a nice course most of us would like to do.
Hello Adm
I´d be glad if you could add an Institution in Brazil, that offers Courses in Positive Psychology (basic and advanced modules) – Psicotrainer – (Integrated Center of Positive Psychology, Coaching and Emotional Inteligence), where people can get certified with International Certification in Positive Psychology – a partnersip with the European Positive Psychology Association – Besides the course, they offer, all over the year, Worskhops in Positive Education, Positive Health and Positive Organizations/Leaderships.
By the way, congratulations for this great service you are doing to spread information and help people to find options all around the globe to learn deeply about this infinite and wonderful world of Positive Psychology!
Hello Admin,
It is very nice that your blog is providing information regarding the program. I want to aware you towards the Free Online Course on Exploring Everyday Chemistry
Start Date: July 2, 2018
You can check the given link: https://bit.ly/2LMcNTL
It is with great pleasure that we share a comprehensive list of online positive psychology courses, workshops, training, webinars, graduate programs, audiotapes, and MOOCs.
The Brazilian Institute Positive Psychology (BRIPP) aims to spread positive psychology in theory and practice through creating accessible and relevant content, providing expert education and professional training.
Bucks New University offers a range of courses that allow students to explore cutting-edge ideas in this field, as well as a chance to further their development.
In March 2012, James Pawelski, from Penn University, USA, launched the 1st edition of the Executive Master of Applied Positive Psychology (EMAPP) held in Portugal, at the School of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP), Lisbon University. 37 students enrolled, from very different backgrounds (economy, law, history, geography, management, psychology, sociology, social service…).
What our readers think
Thanks for such a great list of opportunities to learn Positive Psychology. But one point. Is it MAPP program at UPenn cost $28,024?
As far as I know, the fee is about $60 000. Please, could you clarify this?
Hi Mira,
These values have come from UPenn’s website on this page, which puts the fees for the upcoming fall semester at about $30k. However, these prices may change without notice, so I’d suggest reaching out to the program organizers to confirm.
– Nicole | Community Manager
This is a great list and I really appreciate your collection of information on all fronts. I also wanted to alert you of two other online certificate programs for positive psychology. They are both the Wholebeing Institute – you have the Mexico listed, there is also a United States and a Brazil. The links are below.
https://wholebeinginstitute.com/course-overview/cipp-overview/west-coast/
https://www.wholebeing.com.br/
Central Queensland University has a progressive Master of Applied Positive Psychology. Starts with a Graduate Certificate, to a Graduate Diploma, finishing with a MAPP. 2 years full-time 4 years part-time.
I believe positive psychology has immense scope in improving the health and well-being of individuals ,I hope this field flourishes in my country as well
#positive psychology? #India??
Hello,
you may want to add our MSc Positive Psychology and Wellbeing at Liverpool John Moores University to this list of Positive Psychology programmes:
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduates/positive-psychology-and-wellbeing
Cheers, Peter
Is it online please
Am physician from Egyp
Living a smart and productive life brings about happiness. But is it really true this positive psychology course is not available in Africa? Such a nice course most of us would like to do.
Hello Adm
I´d be glad if you could add an Institution in Brazil, that offers Courses in Positive Psychology (basic and advanced modules) – Psicotrainer – (Integrated Center of Positive Psychology, Coaching and Emotional Inteligence), where people can get certified with International Certification in Positive Psychology – a partnersip with the European Positive Psychology Association – Besides the course, they offer, all over the year, Worskhops in Positive Education, Positive Health and Positive Organizations/Leaderships.
By the way, congratulations for this great service you are doing to spread information and help people to find options all around the globe to learn deeply about this infinite and wonderful world of Positive Psychology!
Hello Admin,
It is very nice that your blog is providing information regarding the program. I want to aware you towards the Free Online Course on Exploring Everyday Chemistry
Start Date: July 2, 2018
You can check the given link:
https://bit.ly/2LMcNTL