This sounds frivolous, but according to the article, there are jobs you could get with such a degree.
The New York Post reports:
NJ university launches world’s first PhD in ‘happiness’: ‘The need has never been greater’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.
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