Overview

What does it mean to live a good life—and how does money fit into that picture? In this course, you'll explore the science behind happiness and financial well-being. Drawing from psychology, behavioral economics, and personal finance, you'll learn how money can both help and hinder our pursuit of a meaningful life. Along the way, you'll reflect on your own values, assess your financial wellness, and discover practical strategies to align your spending with what matters most. Whether you're a student, professional, or lifelong learner, this course will help you understand the complex relationship between money and happiness—and empower you to make choices that support your well-being. By the end of the course, you’ll walk away with a personalized plan to enhance your happiness through intentional financial decisions. This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit: https://aces.illinois.edu/online.

Syllabus

Orientation & Module 1 | What is happiness?

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.

Module 2 | Can Money Buy Happiness?

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.

Module 3 | Know Thyself: Aligning Values with Life Objectives

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.

Module 4 | Your Money and Happiness Plan & Conclusion

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!