We define happiness as the experience of wholeperson wellbeing, or in short, the experience of wholebeing. The five elements essential to a life of wholebeing are: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, Emotional. Taken together, these elements make up the acronym SPIRE, and indeed they inspire all of our programs—from our introductory lectures on happiness to the one-year Certificate in Happiness Studies.
The first course, Introduction to Happiness Studies, spans 28 weeks and includes 26 pre-recorded one-hour lectures and 13 live one-hour webinars. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the field of happiness studies, as well as evidence-based tools and techniques for increasing levels of happiness.
The second course is slightly shorter, spanning 22 weeks and includes 14 lectures and six webinars. While both courses include a healthy dose of theory and practice, the emphasis in the first course is on knowledge and understanding (what happiness is and what a field of happiness studies is all about) while the emphasis in the second course is on tools and techniques (how to generate happiness on the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and national levels).