Initial Submission?
Resubmission?
Yes
Yes
No
No
LEASE COMPLETE
ECTION
AND CHECK THE CONTENT AREA AND A SINGLE
CRITERION THAT THE PROPOSED COURSE IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS
GT
ATHWAYS
ONTENT
REA GT
ATHWAYS
ONTENT
RITERION
( see Content Criteria for Statewide Guaranteed Transfer on
DHE website )
(Check only one with an “X”)
Arts and Humanities
Communication
History
Mathematics
Natural & Physical Sciences
(Check only one with an “X”)
Arts and Expression (GT-AH1)
Literature and Humanities (GT-AH2)
Ways of Thinking (GT-AH3)
Foreign Languages (GT-AH4)
Introductory Writing (GT-CO1)
Intermediate Writing (GT-CO2)
Advanced Writing (GT-CO3)
GT-HI1
GT-MA1
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Course Number: PSY 231
Course with Required Laboratory (GT-SC1)
Lecture Course without Required Laboratory
(GT-SC2)
Economic or Political Systems (GT-SS1)
Geography (GT-SS2)
X
Credit Hours: 3
Human Behavior, Culture or Social
Frameworks (GT-SS3)
Course Name: Positive Psychology
Department: Psychology
Prerequisites/Co-requisite (Please list titles and section numbers): N/A
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 1

Is this course cross-listed? If so, please list the names of the courses with which it is cross-listed, give a reason why it is cross-listed, and acknowledge here that the same approved syllabus will be used across sections of the cross-listed courses: N/A
Short description of the course from the catalog:
Focuses on human strengths instead of traditional psychological perspectives that emphasize the worst of human nature. The course explores strengths-based research, concepts of happiness, helpfulness, and resiliency. Mental health is redefined beyond simply not being mentally ill to include optimism, post-traumatic growth, and ways to increase emotional, psychological and social functioning. The course will focus on understanding one’s sense of life satisfaction and techniques to improve well-being.
By completing this section, I attest to the following:
I certify that the course described herein is an approved general education course offered at my institution (or will be so, automatically, upon approval as a gtPathways course). The attached content curriculum description applies to all course sections taught at my institution.
Signature (Electronic Accepted): Name/Title of Senior Academic Officer:
Name of Institution:
E-Mail:
Date:
Phone:
Institutional Contact/Name for this submission if different from above signatory
E-Mail:
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 2

C OMPLETE NUMBERS 1-3 BELOW AND ANY COMPETENCY ( NUMBERS 4-8) THAT
APPLIES TO THE NOMINATED COURSE PER CONTENT CRITERIA GUIDELINES
(
S EE
C ONTENT C RITERIA F OR S TATEWIDE G UARANTEED T RANSFER O N DHE W EBSITE
AND C OMPETENCY C RITERIA ).
P LEASE SUBMIT A COURSE OUTLINE THAT CONTAINS
A WEEK BY WEEK SCHEDULE , AN EXPLANATION OF THE GRADED PIECES OF WORK
AND HOW GRADES WILL BE CALCULATED , AND THE COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES .
Y OU MAY ALSO INCLUDE CONTENT OR CURRICULUM GUIDES OR OTHER SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS
.
1.
State scope of course and the primary concepts or topics it covers:
The scope of this course is an introduction to the science of human potential and wellbeing. To accomplish this, the course reviews Western and non-Western concepts of happiness, the goals and methods of science and scientific research, biology, sociology, economics and psychology to examine current ideas of what constitutes effective psychological functioning and subjective well-being.
I. Introduction to positive psychology
II. Meaning of happiness
III. Positive emotions
IV. Social locators and happiness
V. Money and culture
VI. Personal Goals
VII. Self-regulation and control
VIII. Resilience
IX. Positive traits
X. Satisfying relationships
2. Provide rationale and/or evidence for how the nominated course meets the specific content criteria:
This course will demonstrate how the scientific method is used in the field of psychology to examine various ideas about happiness and well-being, the biological analogs to psychological states associated with well-being, correlations between happiness and varying economic, social and cultural factors and how these factors influence such things as personal goals, self-regulation, resilience and relationships.
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 3

