CAPE Program Offerings
University of Montana Courses
HONR 394 - Applied Positive Psychology: Cultivating Well-being
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the science and application of positive psychology. We will delve into the biopsychosocial foundations of well-being and human flourishing, examining key research findings and evidence-based strategies for application in personal lives, academic pursuits, and professional endeavors. Through an experiential approach, students will gain practical skills to enhance happiness, reduce stress, and promote thriving across the dimensions of human life. By the end of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to implement these powerful techniques across educational and professional settings.
EDU 291- ST: The Psychology of Happiness
This is an introductory course in positive psychology, the scientific study of what makes life genuinely fulfilling. Drawing on ancient wisdom traditions to inform modern research and interventions, students will examine why modern life, despite its conveniences and constant connectivity, so often leaves people feeling empty or anxious, exploring the gap between how we think happiness works and what the research actually shows. Topics include the neuroscience of positive emotions, the role of challenge and growth in building resilience, the power of gratitude, empathy, forgiveness, and acts of kindness, the importance of authentic relationships, mindfulness and self-compassion, and why meaning and purpose outlast momentary pleasure as sources of lasting satisfaction. Throughout the course, students move beyond passive reading to actively apply evidence-based strategies to their own lives, completing validated self-assessments, experimenting with happiness practices, and reflecting on meaningful personal change, building not just an understanding of well-being, but the capacity to grow into it.
Happiness For Educators
Registration for our Summer 2026 session is open now!
What if caring for your own well-being was an essential part of your work as an educator?
You’re invited to a research-informed course that cultivates well-being. You will learn evidence-based happiness practices you can use with yourself and your students.
Educators leave the course feeling more hopeful, more prepared, and better equipped to navigate challenges both in and beyond the classroom.