The Psychology of Well-Being
The Psychology of Well-Being is a two-week pre-college course that introduces students to the science of well-being and the psychology behind what helps people thrive. Positive psychology, defined by Martin Seligman as the scientific study of what makes life worth living, provides a foundation for the course. As a field, positive psychology explores the strengths, skills, and evidence-based practices that help individuals and communities flourish.
Students will also explore ideas from researchers such as Brené Brown, Amy Edmondson, Carol Dweck, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Through mini-lectures, discussions, hands-on activities, and field experiences around Boston, students will examine resilience, stress, mindsets, habits, sleep, values, and character strengths, along with additional topics within positive psychology. Students will leave the course with practical, research-based strategies they can use to support their well-being and personal growth.
This course is offered at the UMass Charles River Campus with commuter and residential options available.
Field Trips:
Field trips have included a yoga class at the YMCA, a Boston Duck Tour, and a tour of Fenway Park. Final details for Summer 2026 will be shared with enrolled students prior to the start of the program.
- Participate in short lessons and group discussions
- Complete reflective journaling and well-being exercises
- Engage in experiential activities, including light movement and mindfulness
- Take field trips that connect psychological concepts to real-world environments
- Build community through daily cohort-based activities
Final Project
Students will complete a final group project in the form of a poster presentation, pitching The Psychology of Well-Being as a proposed high school course to a local school district. Working collaboratively, students will highlight what the course teaches, why it matters, and how it can benefit high school students, applying key concepts learned throughout the program in a creative and meaningful way.
Pre-Requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this program.
Materials
Students should bring:
- A laptop or tablet
- Highlighters and pens for annotating readings
- Comfortable clothing for optional movement or yoga
- A water bottle and small bag for field experiences
By the end of the course, students will:
-
Learn foundational concepts in positive psychology and the science of well-being
-
Explore and identify personal values and character strengths
-
Understand how habits, goals, mindsets, and environment shape behavior and daily experience
-
Practice research-based strategies for resilience and stress reduction
-
Create a personalized well-being plan that integrates key concepts from the course
Class time is Monday-Friday from 9 am - 4 pm.
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00 AM–9:30 AM |
Morning Topic Introduction |
|
9:30 AM–10:45 AM |
Morning Session Activities |
|
10:45 AM–11:00 AM |
Bio Break |
|
11:00 AM–12:00 PM |
Applied Learning Block |
|
12:00–1:00 PM |
Lunch |
|
1:00 PM–1:15 PM |
Afternoon Topic Introduction Introduction to a related topic or deeper exploration of the morning theme |
|
1:15 PM–2:45 PM |
Afternoon Session Activities Group work, activities, and applied exercises |
|
2:45 PM–3:00 PM |
Bio Break |
|
3:00 PM–4:00 PM |
Extended Learning Block Guest speaker, field trip, or in-depth activity related to the day’s topic |
|
4:00 PM |
End of day |
In the evenings and on weekends resident counselors will run a series of social activities. Students are encouraged to join in, relax and have fun with new friends! With social events on campus and in the city of Boston, and access to the Athletic Center, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Learn more about student life at UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College
Meet the Faculty
Kristin Luce, Lecturer, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Program Manager, UWW Pathways Programs
Kristin Luce, M.A. is an Organizational Psychologist with expertise in positive psychology, resilience, and well-being. She began her career as a counselor in behavioral health before pursuing her M.A. in Organizational Psychology (concentration in Organizational Development & Change Management) at William James College. During her graduate program, she conducted a literature review on secondary traumatic stress (STS) in healthcare with a focus on building resilience at the individual, team, and organizational levels. She also completed a graduate internship designing a leadership development program for adolescents. Kristin is passionate about giving people the tools to thrive in life and helping them understand how well-being practices can support meaningful personal growth.
Raised in Newton, MA and a proud UMass Amherst alum, Kristin excels at building community, designing cohort-based programs, and fostering psychological safety and belonging. She has taught four semesters of an upper-level psychology course on well-being and one semester of a First-Year Seminar focused on supporting first-year students through the transition to college. She is now in her second summer teaching the two-week Psychology of Well-Being course as part of the UMass Amherst Pre-College Program.
Kristin also serves as the Program Manager for UMass Amherst’s Career Launch program on the Charles River Campus, where she supports first-year students in developing career competencies, exploring Boston, and building a strong foundation for their college experience.
Image Carousel
