Positive psychology is the scientific study of strengths and behaviors that enable individuals and communities to thrive. This form of psychology differs from traditional psychology, as it focuses on mental strengths and wellness rather than deficits and illness. For example, a traditional psychology researcher is more likely to investigate environmental factors contributing to depression, whereas a positive psychology researcher is more likely to investigate environmental factors contributing to happiness.
Overall, there’s a rapidly growing body of research in the field of positive psychology with many applications to individual well-being, relationships, the workplace and other life domains. Positive psychology promotes individual flourishing, satisfaction with life and overall happiness of others.
What you’ll learn in a positive psychology master’s concentration
As a student in this master’s in positive psychology online, you’ll gain the foundational knowledge and skills of a traditional psychology program, while focusing your studies on topics central to the field of positive psychology, such as optimism, gratitude, coping mechanisms, resilience and mindfulness.
Upon graduation, you’ll walk away with a range of skills and competencies, including:
- Basic research methodology and statistics.
- Fundamental constructs within positive psychology, such as hope, resilience, joy, gratitude and more.
- Positive psychology interventions and practices.
- Problem solving and critical analysis.
- Psychological theory and knowledge.
- Writing for academic audiences.
Who is a good candidate for this master’s program?
This program is ideal for those passionate about bringing out the best in others and looking to gain additional knowledge in the field of psychology with a specialization in positive psychology.
Graduates of this program may pursue professional opportunities in health care or education settings, public health agencies or wellness promotion companies. Additionally, the positive psychology coursework will benefit graduates working in supervisory or management positions, teaching roles or any social services profession.
Please note, this master’s in positive psychology may not provide the hands-on research experience needed to pursue a pre-doctoral, pre-clinical or counseling program. Thus, the ideal candidate for this program is looking for a comprehensive overview of specialized knowledge in psychological concepts, without conducting primary research.
Arizona State University’s Master of Science in psychology with a concentration in positive psychology allows you to apply psychological concepts to promote individual flourishing and satisfaction with life. Through the lens of historical and contemporary research in positive psychology, you’ll gain a solid grounding in the basic tenets of the field, the methodologies employed and the evidence-based interventions that seek to improve peoples’ lives.
This master’s in positive psychology is a rigorous, course-intensive program that features both writing and statistics. In this program, you’ll complete advanced coursework in the fields of psychology and positive psychology. Courses may include:
Prepare for the full New College experience curated by world-renowned faculty who are some of the brightest, most innovative academic minds in the world. Areas of expertise include psychology, anthropology, geography, political science, cybersecurity, forensic science and more. Our faculty strives to create an environment that prepares students to take their place in the world using the skills they’ve learned to pursue careers that benefit their communities.
ASU is a global university recognized for its commitment to innovation, research and high-quality academic programs. Our university has been recognized with peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report.
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of graduates reported that their experiences at ASU inspired them to explore new career opportunities.
Applicants to the Master of Science in psychology with a concentration in positive psychology must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they’ve earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology, sociology, communication, business, education or other closely related fields from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00="A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00="A") in an applicable master's degree program.
The admission committee reviews applications holistically and may consider applicants with a GPA below 3.00 if they’ve demonstrated a strong past performance in related coursework.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Personal statement.
- One letter of recommendation. An additional letter can be optionally submitted, but the committee will begin its review once one is received.
- Recommended: Evidence of one prerequisite course related to statistics or research methods.*
*The admission committee strongly recommends that applicants complete one prerequisite course related to social science statistics and/or research methods before applying for this program.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”