Who wants to be happy? I do!
Here’s the catch: learning what happiness is won’t make you feel any different. You get there by doing the exercises. So I looked for courses built around that practice, the kind that ask you to try something and see what changes.
From over 300 positive psychology courses on Class Central, I picked 10 for this Best Courses Guide. They cover both your personal life and your happiness at work, and thousands of learners have rated them highly.
The activities can take you out of your comfort zone. That’s the point, and it’s why they work.
Click on the shortcuts for more details:
- Top Picks
- How We Chose These Courses
- What is Positive Psychology?
- YouTube Videos
- Networking and Communities
Here are our top picks
Click to skip to the course details:
The exercises change how you feel, not the reading
Understanding the research is a good start, but it is not the same as feeling different. The practice is what shifts how you feel. I looked for courses grounded in research that make you do the work, not just watch. The Science of Well-Being from Yale is my start-here pick: free to begin, gentle, and built around a multi-week “rewirement” challenge that turns lessons into habits.
How We Chose These Courses
I ranked these using learner reviews on Class Central, ratings on the platforms hosting the courses, and what learners say on Reddit. Class Central has tracked online courses since 2011, and our small team has finished 400+ courses. Here is what I checked on each course page:
- It gives you exercises you actually do: a rewirement challenge, weekly habits, a loving-kindness meditation, an action plan, or a Wheel of Life.
- It grounds advice in psychology and neuroscience, not personal opinion.
- It says plainly what it will not do: no forced positivity, no cure.
- It covers the setting you want, your personal life or happiness at work.
- Reviews mention a habit learners kept up after the course, not just videos they enjoyed.
A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment from the Indian School of Business earned its place because every module pairs a happiness “sin” with a habit and an exercise you practice that week. Not sure where to start? Open The Science of Well-Being and commit to one rewirement this week.
What is Positive Psychology?
Positive psychology is a branch of psychology aimed at understanding and promoting the conditions, strengths, and processes that help us thrive and experience well-being and happiness. Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illness, positive psychology shifts the spotlight towards positive emotions, strengths, and fulfilling experiences to create a meaningful and satisfying life for individuals and communities.
Martin Seligman is considered to be the father of positive psychology. He developed influential theories including the PERMA model of happiness, which form the basis of positive psychology.
It’s not about ignoring life’s challenges or pretending to be happy all the time. Instead, positive psychology provides evidence-based strategies to help us navigate difficulties more effectively and build resilience, satisfaction, and fulfillment. The field is useful in various settings, including education, workplaces, healthcare, and community development, to help enhance our quality of life. And according to research, being happy leads to better health and improved success at work.
So, jump in and join a course or two!
Best Course on Well-Being (Yale/Coursera)
- Workload: 18 hours
- Enrollment: 5M
- Rating: 4.9/ 5.0 (40K)
- Cost: Partner-supported free access
- Certificate: Paid
The Science of Well-Being was originally created by Laurie Santos to help Yale students cope with mental health issues. It guides you through evidence-based strategies to boost happiness and build better habits, beginning by exploring common misconceptions about what makes us happy and the mental biases that mislead us. You’ll learn how to apply research-backed techniques to improve well-being and commit to a “rewirement challenge”—a 4-week personal behavior change project—supported by practical strategies and reflection. The course has now become an internet sensation with its own podcast.
Why I Chose This Course
- Number 2 on Class Central’s Most Popular Online Courses of All Time list
- Also on the Best Online Courses of All Time list, with plenty of glowing reviews from learners who have transformed their lives after taking this course
- Understand what really makes us happy
- Learn how to put strategies into practice and build healthier habits.
You can read an in-depth review of the course. And for particular segments of the community, Laurie Santos has produced The Science of Well-Being for Teens and The Science of Well-Being for Parents.
“I just completed the Science of Well-Being course, and it was truly transformative!…Overall, I left with valuable tools for enhancing my well-being and a deeper understanding of what contributes to a fulfilling life. I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking greater happiness and fulfillment!” – Mohammad Rehan Samad, Class Central learner.
Best Course on Happiness (Indian School of Business/Coursera)
- Workload: 31 hours
- Enrollment: 495K
- Rating: 4.8/ 5.0 (5.9K)
- Cost: Paid
- Certificate: Paid
A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment teaches the “7 Deadly Happiness Sins”, and the “7 Habits of the Highly Happy”. It’s a feel-good course complete with silly jokes, and Professor Rajagopal Raghunathan (AKA Dr Happy-smarts) draws content from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral decision theory to offer a tested and practical recipe for leading a life of happiness and fulfillment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Class Central set up a study cohort for this course, read a review here.
Why I Chose This Course
- Gain a deeper understanding of the science of happiness
- Replace your own Deadly Happiness Sins with Happiness Habits
- Learners have reported being significantly happier after practicing the exercises each week
- It’s another course on Class Central’s Most Popular Online Courses and Best Online Courses lists.
