AEM 2025 - Work and Well-Being

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

L. Niemi.

What is the good life? Is it more than personal achievement, excellent health, and contentment? This course examines well-being in the context of work, with a focus on a sometimes-neglected aspect of the good life: doing good by contributing to the well-being of others and the planet. In this class, students will discover frameworks from social and moral psychology that help them identify their own ethical beacons, or what “really matters” (e.g., sustainability; reducing inequality), and develop a crucial skill in management: self-awareness. Through a combination of reflection and critical analysis of theory and research findings, students will build a practical understanding of a range of topics related to well-being at work, including meaning, authenticity, workplace culture, stress and burn-out, and organizational and personal values. At the same time, students will have the opportunity to envision a blueprint for their own future work as ethical leaders.

Outcome 1: Students will critically assess a range of frameworks, theories, and research findings from social and moral psychology relevant to well-being at work.

Outcome 2: Students will build a practical understanding of topics including meaning and authenticity at work, workplace culture, stress and burn-out, and organizational and personal values.

Outcome 3: Students will develop a skill crucial for effective and ethical management and team leadership: self-awareness.

Outcome 4: Students will construct a blueprint for their own future work as ethical leaders, drawing from the course materials and reflection.