Course Title: Introduction to Happiness and Positive Psychology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Happiness and Positive Psychology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1487

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Internet

Sem 1 2011,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

BESC1487

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Internet

Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021

Course Coordinator: Dr Lauren Saling

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3801

Course Coordinator Email: lauren.saling@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 12.07.014


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.


Course Description

This course will provide you with a basic understanding of the science of happiness and positive psychology, and how it can impact health and wellbeing. You will examine the principles, underlying theory, research and historical antecedents of the science of happiness and positive psychology and distinguish between myth and fact for happiness and wellbeing factors based on research.

This course is fully online, there are no face to face classes.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course is offered as a University Student Elective to undergraduate students from various disciplines and programs across RMIT University


On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Explain happiness and psychological well-being
  2. Discuss misconceptions about happiness (what we think will make us happy)
  3. Discuss biases regarding our understanding of what makes us happy
  4. Discuss how biases regarding happiness can be counteracted
  5. Identify what we can do to increase our level of happiness and explain how positive psychology can contribute to this endeavour.
  6. Identify practical ways to implement behavioural changes to increase happiness


Overview of Learning Activities

  • Online lessons delivered through Canvas where syllabus material will be presented, explained and discussed.
  • Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through Canvas. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

The assessment is designed to ensure that students have achieved the learning outcomes and will include practical exercises, short essays and online tests. To help you meet the assessment requirements there will be opportunities to monitor your progress throughout the course.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials online through Canvas. The online learning platform includes discussion, email, and links to prescribed readings and recommended websites, RMIT library, support from study skills advisors, and various learning resources. Students are also a valuable resource for each other - their varied backgrounds and life experiences make for an interesting mix of people, promoting lively discussion and exchange of views on diverse issues related to happiness and positive psychology.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Early Assessment Task 1: Online quiz

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 2

Assessment Task 2: Essay

Weighting 45%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Oral self-reflective assessment

Weighting 40%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 5 & 6