Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Positive Psychology (Face-to-Face)

PSY 4400-01

Course: PSY 4400-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Psychology
CRN: 33940

Course Description

Positive psychology calls for as much focus on strength as on weakness, as much interest in building the best things in life as in repairing the worst, and as much attention to fulfilling the lives of healthy people as to healing the wounds of the distressed. The concern of psychology with human problems is understandable. It will not and should not be abandoned. Positive psychologists are “merely” saying that the psychology of the past sixty years is incomplete. But as simple as this proposal sounds, it demands a sea change in perspective. Psychologists interested in promoting human potential need to start with different assumptions and to pose different questions from their peers who assume a disease model. This seminar will concern itself with the basics of positive psychology (Peterson, 2006).

Required Texts

Text: Provided through CANVAS and 

The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lybormirsky 

ISBN: 978-1-59420-148-6

Optional Texts: Positive Psychology, Baumgardner and Crothers (Prentice Hall); Positive Psychology 3rd Edition, Lopez, Pedrotti, and Snyder

Personal Choice book as well

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:
This is a senior level course and will require significant thinking and writing about yourself and others. I believe that you will significantly profit from this work, as will the people you work with in the future. By the end of this semester, you will begin to be able to:

  • Understand the basic principles of positive psychology.
  • Understand the major areas within positive psychology that have received a considerable amount of attention in the literature.
  • Understand the role of relationships in achieving a happy life. 
  • Understand how to use positive psychology techniques in your own life.
  • Understand the strengths and positive life experiences of other class members. 

Intellectual and Practical Skills:
·      Inquiry and analysis
·      Critical and creative thinking
·      Written and oral communication
·      Information literacy
·      Teamwork and problem solving
·      Ethical reasoning and action
·      Foundations and skills for lifelong learning

Course Requirements

Exams:  There will be three, non-cumulative, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, short answer, exams during the semester with a comprehensive final.  With the exception of the final, each exam will be around 55 questions and will be worth more or less 110 points. Questions will be drawn from both in class lectures and readings.  Many exam questions will require application, rather than recall, of course material. There will be no make-up exams (with the exception of university approved absences). 

Book Review: 
I want you to read and review a book that is related to positive psychology. Check the book you pick out with me. Provide a brief synopsis of the top seven (7) things you learned from the book. Detail out the main points (at least 3) and how they apply to your life. Two pages max (single spaced) is what I’m looking for in this assignment.

Interventions: 
Complete six interventions and provide a one-page reflection on each (double spaced). Write about what you learned how it helped you or did not help you. Think about the impact it could have if you continued it. One intervention will be your choice; you can find these in our textbook “The How of Happiness”. Follow the directions that are outlined in her book. 

Course Outline

 | Assignment | Due Date | Possible Points
 | Exam 1 |   | 70-90
 | Exam 2 |   | 70-90
 | Exam 3 |   | 70-90
 | Exam 4 |   | 70-90
 | Presentation/reading |   | 20
 | Book Review |   | 30
 | Interventions (6) |   | 100
 | Final Exam |   | 120

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignment Policy
Late assignments will be accepted. Assignments submitted after the stated deadline will receive a deduction of 10% of the assignment’s total possible points for each calendar day, or portion of a day, that the assignment is late. The maximum late penalty is 50% of the assignment’s total possible points.
For example, an assignment worth 100 points will receive a 10-point deduction if submitted one day late, a 20-point deduction if submitted two days late, and up to a maximum deduction of 50 points.
Students should contact the instructor as soon as possible if an emergency or other significant circumstance may prevent timely submission. Extensions or exceptions may be granted at the instructor’s discretion and when required through approved university accommodations.

Attendance Policy

Attendance and In-Class Participation Policy
Regular class attendance is essential for success in this course. Although attendance is not taken and students do not receive or lose points solely for being present or absent, significant portions of the course involve discussion, experiential learning, group work, demonstrations, and graded activities completed during class.
Some in-class assignments depend on being present and participating in the class experience. Because these activities cannot be meaningfully recreated outside of class, they generally cannot be made up following an ordinary absence. A student who misses class remains responsible for all announcements, course material, assignments, and deadlines. Missing multiple classes or in-class assignments may significantly affect the student’s grade and could make it difficult or impossible to pass the course.
For a planned university-excused absence, students must notify the instructor in advance and follow the procedures established in SUU Policy 6.30. The student and instructor will develop an appropriate plan for addressing missed graded work. Depending on the nature of the activity, the instructor may require the work to be completed before the absence or may provide an equitable modified assignment. Students remain responsible for material covered during an excused absence.
Students experiencing circumstances covered by an approved university accommodation should contact the appropriate university office and communicate with the instructor as early as possible. Accommodations and university-excused absences will be handled in accordance with applicable SUU policies.

Course Fees

There are no course fees associated with this course.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.