In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Then dive into the second part of this module to explore what happiness means—both personally and scientifically. We’ll examine how definitions of happiness have evolved over time and introduce the concept of subjective well-being. You’ll also learn how financial well-being fits into the broader picture of a happy life and take a short assessment to reflect on your own financial wellness. This week sets the foundation for everything to come.

This module explores the relationship between money and happiness. You’ll learn about hedonic adaptation—a key theory in happiness research—and examine what the data says about how income affects well-being. We’ll also look at contradictory findings in the literature and discuss how to interpret them with humility and curiosity.

This module is all about self-discovery. You’ll reflect on your personal values using the Kinder Questions, explore how your upbringing shaped your financial beliefs through a Money Genogram, and begin aligning your financial goals with what matters most to you.

In our final module, you’ll bring everything together. We’ll explore the importance of relationships, revisit hedonic adaptation, and learn how to use money in ways that increase happiness. You’ll then create a personalized plan grounded in your values and the science of well-being. This is your opportunity to take what you’ve learned and apply it to your life. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!