“A beautiful course, it approached happiness from a scientific perspective, if you are skeptical of self help courses etc. this course will change your mind. Everyone has something to benefit from this course irrespective of age. Love it ” – Mervyn Medidi, Class Central learner.
Also Great Course on Happiness (University of California, Berkeley/edX)
- Workload: 44-55 hours
- Enrollment: 640.7K
- Rating: 4.7/ 5.0 (70)
- Cost: Free audit
- Certificate: Paid
The Science of Happiness from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center that explores the evidence-based principles of positive psychology. With Emiliana Simon-Thomas and Dacher Keltner and contributions from leading researchers in the field, this course discusses the benefits of empathy, mindfulness, and gratitude.
Why I Chose This Course
- Includes research from psychology, neuroscience, and biology
- Explains how happiness is deeply tied to social connections and contributing to a greater purpose
- It combines scientific insights with practical activities to help you boost your well-being
- Another course on Class Central’s Most Popular Online Courses and Best Online Courses lists.
“An absolutely wonderful course that I highly recommend to those interested in gaining greater insight into positive psychology and the drivers (and barriers) to happiness…The course leaders are charismatic presenters and experts in their fields…” – Liv, Class Central learner.
Best Round-Table Format Course on Happiness (University of North Carolina/Coursera)
- Workload: 11 hours
- Enrollment: 314.3K
- Rating: 4.7/ 5.0 (6.0K)
- Cost: Paid
- Certificate: Paid
This is an older but still very popular course that presents the research in a less formal way. The discussion-style format of Positive Psychology by Barbara Fredrickson of the University of North Carolina really appeals to some learners because it feels more personal.
Why I Chose This Course
- Features practical applications of positive psychology that you can immediately put to use
- Discover techniques that best promote flourishing and avoid common pitfalls
- Learn a lab-tested meditation honed over millennia
- Find out about the health benefits nourished by loving-kindness
- Your relationships and community benefit from your happiness and positive attitude.
“…The general setup of most of the videos (Dr. Fredrickson with 4 learners in a small group discussion format) is astonishingly effective for me, as I felt being a wanted part of the endeavor. ” – Aedrian Abrilla, Class Central learner.
Best Course About Happiness at Work (University of Maryland/edX)
- Workload: 10-15 hours
- Rating: 4.4/ 5.0 (28)
- Cost: Free audit
- Certificate: Paid
Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance explores how happiness is essential to building a great workplace culture and becoming an effective leader. Jocelyn S. Davis teaches you how to assess your own happiness, understand its impact on work performance, and learn practical tools to increase well-being for yourself and your team.
The course is part of the Reimagining Leadership professional certificate and emphasizes the importance of soft (or “power”) skills in leadership, productivity, and career growth.
Why I Chose This Course
- Key topics include the business value of happiness and building happiness at work
- Discover happiness limitations and myths
- Learn to foster environments where people and organizations thrive
- PMI and APM research findings
- Leadership Journey: experience, professional development, and building self-awareness through models, tools, goal-setting, and action planning.
“I truly love this course!! I think this course well introduces happiness as a strategy to the business table and gives you a tangible roadmap to achieve better leadership, better culture, and better outcomes! I learned a lot from this course and I believe that I can apply this knowledge into my career!” – Alan Liu, Class Central learner.
Also Great Course About Happiness at Work (Harvard/edX)
- Workload: 12-18 hours
- Enrollment: 218.0K
- Rating: 4.7/ 5.0 (476)
- Cost: Free audit
- Certificate: Paid
Part of the Happiness in Leadership: Driving Team Success Professional Certificate, Managing Happiness is a comprehensive course that explores the science behind human well-being and provides practical strategies for building a happier, more fulfilling life. Led by Harvard professor and social scientist Arthur Brooks, this course goes beyond traditional happiness studies by teaching you not only how to improve your own well-being but also how to share these insights with others, creating a ripple effect of positivity in your community.
Why I Chose This Course
- Understand what happiness is from psychological, neurological, and philosophical perspectives
- Learn research findings from positive psychology, neuroscience, and social science
- Master survey instruments and techniques to track happiness levels
- Eliminate negative patterns while building sustainable positive habits
- Develop skills to help others improve their well-being
- Apply happiness principles to enhance leadership and workplace effectiveness
- Gain actionable insights and routines to incorporate into your everyday life
- Build a foundation for continuous improvement in personal well-being.
Other courses in the Professional Certificate are Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles and Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health.
Best Short Positive Psychology Course (Harvard Medical School/Harvard Health Publishing)
- Workload: 4-12 hours
- Cost: Paid
Positive Psychology is a short, introductory online course from Harvard Health Publishing, part of Harvard Medical School. It is taught by Ronald Siegel, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, with Mallika Marshall.
Because this is a brief starting point rather than a comprehensive treatment, readers who want a fuller treatment of the science can look at Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Why I Chose This Course
- It is a short, introductory course, a useful starting point rather than a comprehensive treatment of the field
- It is step-by-step and practical, presenting research-based techniques and how to put them into practice
- It covers the roots of positive psychology and why we crave contentment
- It covers strategies for finding happiness, positive relationship-building, and virtues, inner strengths, and mindfulness.
