A small New Jersey college has launched the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies — a fully virtual, four-year program designed to train experts in the science of wellbeing. “The need has never been greater,” said Tal Ben-Shahar, director of Happiness Studies at Centenary University in Hackettstown. “Around the world, we’re seeing a surge in anxiety, depression, loneliness and overall dissatisfaction — not only among adults, but increasingly among children and adolescents.” “In the face of this global mental health crisis, the study of happiness is not a luxury, but a necessity,” added Ben-Shahar, the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy who previously taught Harvard University’s wildly popular “Positive Psychology” and “Psychology of Leadership” courses.
