Skip to content

Thinking in Systems: How to Understand and Tackle Complex Problems

July 14 - August 1, 2025, Monday to Friday

SOCI 3200, DEGE Breadth (upper level, SCC)

In a world grappling with a "polycrisis"—a web of overlapping global challenges—this course, Thinking in Systems: How to Understand and Tackle Complex Problems, empowers students to navigate the complex interconnectedness of our society. The increasingly globalized, interconnected nature of our world has brought benefits, but also unintended, undesirable consequences that have led us into crises such as pandemics, economic downturns, pollution, conflict and climate change. Through teamwork, action learning and problem-based learning (PBL), you will learn and apply systems thinking to engage with economic, social, and ecological issues that are deeply intertwined. This course offers you the opportunity to develop crucial competencies for the 21st century - systems thinking, critical thinking, holistic thinking and the ability to design the types of interventions we need to tackle complex problems and create better ‘fixes’.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Apply systems thinking habits, and frameworks to deconstruct complex problems and design impactful interventions.
  • Analyze local and global issues from multiple perspectives to uncover deeper connections and insights.
  • Utilize systems thinking tools to identify power dynamics, cognitive biases, and colonial influences within systems.
  • Collaborate on a team project to analyze and propose interventions to a complex challenge, honing your communication skills to engage diverse audiences in a call to action.

This program is right for you if:

  • You have an issue or area of focus that you’re passionate about and want to create meaningful change in.
  • You’re eager to learn how to better understand and address complex, real-world issues while minimizing unintended consequences.
  • You thrive in collaborative environments and prefer hands-on, project-based learning.
  • You are looking to gain valuable 21st century skills that are applicable across employment sectors, and future career paths.
  • You aspire to develop systems thinking skills to drive positive change at local, national, and global levels.
  • You like engaging with diverse viewpoints and cultural insights, to enhance your understanding of issues facing communities and the world.
  • You want to connect with like-minded peers from various backgrounds, fostering collaboration and friendships that extend beyond the classroom.

What will you be able to do after this course?

  • Apply Systems Thinking concepts, habits and mapping tools to better understand difficult to solve problems.
  • Propose better solutions that address root causes and mitigate unexpected negative outcomes.
  • Employ systems thinking strategies and tools in a work-related practice, or area of study
  • Better analyze “wicked” or “sticky” problems from a variety of angles.
  • Grasp complexity, craft more nuanced arguments, break down siloed thinking.
  • Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to develop and present innovative, systems-based solutions to real-world challenges.
Register Now