PSYC214-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

The Science and Practice of Wellbeing

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

The Science and Practice of Wellbeing will introduce you to the psychological science and practice of wellbeing. It will draw on psychological theory, research evidence, and practical techniques to help you understand the factors that create flourishing individuals, communities, and societies. Psychological models of wellbeing will be introduced and critically evaluated. The course will teach about empirically validated holistic methods of improving mental wellbeing. This course will provide you with an understanding of current theoretical models and research evidence regarding the factors that promote the capacity for people to thrive. This course diverts from a more traditional focus on illness to one on health, from what causes us to experience distress and suffering to what protects us against distress and assists with flourishing, and from a focus on eliminating problems to cultivating strengths.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate information literacy by developing a conception of ‘wellbeing’ based on diverse sources, including Māori and Pasifika perspectives, popular and scientific sources, and a range of disciplines.

2. Distinguish between common myths versus empirical evidence regarding the contributors to wellbeing.  

3. Consider the key psychological, sociocultural and biological factors contributing to wellbeing, including emotions, thinking styles, social and cultural engagement, positive relationships, connection with the land, accomplishment, meaning, personal growth, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle.  

4. Understand how to measure wellbeing and how to recognise reliable and valid questionnaires for assessing wellbeing constructs.  

5. Discuss and practice strategies to enhance personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.  

6. Reflect and apply wellbeing concepts to local communities and how they could be implemented.

7. Critically evaluate the literature on wellbeing, considering its limitations.

Prerequisites

PSYC105 and PSYC106; or 60 points at 100 level from any subject.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 10:00 - 11:00 C3 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 12:00 - 13:00 E8 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 - 24 Feb - 2 Mar
10 Mar - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 25 May
02 Wednesday 13:00 - 14:00 - 24 Feb - 2 Mar
10 Mar - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 25 May
03 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 - 24 Feb - 2 Mar
10 Mar - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 25 May

Timetable Note

Please note that students only need to attend one Tutorial stream. There are a total of six Tutorials for the course (i.e. they will not be run every week).

Course Coordinator

Julia Rucklidge

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Reflective writing piece 5%
Reflective piece for wellbeing 15%
Mid semester Test (content weeks 1-6) 20%
Group assignment with video 20%
Exam (content weeks 7-12) 20%
Completion of two surveys 5%
Knowledge checks/e-activities/echo poll participation/discussion board participation 15%

Textbooks / Resources

There is no textbook for this course; you will be required to read/watch a selection of scientific papers, popular articles and/or videos for each topic.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,036.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC214 Occurrences

  • PSYC214-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025
  • PSYC214-25S1 (D) Semester One 2025 (Distance)