Certificate Overview
The Positive Psychology and Well-Being Graduate Certificate grounds you in the research-based principles connecting mental, emotional, and physical health. In four online courses, you’ll explore mindfulness, resilience, behavior change, stress management, and the evidence-based interventions that support long-term human flourishing.
Designed for professionals seeking to advocate for holistic health in their work and daily lives, this fully online certificate combines rigorous psychological science with practical application.
Skills You'll Gain
Through the Positive Psychology and Well-Being Graduate Certificate, you’ll learn to:
- Examine how positive psychology and mindfulness influence nutrition, sleep, physical health, and long-term happiness and well-being.
- Apply psychological frameworks to support sustainable behavior change and healthy habit formation in individuals and groups.
- Assess and strengthen mental and physical resilience using evidence-based tools drawn from mindfulness, neuroscience, and stress management research.
- Design and implement evidence-based interventions that promote flourishing across healthcare, corporate wellness, education, and coaching contexts.
- Integrate principles of positive psychology with broader health domains — including nutrition, sleep science, and emotional well-being — to support holistic approaches to human thriving.
Career Outlook
As global awareness of mental health and well-being grows, so does the need for professionals who can support others in meaningful ways. This certificate combines research-based knowledge with real-world skills you can use to address needs applicable to healthcare, corporate wellness, education, coaching, and counseling.
Sample roles include:
- Health and Wellness Coach
- Corporate Wellness or HR Specialist
- Mindfulness or Resilience Trainer
- Community Health Worker
- Lifestyle or Executive Coach
- Social Services Program Coordinator
- Program Manager
Courses
The Positive Psychology and Well-Being Graduate Certificate includes four online courses.
- 1 mindfulness and resilience course
- 1 behavior change course
- 2 elective courses
Selecting courses. Multiple course options are available during fall, spring, and summer terms. Offerings vary by term. Explore current options in the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.
Upcoming Term: Fall 2026
Enroll in your first certificate course this fall — no application required.
Pre-registration opens July 6. Registration opens July 20 at 9 a.m. ET.
Featured Faculty
Our faculty includes researchers, clinicians, and practitioners at the forefront of positive psychology, mindfulness, and behavioral science. The following represent the depth and caliber of expertise you'll find across the certificate’s course offerings.
Shelley Carson
Lecturer in Extension; Member of Harvard University's Mind, Brain, and Behavior faculty initiative
Bobbi Wegner
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Groops
Beth Frates
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School
Ellen Langer
Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
Stackable Certificates and Degrees
Stackable credentials allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements.
If you pursue a master’s degree in one of the following two fields, you can earn this graduate certificate along the way by completing courses that fulfill both certificate and degree requirements:
This approach allows you to build expertise in positive psychology while making measurable progress toward your graduate degree.
Learn how to plan a stackable credential pathway.
Tuition
Support and Resources
Access to career resources, including webinars, advising, and career fairs
Weekly virtual office hours with the student advising team
Affiliate membership in the Harvard Extension Alumni Association
Earning Your Certificate
If you take two courses per semester, you can complete your certificate in 8 months. If you prefer a more flexible pace, you have up to three years to finish.
There is no formal application required. You simply register for each course.
To meet the requirements for the certificate:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete all courses within three years of starting your first eligible certificate course.
Any courses completed before the fall 2024 semester cannot be applied to this graduate certificate.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
FAQs
What can you do with a positive psychology graduate certificate?
With a positive psychology graduate certificate, you can increase your impact in an existing role or build expertise to make a career pivot to such roles as health and wellness coach, corporate wellness specialist, or community health worker. You can apply your skills to enhance workplace wellness programs, support mental health initiatives, and foster resilience and positive lifestyle changes in both individual and community settings.
Is positive psychology worth studying?
The graduate certificate provides a competitive edge by equipping you with the ability to integrate scientific insights with practical applications for meaningful contributions in a variety of fields. You’ll leave the program with an understanding of the evidence-based theory behind mindfulness and resilience, including the impacts on physical and mental health improvement. Additionally, you’ll learn how to implement research-based behavior change strategies to promote health and positive behaviors in yourself and others.
