N.J. university launches world’s first Ph.D. in ‘happiness’

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.

The 66-credit degree blends neuroscience, psychology, religion, philosophy, literature and leadership to promote what the university calls “human flourishing” — across schools, workplaces and society at large.

The goal: to help individuals and society “better understand, pursue and attain happiness,” Ben-Shahar said.

“Our graduates will be uniquely equipped to serve as chief wellbeing officers, policy advisors, educators, researchers, consultants and mental health advocates. From multinational corporations to school districts, nonprofit organizations to national governments, the demand for expertise in happiness and human flourishing is growing,” Caldwell added.

The Ph.D. builds on Centenary’s fast-growing Master of Arts in Happiness Studies — the first master’s degree of its kind. Launched in 2022 and fully online, the program has drawn students from around the globe, including the U.S., Brazil, India, Israel, Japan and South Africa, according to the university.

Last year, 87 students from 13 countries comprised the program’s first graduating class.

“People aren’t just asking how to make a living — they’re asking how to live well,” Centenary University president Dale Caldwell told The Post. “This program is designed to develop a new generation of scholar-practitioners equipped to meet that need.”

Ph.D. courses fall into four categories — Education, Research, Leadership and Human Flourishing — and draw on a wide range of texts and real-world case studies. The curriculum includes readings from Aristotle, Lao Tzu and Helen Keller, and examines historical figures like Maria Montessori and Nelson Mandela, Ben-Shahar said.

Students will spend three years completing coursework and begin their dissertations at the end of year two. Their research is expected to apply happiness studies to real-world systems like schools, businesses or government.

“We are training leaders to solve real problems: mental health crises, burnout in the workplace, educational disengagement and community breakdown,” Caldwell said. “That’s not soft — that’s essential.”

The program will admit 25 students per year and aims to enroll about 100 at full capacity, Ben-Shahar said.

Among those planning to apply: Ronel Jooste, 46, a wellness entrepreneur from South Africa currently enrolled in the master’s program.

“Look around you, how many people do you know, including yourself, who are truly happy with all aspects of their lives?” she said. “Happiness is a science, an art. If I can understand the science, I can help others to be happier.”

Her next venture? “Happiness Safaris” — wellness retreats in the African bush that mix brain science, leadership coaching and traditional boma dinners under the stars.