A significant and fulfilling life could be achieved by way of a number of components, in line with the science of happiness. College Research Overseas Consortium (USAC) college students can’t solely find out about this idea throughout their research overseas in Heredia, Costa Rica, however they’ll additionally put it into motion.
The Psychology of Happiness class, taught by Danny González, M.A., is a pillar of the Well being, Sport and Science programs accessible for college students on the USAC Heredia program. Supported by scientific analysis, this class is designed to be a cultural exploration of the science of happiness. “What does it imply to be blissful?” and “what does it take to be blissful?” are the kinds of questions that college students ponder on a person and world stage. In a perpetually altering world, with profound challenges and tensions, it’s essential to check these subjects to discover ways to create constructive life adjustments, even on the smallest stage.
Cori Cox, a New Mexico State College pupil, studied overseas in Heredia for 2025 Summer time Session I. She expands on a number of the themes they explored in school.
“We talked about how every nation views happiness, what the happiest nations are, and the way all people’s view of happiness is completely different,” Cori stated. “It was attention-grabbing to find out about completely different cultures and what being blissful meant to them. We additionally labored lots on gratitude and mirrored on the issues that made us blissful. We saved a journal and needed to write one entry every week; it had to hook up with the ideas we realized and our experiences overseas. It confirmed the way you advanced over time.”
For her, having a proficient educator was additionally a key issue within the high quality of this class.
“I had a tremendous professor. He was only a actually nice particular person total which, I imagine, led him into being a extremely nice professor as effectively,” she stated.
College students found some cultures put a excessive precedence on selfless acts, which they put into follow by volunteering with an area nonprofit, For the Metropolis, a cellular feeding middle for the homeless in downtown San José.
“We went from about 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and drove to completely different spots. Folks would line up and we’d serve them meals and provides them thermal blankets. Typically socks and jackets in the event that they wanted them. One homeless particular person had scorching spots on his leg, so I cleaned them for him and gave him some cream,” Cori stated.
Serving to folks in want was the evident objective of the sector journey. It was additionally a possibility for college students to establish adjustments they’ll make in their very own lives and their communities to extend happiness.
“I felt so fulfilled after that have as a result of it was not like something I’d ever accomplished,” Cori stated. “Despite the fact that this class doesn’t essentially comply with my curriculum in nursing, it helped me have completely different views on how I generally is a higher nurse and a greater particular person total. It was simply so eye-opening.”
Be taught extra in regards to the USAC Heredia program and its number of programs on our web site and discover out extra about Cori’s research overseas expertise on Instagram.
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- Heredia, Costa Rica
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Tradition, Identification, and Society
Training and Human Companies
Surroundings, Pure Science, and Biotechnology
Wonderful Arts, Music, and Movie
International Language Expertise
Well being Sciences, Psychology, and Public Well being
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