University of Montana to offer psychology class on happiness

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MISSOULA – The University of Montana has announced a new course entitled “The Art and Science of Happiness” joining other universities in adding the emotion to the curriculum.

“The Missoulian” reported Nov. 27 that psychologists John and Rita Sommers-Flanagan are expected to teach this spring about the traits and habits that enable people to flourish.

University professors say the course aims to make the research applicable to students’ lives by using contemporary approaches from mindfulness to emotion-monitoring phone applications.

Professors say the students will be graded on knowledge-based assessments not on their state of being in the course.

Officials say 28 students have registered as of Nov. 25. A Harvard University course on the topic drew 900 students in 2006 and a similar course at Yale drew 1,200 students in 2018.