Also Great Course on Developing Happiness Habits (Jonathan Levi and Linda Levine/Udemy)
- Workload: 3 hours
- Enrollment: 10.6K
- Rating: 4.4/ 5.0 (1.9K)
- Cost: Paid
- Certificate: Paid
Creating a Meaningful Life & Developing Habits of Happiness is an intensive, hands-on course designed to help you define and attain a truly meaningful life. Drawing on over two decades of university-level teaching and top life coaching strategies, instructors Linda Levine and Jonathan Levi guide you through powerful exercises and frameworks to help you discover your passions and define your personal mission. This course provides the tools you need to take control.
This course is more than theory—it’s a practical, transformational journey designed to help you live deliberately and thrive.
Why I Chose This Course
- Use proven, practical tools to create a life full of meaning, purpose, and joy
- Develop deep self-knowledge and identify your passions, values, goals, and personal mission
- Build a strong foundation for happiness and lasting fulfillment
- Balance all 8 core areas of life for greater wellness
- Harness change and turn challenges into growth opportunities
- Reframe negativity and move past obstacles
- Set and achieve SMART goals that support your dreams
- Create a supportive environment.
“I’ve taken a lot of Udemy courses and this is by far my favourite – full of valuable content and lots of “Aha!” moments. The course with is filled with inspirational examples, hard facts, personal anecdotes, quizzes and tools to assist in creating the most meaningful and joyful life possible…” – LP W., Udemy learner.
Best Positive Psychology Course from Its Founder (University of Pennsylvania/Coursera)
- Workload: 16 hours
- Enrollment: 147.5K
- Rating: 4.9/ 5.0 (6.4K)
- Cost: Paid
- Certificate: Paid
Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science is taught by Martin E. P. Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania, widely called the founder of positive psychology. Across four modules it covers the past, present, and future of the field: its scientific foundations, how well-being skills can be learned and taught, mind and body flourishing across life, and future directions such as world well-being and big data. This is the opening course of Penn’s Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization.
Why I Chose This Course
- You learn from Seligman together with other leading researchers and colleagues in the field.
- It covers core concepts including the PERMA model of well-being, learned optimism, and character strengths.
- Practice is woven through the lectures with “Try This at Home” exercises such as gratitude (“What Went Well?”), active constructive responding, and identifying and using your character strengths.
- It also includes journaling prompts and quizzes.
- It is beginner level, with no prior experience or prerequisites required.
“To learn with the man himself and other leading researchers is a one-of-a-kind experience.” – M.P., Coursera learner
Best Course to Become a Certified Happiness Life Coach (Joeel A. Rivera & Natalie Rae/Udemy)
- Workload: 5-6 hours
- Enrollment: 29.9K
- Rating: 4.7/ 5.0 (6.3K)
- Cost: Paid
- Certificate: Paid
Are you a life coach, counselor, workshop facilitator, speaker or other professional who loves empowering others? Help your clients find their happiness with the Happiness Life Coach Certification (Accredited) course and receive certification and CPD or CEU credits from Transformation Services, Inc.
Why I Chose This Course
- It teaches techniques and tools to help others find their happiness
- Understand the psychology of what creates long term change in people
- Help people with a proven, step-by-step system with all the necessary materials
- How to teach what you learn with confidence
- Raise your credibility, add additional sources of revenue, and enhance your coaching business
- Offer new services to current clients including workbook materials.
“It was a very interesting course. It really helped me understand my happiness better and help my clients in a more simplified way. Thanks for the amazing content.” – Sameeksha J., Udemy learner.
YouTube Educational Videos
As well as the complete courses in the above list, many educators have created YouTube videos about positive psychology, anxiety, and happiness at home and work. Here’s a selection:
- The Good Life – Happiness and Positive Psychology is the final video of Paul Bloom’s Introduction to Psychology (48 mins), with 416K views on the YaleCourses channel
- Designing Your Life – How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life (52 mins), 65K views on the Stanford Online channel
- Finding Purpose and Meaning to Overcome Anxiety – Break the Anxiety Cycle (27 mins), 190K views on the Therapy in a Nutshell channel
- How to Deal with Difficult People at Work (59 mins), 249K views on the Vanessa Van Edwards channel
- Crappy to Happy – Strategies to Help You Kick Butt at Work (49 mins), 407 views on the NDC Conferences channel.
Networking and Communities
As well as general psychology sites, several are focused particularly on positive psychology:
- Reddit: r/positivepsychology, r/AcademicPsychology
- LinkedIn: Positive Psychology Coaching
- PositivePsychology.com
- Black Dog Institute
Did this list help? We’ve got 200+ more for you. Check our Best Courses Guides to find your next course!
The post 10 Best Positive Psychology and Happiness Courses for 2026: Practice, Not Theory appeared first on The Report by Class Central.