Enrollment is open for a new cohort of Centenary University’s Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, a fully virtual program with classes beginning on May 5. Introduced in 2022, the program was the first master’s degree in the world dedicated to the study of happiness. The academic program, which is grounded in science and research, is directed by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., a recognized expert in the field.
Approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Centenary’s 30-credit degree presents an interdisciplinary approach to prepare graduates to cultivate personal and professional well-being and resilience, in themselves and in others. The master’s degree incorporates aspects of diverse disciplines—psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, finance, business, literature, coaching, religion, music, and more—to explore the implications of happiness for individuals, the workplace, and our broader society.
“This graduate degree is an interdisciplinary program designed for leaders who are committed to personal, interpersonal, organizational, and societal happiness,” said Dr. Ben-Shahar, co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy. He achieved national recognition two decades ago when he taught one of Harvard University’s most popular classes, on happiness. Since then, he has also taught at Columbia University, written several best-selling books on the subject, and has appeared on major media as a happiness studies expert including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, CNN, the BBC, and Today on NBC. “Today, the graduates of this program are making an impact in a wide range of fields in countries around the world.”
Since its inception, Centenary University’s Master of Arts in Happiness Studies has enrolled 205 students, who hail from 23 states and more than 25 countries, including Brazil, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Vietnam, Japan, Italy, Ukraine, China, Russia, South Africa, Colombia, Haiti, Spain, India, the United Kingdom, Poland, and the Netherlands. Last year, the University made history, awarding the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies to 87 graduates who had registered for the program’s first cohort. Now, Centenary has plans to expand academic studies in the field to include undergraduate and doctoral degrees.
Dr. Ben-Shahar noted that the field of happiness studies is relevant to a broad range of professions, from business and education to psychotherapy, coaching, health, and law: “Happiness studies is about developing resilience, to be better able to deal with hardships and difficulties. If you increase levels of well-being, relationships improve, teamwork improves, and performance improves. That’s true whether we’re talking about school children or a company’s employees. When we are happy, engagement and motivation go up. There are so many positive side effects of happiness.”
