Certificate/Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to develop the following key competencies:

• Positive Psychology Theoretical Application: the ability to understand, articulate, and apply core positive psychology concepts (e.g., well-being, resilience, character strengths) to real-world situations, contexts, and diverse populations;
• Intervention Design and Implementation: the skill to create, execute, and evaluate evidence-based positive psychology interventions and programs for individuals, groups, or organizations to foster human flourishing;
• Interpersonal and Coaching Skills: the capacity to use positive psychology principles to effectively coach, mentor, or support others, enhancing their well-being, motivation, and goal attainment; and
• Critical Thinking and Research Acumen: the ability to critically analyze research findings, apply scientific reasoning to psychological concepts, and develop projects that are grounded in empirical evidence.

These competencies can be assessed through a variety of methods, including the following:

• Written Assessments or Papers: Traditional tests and papers can evaluate a student’s grasp of foundational positive psychology theories and concepts, assessing their Positive Psychology Theoretical Application. A research-focused paper can also gauge their Critical Thinking and Research Acumen.
• Practical Demonstrations: Students demonstrate their coaching and interpersonal skills in a simulated environment. This provides a direct measure of their Interpersonal and coaching skills as they apply techniques in a controlled setting.
• Case Studies and Project-Based Assessments: Students apply theoretical knowledge to complex, real-world scenarios. This assesses their ability to design and implement interventions. For example, a student might be asked to create a well-being program for a company, which directly evaluates their intervention design and implementation      skills.
• Interventional Project Development (Artefact-making): Culminating in a final intervention program project, this would require students to synthesize all learned competencies to create a comprehensive positive psychology program based on a research or needs assessment output, thus assessing all four competencies simultaneously. This could be like an “action research project” where they design, implement, and evaluate an intervention within a community, school, or organization.