3. List student outcomes and detail how outcomes will be met in the course:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Develop an understanding of the fundamental differences between the traditional view of psychology and how the field of positive psychology challenges as well as integrates that view.
Examine and evaluate the current research and theoretical basis for the concepts behind positive psychology.
Develop an understanding of what factors contribute to resiliency.
Identify the multiple dimensions of happiness and be able to apply those concepts to
his/her life.
5.
6.
Identify, describe, and apply the core concepts of positive psychology.
Identify the knowledge and skills to implement any strengths-based concepts that are relevant in his/her lives.
4. Describe how students demonstrate and develop critical thinking competency:
1. Students will write full and short papers that will demonstrate the abilityto analyze and interpret material presented in class and fronm their independent research.
2.
They must demonstrate the ability to ask pertinent questions, formulate arguments, employ reasoning skills, identify assumptions, compare different viewpoints, and draw appropriate onclusions.
Students will participate in class and group discussions where they must demonstrate the ability to analyze material by asking pertinent questions, structuring arguments, using persuasive language and evidence for that argument, and drawing suitable conclusions.
3. Students will write a major research paper using primary and secondary sources.
They will incorporate and examine appropriate concepts andinformation and
demonstrate understanding of the scientific method and an ability to communicate
this information to others.
4. Integrating information from scholarly journals and other sources will allow
students toanalyze information critically within the framework of science.
5. Describe how students demonstrate and develop reading competency:
Students will be expected to maintain currency with class material in both the text and the auxiliary readings and they will be tested on their understanding of this material by frequent on-line quizzes. Additionally, in their writing assignments, they will be expected to find and select appropriate resource material and then appropriately synthesize their understanding by drawing appropriate conclusions in their writing assignments.
6. Describe how students demonstrate and develop written communication competency:
Students will be expected to write four short research papers, comprising 20% of their overall grade. Additionally, will write a final paper with a minimum length of 5 pages that, alnong with class presentation of the paper, will account for another 20% of their overall grade. These sassignments will be graded for writing skills and style as well as for content and critical scholarship. These writing assignments will require reading, research, analysis, thematic development, synthesis of concepts and writing excellence.
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 4

7. Describe how students demonstrate and develop technology competency:
While not specified as a required competency for classes in the Social & Behavioral
Sciences, technological competency is expected of students for this class. All testing and many materials will be delivered through D2L. Students will also be instructed in how to conduct a literature search through online library databases. Use of Power Points for their presentations will be encouraged and an ability to locate resources using the internet is considered essential. All assignments will be turned in using the dropbox function of D2L as well.
8. Describe how students demonstrate and develop mathematics competency:
Students will be exposed to the use of Behavioral Statistics in psychological research and will be expected to understand the basic implications of measure of central tendency, statistical power and correlation.
Note Regarding Natural and Physical Sciences Courses (GT-SC1 & GT-SC2):
The GT-SC1 category is used for courses that integrate a lecture with a lab, and also for separately transcripted labs that have a GT-SC2 lecture course(s) as a prerequisite or corequisite. When submitting a separately transcripted lab for GT-SC1 approval, indicate the required GT-SC2 course(s) and attach the nomination materials for the GT-SC2 course(s) so that the lab can be evaluated in the context of the companion lecture course. (If the GT-SC2 course was previously approved, include the nomination materials from that earlier review process.)
O BE COMPLETED ONLY IF THIS COURSE IS BEING RESUBMITTED FOR
CONSIDERATION AND PLACEMENT WITHIN THE GT
ATHWAYS CURRICULUM
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 5

1. SUBSTANTIVE CONCERNS REGARDING PREVIOUS SUBMISSION(S):
Please attach reviewer comments/justification for the “deferred” designation and respond to the question below.
How has the course been modified to address the concerns raised by the review committee(s)?
Revised 12/11/2012
Course Nomination Form: gtPathways Review
Colorado Department of Higher Education Page 6