Centenary University enrolling new cohort for Master of Arts in Happiness Studies
First of its kind in the world, the program has enrolled students from 23 states, as well as more than 25 countries around the globe.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) — Enrollment is now open for a new cohort of Centenary University’s Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, a fully virtual program that will begin on May 5.
Introduced in 2022, the program is the first master’s degree in the world dedicated to the study of happiness. The academic program, 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 offers an interdisciplinary approach that prepares graduates to cultivate personal and professional well-being and resilience, both in themselves and 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 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 gained national recognition two decades ago when he taught one of Harvard University’s most popular classes on happiness. Since then, he has taught at Columbia University, written several best-selling books on the subject, and appeared on major media outlets such as 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 by awarding the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies to 87 graduates from the program’s inaugural cohort. Centenary now plans to expand its academic offerings in the field to include undergraduate and doctoral degrees.
Dr. Ben-Shahar emphasized 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 schoolchildren or a company’s employees. When we are happy, engagement and motivation go up. There are so many positive side effects of happiness.”
For more information about the Master of Arts in Happiness Studies or to enroll in the upcoming cohort, click here.
