CBSC 230 – Emotion Valuation and Well-Being

Four credits, EXP
Two weeks in Denmark; two weeks on campus*
Professors Karla Murdock and Wythe Whiting

*Saturday/Sunday April 25/26 - Saturday/Sunday May 9/10: Copenhagen, Denmark
May 11 - May 22: Lexington, VA


This course is open to all students with no prerequisites.

This course explores emotions and the meaning we ascribe to them. Drawing from theory and research in cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral science, we will consider how emotional experiences are defined, valued, and pursued or avoided. We will examine cultural influences on emotions in the United States and Denmark, which is routinely identified as one of the "happiest" countries in the world. As we question practices and structures associated with individual and societal variations in self-reported well-being, we will pay special attention to the Scandinavian concept of hygge. In Copenhagen our work will be centered at the Danish Institute of Study Abroad (DIS) and a full plate of class activities will allow us to critically reflect on conditions that support well-being in two cultural contexts.

Program fee (paid to W&L): $4,605
Includes programming, room, some meals (daily breakfast, ~4 lunches, ~4 dinners) fees, most in-country transportation, and transportation to the airport from W&L.

Additional costs: airfare, most lunches and dinners, cell phone, books, spending money, passport, and visa fees (if applicable).

For further details, please contact professors Murdock (murdockk@wlu.edu) and Whiting (whitingw@wlu.edu).

The information session for this course will take place on October 6th at 7 pm in the Center for Global Learning Attrium (by the tea house).

OR

Applications open October 7th, 2025.