Positive Psychology (Graduate Certificate)
Behavior, Intervention, Prevention, Psychological, Social Sciences, behavioral sciences
Are you passionate about human flourishing? Build advanced writing, critical thinking and analytical skills while mastering evidence-based positive psychology practices. Elevate your career by learning tools to enhance individual and community well-being across diverse settings so you can make a meaningful impact today.
The graduate certificate program in positive psychology trains you to apply evidence-based strategies that enhance well-being, resilience and human flourishing across diverse personal, professional and organizational settings.
The foundational coursework emphasizes positive psychological theory and application, including interventions, relationships, organizational well-being and thriving family systems. You engage in a rigorous curriculum that fosters critical thinking, scientific analysis and advanced communication skills while promoting competence in designing, implementing and evaluating positive psychology interventions informed by current research.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- College/school:
New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
- Location: West Valley or Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
15 credit hours
Required Core (15 credit hours)
PSY 507 Positive Organizational Psychology (3)
PSY 523 Positive Psychology Interventions (3)
PSY 524 Thriving Family Systems (3)
PSY 525 Attachment Theory: Relationships and Well-being (3)
PSY 585 Advanced Positive Psychology (3)
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admissions application and application fee
- official transcripts
- one letter of recommendation
- personal statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency by scoring at least 4 on the Internet-based TOEFL® (iBT) or a score of 80 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center; 6.5 on the IELTS; or 105 on the Duolingo English test.
It is preferred that the letter of recommendation come from a faculty member who knows the applicant's work well; if this type of reference is not available, the recommendation should be from an individual in a supervisory or professional role.
The statement of purpose should be a concise and well-written response that describes the applicant's academic or career goals, and how a graduate certificate in positive psychology will help them achieve those goals.
It is recommended that applicants have a background in psychology, sociology, business, education or another closely related field. Required coursework assumes a basic understanding of social science statistics and research methods. It is recommended that applicants have completed a statistics course or a research methods course.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Graduates of this certificate program are equipped with practical skills applicable across fields like psychology, education, business, health care and social services. It is especially valuable for professionals in coaching, wellness, HR, training and community development roles. Example roles include:
- community health educator
- human resources or wellness coordinator
- life coach or positive psychology coach
- research or program assistant in psychology or public health
- social and community services specialist
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
|
FAB N101
ncgradadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Admission deadlines
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
