Building on the success of Centenary University’s Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, which enrolled its first cohort in fall 2022, the Hackettstown-based higher educational institution’s President Dale Caldwell, on Monday announced the introduction of the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies, slated to launch in a fully virtual format for the fall 2025 semester.
The new 66-credit Ph.D. presents an interdisciplinary approach to the field, incorporating aspects of diverse disciplines—psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, finance, business, literature, coaching, religion, music, and more—to explore the implications of happiness for individuals, the workplace, and our broader society.
Applicants should have a Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, or a related field, but the University will offer opportunities for others to complete a series of prerequisite courses to be eligible for the Ph.D.
Tal Ben-Shahar directs Centenary’s happiness studies programs. An internationally renowned expert in the field, he is a best-selling author and co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy.
Ben-Shahar first achieved national recognition two decades ago when he taught two of the most popular classes in Harvard University’s history, Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership. Since then, he has also taught at Columbia University and has appeared on major media as an expert commentator.
“Centenary University is at the center of this revolution,” Ben-Shahar said. “Organizations recognize the high economic and human costs associated with mental health difficulties, and the numerous benefits flourishing employees provide. Employees today are looking for more than a paycheck. They want meaning and purpose, quality of life, and a sense of connection within the workplace. Graduates of Centenary’s Master of Arts in Happiness Studies and the Ph.D. program will be the leaders who will bring this into the workplace and our society.”
In the spring of 2024, Centenary’s master’s program graduated its first class—the world’s first recipients of the Master of Arts in Happiness Studies. The class numbered 87 graduates from 13 countries, including the United States, Brazil, Canada, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom, China, and Vietnam.
