Course Syllabus

Description of Course

Positive psychology can find applications in diverse settings. The practicum will give you the unique opportunity to:

• Participate in the application of positive psychology in a real-life setting at the practicum sites such as Danish educational institutions for children and adolescents, organizations for older adults, cultural organizations etc.
• Investigate the manifestation of central constructs of positive psychology at the site using qualitative research methods.
• Develop interventions that facilitate positive psychological thinking at the site.
• Explore the role of facilitator and reflect on the factors that increase the impact of interventions.
• Personal Development to be seen as an integral process in the development of both practical and emotional knowledge developed while on placement.

Thus, the practicum is focused on the convergence of theory, research, practice and personal development in the field of positive psychology. Being placed in a Danish institution or association as a practicum site will allow you to study positive psychology constructs by observing, interviewing and interacting with both the users and the staff in a local Danish cultural context.

Some examples of possible sites:

You will be visiting an organization working in the educational, non-profit, business, social or cultural sectors and will get to study the unique Danish setting of these workplaces whilst exploring ways and means of applying positive psychology concepts and theory in these settings. You will be assigned to your site in the first session of the course.

The course is made up of classes (Mondays) and practicum visits (visit times vary but will never clash with your other classes).  At the sites, you will observe everyday processes that go on there through an appreciative lens and identify elements of positive psychology that may be at work. You will also interview staff on aspects of positive functioning in the organization and develop interventions informed by positive psychology to be implemented at the site. In class, you will be introduced to basic qualitative observation and interview techniques, as well as learn how to use your findings as the basis for interventions informed by positive psychology.

Learning Objectives

During this course, you will:

• Explore the role of central concepts in positive psychology in real life Danish contexts
• Learn about the pedagogical and cultural approaches in various Danish institutions
• Discover and reflect on the potential of applied positive psychology
• Integrate theory and research with practical observations and experiences
• Develop interventions informed by positive psychology on the background of research at the sites

Faculty

Katharina Zwielich

Mag. rer. nat. Psychology, MSc Sustainable Development. Katharina Zwielich is a trained psychologist and psychotherapist. She specialises in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in private practice since 2019. With DIS since 2022.

Readings

• Schueller, S & Parks, A (2014) The Wiley Blackwell handbook of positive psychology interventions. 

Required articles and other media on canvas:

• Cooperrider, D.L. (2001). Positive Image, Positive Action: The Affirmative Basis of Organising. In D.L. Cooperrider, P.F. Sorensen, T.F. Yaeger, & D. Whitney (Eds). Appreciative Inquiry: An Emerging Direction for Organization Development. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing 
• Willig, C. (2001). Chapter one: From recipes to adventures in “Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Adventures in theory and method”, Berkshire: Open University Press, ONLY pp. 1- 11.

 

Field Studies 

TBA

 

Guest Lecturers

TBA

Approach to Teaching

In this course, the classroom will create a space for combining and linking theory from the Core Course with skills in appreciative observing and interviewing as well as direct experience gained at the practicum sites.

Expectations of the Students

Students are expected to come to class prepared and have completed all required readings beforehand.  All students are expected to actively participate in class and share their placement experiences with the entire class. 

Practicum visits:

• The practicum offers a unique opportunity for students of the Positive Psychology core course to explore how central concepts in positive psychology manifest themselves in institutional settings in Denmark.
• The visits will be structured to enable a step-by-step exploration of applied positive psychology. At the same time, the site visits will provide the opportunity for you to interact with e.g., children, adolescents or adults. You will engage in experiential learning activities, which are intended to build, broaden and deepen your intercultural skills, knowledge of Danish culture and reflections on core course curriculum.
• You will engage in the practicum under the guidance of a supervising staff member for a total of 30 hours throughout the semester.
• Please note, that if the hours are not met, this could result in failing the course.

Classes

• Orientation and information about the practicum sites, practical details, and logistics.
• Gradual acquisition of knowledge with regard to how positive psychology constructs apply to practice at the practicum sites.
• Gradual training in the process of appreciative observing and interviewing and in developing interventions.
• Integration of positive psychology theory and research with your experiences at the sites
• Feedback on your progress and supervision of your practicum experiences.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated throughout the term using a variety of methods.  All student are expected to actively participate in class, which will form part of their grading.  Students will also be required to complete various individual or group assignments throughout the term relating to their practicum site. 

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Active participation and engagement, including time sheets from practicum, visits	20%
Field Work Paper 1	15%
Filed Work Paper 2	15%
Final Synthesis Paper	30%
End of Semester Showcase: Group presentations of the practicum experience (in site-specific groups)	20%
Total	100%

Disability and Resource Statement  

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with one letter grade for each day they are late.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Recommended Additional  Areas to Cover

Policy on late papers – Late papers will be accepted, but your grade will be reduced by one letter grade for each day it is late. 

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Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code