The University of Pennsylvania course that teaches students how to be happier
In the University of Pennsylvania course “Journey to Joy: Designing a Happier Life,” students explore the science and practice of living a more fulfilling life.
A groundbreaking course at the University of Pennsylvania is challenging traditional academic boundaries by focusing on an unconventional yet universal pursuit: happiness. The innovative class, “Journey to Joy: Designing a Happier Life,” brings together students from different disciplines to explore the science and practice of living a more fulfilling life.
Interdisciplinary approach to happiness studies
Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) professor Desmond Upton Patton is leading this unique collaboration between the School of Social Policy & Practice and the Annenberg School for Communication. The course represents a novel approach to academia, where students are encouraged to think creatively about their personal and professional development while exploring the foundations of happiness and well-being.
“What joy says is that you can hold out a little piece for yourself,” Patton told PennToday. “That each and every day, even in the midst of things that you have no control over, that there’s something that you can envision, that you can manifest, that you can believe in, that you can use in order to feel good, to reimagine a world that may not see you for who you are. It is that thing that can make us wake up the next day—if we believe in it, if we can track it, if we can understand it.”
Breaking traditional academic molds
Unlike conventional university courses that focus solely on theoretical knowledge or specific skill sets, “Journey to Joy” creates a space where students can actively engage in designing their path to happiness. The interdisciplinary nature of the course allows for diverse perspectives and approaches to understanding what makes life more meaningful and joyful.
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