Master of Arts in Happiness Studies

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Dustin, May 16, 2023.

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  1. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    What do you make of this? The "Happiness Studies Academy" offers the MA in Happiness Studies ($17K). I assumed it was unaccredited because the ad said that it was accredited by the US Committee of Higher Education, which doesn't exist.

    But it turns out they have an agreement with Centenary University, who is Middle States accredited.

    Website: https://www.happinessstudies.academy/masterdegree/
    Middle States: https://www.msche.org/institution/0209/?fbclid=IwAR3SlXVPlUBrUOBVH8gb_QO9e8ofwt_O9f8EYJ4CIS7mvbcU20q6qwxtYC0

    Is this sort of arrangement common?
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Not especially. It's not unheard of for degree-granting institutions to partner with outside entities to deliver instruction. It sounds like the accredited school will actually award the degree earned through instruction conducted by the partner.

    This is a lot better than just having an accredited school "validate" the degree awarded by the unaccredited school. There were a few cases of that a couple of decades ago that led to some messy situations.

    The risk, as I see it, is that the accreditor might not approve the arrangement.
     
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  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Well, if it couldn't make the accreditor happy - it wouldn't be much of a happiness degree. :)
    Does Centenary U. have anything to say about the relationship? Vital to make sure it's their name on the diploma.

    Interesting concept here - they mention "Chief Happiness Officer." Anyone ever heard of a company that employs someone with this title? Maybe it's a synonym for "Executive Bartender."
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2023
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

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  5. tadj

    tadj Active Member

    He promotes the positive psychology movement. A few years back, I've read an article about the controversies that are associated with it. It was written by a researcher on happiness science; https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/11/13/20955328/positive-psychology-martin-seligman-happiness-religion-secularism
     
  6. Asymptote

    Asymptote Active Member

    Interesting Vox article. Not a single mention of Aristotle, though, despite Seligman‘s “discovery” of the need for human flourishing.

    Is this the state of modern “psychology” these days?
     
  7. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Wouldn't the issue be with modern journalism and not psychology?
     
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  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The beatings will continue until morale improves.
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Sounds quite like my UK primary school, ca. 1948-52. Ouch! I can still remember "Touch your toes!" and the sting of the teacher's plimsoll * against the backside of my English schoolboy's short trousers. I was a major criminal then - only really bad kids got the plimsoll - e.g. those who talked in class. chewed candy or gum etc. Felons, I tell ya -- felons! All of us!

    * Plimsoll - story here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plimsoll_shoe

    That was then. Corporal punishment is no longer allowed in UK or in any European country.
    Plimsolls? Yeah, you can buy 'em - but I still don't like 'em.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2023
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In the fourth grade (1968) I got sent to the principal's office for fighting. (Scrappy redhead with a temper.) Mrs Hertzman offered Billy and me either a 1-day suspension or a paddling. Billy took the suspension (wuss), but I didn't want my parents to find out, so I took 3 hard ones to the rear, then was sent back to class. Little did I know that they had called my mom to clear my selection with her. Fortunately, her sense of fair play kicked in and she didn't punish me further because I'd already taken it.

    Needless to say, I had serious class cred after that. Billy, not so much.
     
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  11. Vicki

    Vicki Well-Known Member

    If it were a lot cheaper, I would give it a go
     
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  12. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    You made the right choice despite not having a degree in happiness! :D
     
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  13. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    True, but several of my degrees have brought great happiness!
     
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  14. Asymptote

    Asymptote Active Member

    Good point. I listened to Seligman‘s TED talk afterwards and was glad to hear him not only mention Aristotle but also “eudaimonia” in regards to “flow.”
     
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  15. Vicki

    Vicki Well-Known Member

  16. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Who is Happy and what did he do?
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I understand Pharell Williams will be speaking at the next commencement. The Turtles, together, will perform.
     
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  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Aristotle and his observations were the first topic in my Psych 101 class, back around '83. I'm thinking he was always mentioned first, back then - and I hope he still is, now. Reading about him was one of the first - and best - motivators for me to take another half-dozen psych. courses - and branch out into sociology and human relations studies. I wonder how many others' college and university experiences he has influenced, from the grave? Ευχαριστώ Αριστοτέλη. (Thank you, Aristotle.)

    Aristotle - still indispensable, 2,345 years after his death.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2023
  19. datby98

    datby98 Active Member

    I wonder if someone holding this master's degree would be mocked for being unhappy during their life-long periods. People might say, oh I remember you are a happy master? :D
     
  20. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    "Besides, why should the creature be happy?"-Screwtape
     
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