M a s t er of S c i e nce i n P o s i t i v e Ps ychol o g y:
a u n i q u e av e n u e
No other program in the Southeast offers a master’s program
in Positive Psychology. In fact, the handful of such programs
in the United States tend to overflow with students. LIFE’s
M.S. Positive Psychology program gives prospective students
a wide range of options in their pursuit of a career in the
field of psychology or an inter-related field, offering three
tracks of focus – General; Secular Ethics and Contemplative
Science; and Coaching Psychology. Each has its own distinct
curricula, time frames of completion and potential career and
educational opportunities after graduation.
What is Positive Psychology?
It’s not hard to see why Positive Psychology has gained
the traction it has in regard to the increased interest from
post-secondary students, as the field of psychology has
shifted toward the study of flourishing and positive human
functioning in recent years. In 1998, Martin Seligman
made the case for psychologists to investigate what made a
happy life rather than an unhappy one. Since then, there
has been groundbreaking research into the study of what
people need to do to experience happiness and successfully
navigate life’s challenges.
A Bright Future
Organizations are realizing how positive psychology can bring
exceptional workplace performance; educators are successfully
applying it to increase creativity, critical thinking skills,
positivity in students and to reduce ADHD and bullying;
governments are measuring and promoting well-being as part
of economic policy; and individuals and families are learning
to cultivate a flourishing environment. And if you care to go
further, all three of these non-terminal programs will provide
you with the skills necessary to become a positive psychology
practitioner and advance into programs like D.C., Ph.D.,
M.D., M.B.A. and J.D.
Options Abound
Our M.S. Positive Psychology program offers you three
innovative paths through which to achieve your professional
goals. Depending on your areas of interest, you can choose
to specialize in:
General Track ( offered online )
The General Track is a 3-quarter program with a mission
to prepare students to be competent, ethical practitioners
of Positive Psychology. Students will develop skills
in evaluation assessment and in a variety of coaching
modalities. Students will be able to apply knowledge from
various frameworks and interventions (e.g., theoretical,
empirical, experiential and vitalistic models) to a wide
variety of human experiences. This program emphasizes
learning, which focuses on the uniqueness of each
individual and the influence of culture and ethnicity when
providing services to people from diverse backgrounds. This
track provides a systematic approach that helps students
progress in their ability to apply Positive Psychology in
multiple environments.
Coaching Psychology Track ( offered online )
The Coaching Psychology Track is a 3-quarter program
and is designed around an integrated approach to Positive
Psychology that draws from the richness of ancient
traditions, yet is based on modern scientific research
methods and best practices. Graduates of this program
will have key theoretical understandings and the core skills
necessary to work as a professional coach in a wide range
of settings. They will be equipped to work in the scientist-
practitioner or scholar-practitioner models and can expect
to find employment as human performance consultants,
personal or workplace coaches in the industry, in the human
resources field or in private practice.
The Life University Coaching Psychology program is a Center
for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and an Approved Board
Certified Coach (BCC) training provider. The Coaching
Psychology program is currently pursuing accreditation
through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) to
become an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP).
Secular Ethics and Contemplative Science Track
The Secular Ethics and Contemplative Science Track is a
6-quarter program. For students in this area of specialization,
training in contemplative science, contemplative studies and
contemplative psychology will involve first-person engagement
with contemplative and meditative practices. These include
popular interventions such as mindfulness meditation and
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) in courses
that involve a “meditation lab” component.
Students will develop familiarity with the emerging research
on contemplative practices and its effects, particularly in the
fields of psychology, neuroscience and the health sciences.
Students will learn how to develop secular interventions
based on contemplative practices and traditions. Students
will also learn how to design research studies that evaluate
such interventions in diverse settings, including educational
and clinical settings.
Students may start the Master of Science in Positive Psychology
curriculum each fall only.
Careers At a Glance
• Research
• Consultation
• Executive Coach
• Personal Coach
• Human Resources
• Private Practice
• Educational and
Clinical Settings
• Continued Study
into a Ph.D. Program
and more
Life University | GRADUATE STUDIES | 7