Program Overview

Introduction to the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Well-being and Health

The Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Well-being and Health is a pioneering program dedicated to delving deeply into the knowledge and skills of well-being, positive psychology, and positive health. This program is ideal for practitioners working in healthcare, education, consultancy, pharma, management, coaching, and any workplace. It is fully online, with an array of pre-recorded lectures and a recommended weekly online webinar suitable for European, North American, and Asia-Pacific students.

Program Overview

The MAPP program is designed to improve students' own and others' health and well-being. It is a fully online program, allowing students to learn from anywhere in the world. The program consists of two years, with the first year focusing on taught modules and the second year on deepening understanding, consolidating learning, and completing a capstone project.

Program Team

The program team consists of:

• Programme Director: An internationally respected researcher and academic, Prof. Jolanta Burke, who is widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to the field of positive psychology and wellbeing science.
• Operations team: Suzanne Sullivan, Miriam Holden.
• Module leaders: Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh, Prof. Jolanta Burke, Dr. Elaine Byrne, Dr. Annalise Roache, Lucy Airs, Aine Garvey.
• Guest speakers: Several in each module, including Prof. Aaron Jarden, Prof. Tayyab Rashid, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Dr. Trudy Meehan, Dr. Padraic Dunne, and many more.

Program Delivery and Schedule

Delivery

All modules are delivered through an online learning model, which includes:

• Synchronous (live) sessions: Weekly live webinars led by program faculty, designed to help students consolidate knowledge, explore real-life applications, and connect with other students.
• Asynchronous (on-demand) content: Weekly access to 2-3 pre-recorded lectures, professionally recorded in a studio or of studio-quality, ensuring a high-standard learning experience.
• Online discussions: Opportunities for online group work and discussions, allowing students to interact meaningfully with fellow students from around the world.

Schedule

The program is delivered in seven-week blocks, offering a structured yet flexible approach to learning. In Year 1, students complete all the taught modules, each introducing a unique dimension of positive psychology. In Year 2, students deepen their understanding, consolidate their learning, and complete their capstone project.

Year 1 Modules

• The Foundations of Positive Psychology: Explores the origins, development, and theoretical underpinnings of positive psychology.
• Perspectives on Well-being and Flourishing: A comprehensive view of flourishing from multiple cultural and theoretical perspectives.
• Practising Well-being: Introduces evidence-based strategies to enhance and sustain well-being.
• Positive Psychology in Context: Highlights how environment, culture, and social context influence well-being.
• The Dark Side of Positive Psychology: Examines the complexities of the human experience, including the downsides of excessive positivity and the transformative power of adversity and negative emotions.

Year 2 Modules

• Positive Psychology from Head to Toe: A deep dive into the integration of physiological and psychological well-being.
• Research Methods and Methodology: Prepares students to design and deliver their capstone project, exploring various research methods and their application to real-world problems.
• Capstone Project: Students can choose from four flexible options:
  • Option 1: Research project: Conduct an original study and write an academic paper.
  • Option 2: Oral delivery/presentation: Design and deliver a talk, webinar, or workshop.
  • Option 3: Product development: Create a tangible product, such as an app, board game, book, or educational tool.
  • Option 4: Workplace intervention: Design a structured well-being or positive health program tailored to a specific population.

Fees

The student fee payment schedule is as follows:

• EU applicants:
  • Year 1: 6,400
  • Year 2: 6,400
• Non-EU applicants: For a limited time, non-EU applicants can avail of this course at the same rate as EU students.
  • Year 1: 6,400
  • Year 2: 6,400 The payment schedule is divided into three installments:
  • First payment: 2,500 (on acceptance of offer)
  • Second payment: 3,000 (1 November 2025)
  • Third payment: 3,000 (1 March 2026)

Course Workload

Embarking on postgraduate studies while maintaining a full-time job can be both rewarding and challenging. The program is designed to provide a balanced learning experience, with each module requiring around 200-250 hours of commitment. Students are expected to manage their time effectively, prioritizing tasks, creating a study schedule, and setting realistic goals.

Learning Access and Facilitation

RCSI is committed to building an inclusive learning environment, considering the principles of universal design in the design and implementation of all learning interactions. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with disabilities, significant ongoing medical conditions, or learning difficulties. Students are required to confidentially disclose their status and discuss their needs with the learning access and facilitation service (LAFS).