EdX

The Science of Generosity: Do Good…Feel Good (edX)

The Science of Generosity: Do Good…Feel Good (edX)

Explore how generosity can increase your own happiness and make a difference in the communities around you. Skip About this course
What does it mean to be generous? Can giving make you happier and healthier? In this course, we’ll hear from multiple experts and explore the many facets of generosity by looking closely at the meanings, traits, and motivations behind giving behaviors across communities and cultures.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

We’ll discuss how generosity contributes to our own happiness and well-being as well as the happiness and well-being of our loved ones, our local communities, and our global society.
We won’t just talk about generosity: you’ll be able to do good and feel good -- without spending lots of time or money. You’ll have multiple opportunities for both doing and feeling good throughout the course and you’ll create a giving plan that helps you continue your generous acts into the future.

What you'll learn

  • Identify behaviors that demonstrate generosity and prosocial behaviour
  • Identify values, perceptions, and meanings of generosity in a variety of communities and cultures
  • Describe why “doing good” results in “feeling good”
  • Describe motivations for generosity and prosocial behavior
  • Reflect on giving strategies and their impact
  • Create a giving plan that supports continued generosity
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Leading Oneself with Personal Excellence (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Leading Oneself with Personal Excellence (Coursera)

Before we can lead others well, we must first learn to lead ourselves well. Knowing personal excellence is the culmination of this journey. In this course, you will describe how and why to set goals and create action plans, increase your focus and reduce distraction, harness motivation and flow state for performance, build self-efficacy and agency, and redefine your relationship with stress, anxiety, fear and adversity.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Christian Virtues for Spiritual Growth (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Christian Virtues for Spiritual Growth (Coursera)

This Duke Divinity+ course is for all those who seek to cultivate their interior lives and to develop a way of thinking about ethics inspired by Christian tradition. In this course, renowned theologian Stanley Hauerwas reflects on the significance of specific virtues for understanding what it means to be a Christian. He examines the meaning and significance of four key virtues—kindness, hope, humility, and generosity—and their importance to living a good life.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Positive Psychology (edX) EdX
American Psychological Association,APA

Positive Psychology (edX)

In this course you will learn about positive psychology, the scientific study of how psychological states, such as happiness, and character strengths, such as optimism and gratitude, contribute to well-being. You will learn about research on ways you can thrive and flourish personally and professionally. Upon completing this course, you will understand the important roles that positive emotions, relationships, and meaning play in happiness, life satisfaction, and mental health.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Leiden University

Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn)

Discover the science of mindfulness, learn how it works and why, from a political, psychological, and philosophical perspective. Experience mindfulness for yourself, and learn whether it really works. Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown rapidly in recent years. These practises are increasingly being seen as scientifically and psychologically valid forms of therapy.

Jul 5th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Mindfulness and Resilience to Stress at Work (edX) EdX
University of California, Berkeley,BerkeleyX

Mindfulness and Resilience to Stress at Work (edX)

Learn research-based strategies to help you foster mindfulness, handle stress, and guard against burnout. Stress, anxiety, and burnout are rampant across workplaces today: 80 percent of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help learning how to manage it. While many organizations may assume that intense stress is unavoidable, even admirable, research suggests that too much stress is toxic to our health and performance, leading to burnout and harming the culture of organizations as a whole.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Introducing Humanism: Non-religious Approaches to Life, with Sandi Toksvig (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Humanists UK

Introducing Humanism: Non-religious Approaches to Life, with Sandi Toksvig (FutureLearn)

Learn about humanism - a non-religious, ethical worldview shared by millions across the world. Presented by Sandi Toksvig. Learn about how humanists approach life's big questions. Humanism is a non-religious, ethical world view shared by millions of people around the world. Humanists believe that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity.

Jan 18th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Healthcare Management (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Introduction to Healthcare Management (Coursera)

In Introduction to Healthcare Management, you’ll learn the daily operation and management of healthcare delivery organizations and nonprofits, focusing on transformational leadership and decision-making processes. Explore the structure of healthcare organizations, the roles of clinical professionals, the importance of quality improvement, fundraising and community partnerships, effective communication strategies, and advocacy in healthcare.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Bridging Differences (edX) EdX
University of California, Berkeley,BerkeleyX

Bridging Differences (edX)

Learn research-based strategies for better relationships, dialogue, and understanding across divides. Relevant to anyone navigating conflicts and differences, especially geared toward college campuses. We encounter differences every day—differences in race, politics, gender, faith, and more. How can we connect across these differences, especially at a time of deep social polarization?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
La Philanthropie : Comprendre et Agir (Coursera) Coursera
ESSEC Business School

La Philanthropie : Comprendre et Agir (Coursera)

Littéralement « amour de l’humanité », la philanthropie désigne aujourd’hui l'ensemble des dons librement consentis par des acteurs privés en faveur de l'intérêt général. Dans les médias, la philanthropie est incarnée aujourd’hui par les milliardaires américains Bill Gates et Warren Buffet qui ont donné une grande part de leur fortune à une fondation en faveur de la santé et de l’éducation. Mais cette vision est partielle : la philanthropie est très active dans la plupart des régions du monde, pas seulement aux Etats-Unis, et ce ne sont pas seulement les très riches qui donnent, puisque de nombreux particuliers et entreprises s’impliquent.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Managing Happiness (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Managing Happiness (edX)

Managing Happiness encourages you to explore the science of happiness, allowing you to find your truest self. Through cutting-edge survey tools, the best research, and trends in social science, neuroscience, and philosophy to help learners unlock the strategies to create a more purposeful life, full of long-lasting enjoyment and satisfaction.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how social workers in the United States engage in creating change and supporting the resilience of individuals, families and communities in this new era. Learners will have an opportunity to explore the social work profession, the different roles of social workers in a range of settings, the cross cutting themes that guide social work practice, the history of social work, and current challenges.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks