Yale's Massively Popular 'Happiness' Course Is Available Free Online
March 29, 2020
In an effort to help the public find joy in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, Yale is making one of their most popular classes available for free online.
Laurie Santos / Credit: Yale.edu
In just the past month, more than 600,000 people in an increasingly housebound world have signed up for Yale's "The Science of Well Being," a course originally taught on campus by psychology professor Laurie Santos.
The course highlights research that reveals misconceptions about what makes us happy — and the concrete steps we can take to live a more fulfilling life.
Total enrollment for the class from March 20 of 2018 to March 19, 2019 stood at 539,000, making it the most popular online course in Yale history. By the end of the day on March 24, 2020 enrollment stood at 1,153,744, with 631,980 people enrolling in March alone.
In addition, 10.5 million people have visited the site recently.
"The interest in the class in just the last few days has been incredible and a bit surreal," Santos said. "I think that just as people are focused on evidenced-based ways for staying physically healthy during this COVID-19 crisis, so too people are looking for evidence-based ways of improving their mental health."
The course description states, "In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life."
To sign up for the free online course, visit Coursera.
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Little Girl Runs Across The Street By Herself. What Happens Next Brings People To Tears
'This Dog Is Making My Wife Cry Uncontrollably': Special Needs Dog Goes Viral After Photoshoot
Cat Goes Viral For Wild Adventures: From Hotel Check-Ins, To Vape Runs And Pub Crawls
Dad Didn't Smile For 20 Years, Then A Miracle Arrived From Above
Science Confirms It: Your Dog Wants One Thing Before You Leave
33 Powerful Truths From A 73-Year-Old That Will Change Your Perspective
He Can't Walk, But What He Did For His Proposal Is Bringing Millions To Tears
Two Little Girls In Dresses Rebuild Engine For Dad
Mom Accidentally Gives Her Friend The Bottle Instead Of The Baby And We Can't Stop Laughing
Musicians Recreate ‘Better Off Alone’ Using Only Their Voices — And It Sounds Just Like the Original!
A Young Elephant Hears His Name And Decides To Interrupt The Interview
