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Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice

This certificate may change the way you think about the situations you face. You’ll learn to think more holistically, understanding the roles other people play, taking account of the interconnectedness of all the components making up the problem situation and working more collaboratively. You’ll find out how to relate the ideas of key systems thinkers to your own practice. The discipline of systems thinking gives you the tools to challenge your approach to complex situations; to assess the relationships of different components within a situation; to consider the roles other people play; to recognise that each person brings with them their own perspective on a situation and to work with those multiple perspectives.

Certificate

Course code: C72
Credits: 60
How long it takes: Minimum – 1 year
Read more about how long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Find out more in Why the OU?
Course cost: See Fees and funding
Entry requirements: Find out more about entry requirements.

Course details Entry requirements Careers

Course details

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits as follows:

30 credits from:

Core modules	Credits	Next start
Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871) TB871 builds capability for making strategy within your own chosen area of (professional) practice using ideas and tools from five traditions of systems thinking. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872) This module is about effecting whole-system change. Rather than passively accepting change, this module will equip you with skills to shape the nature and direction of change. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules TU811 and TU812

30 credits from:

Optional modules	Credits	Next start
Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871) TB871 builds capability for making strategy within your own chosen area of (professional) practice using ideas and tools from five traditions of systems thinking. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872) This module is about effecting whole-system change. Rather than passively accepting change, this module will equip you with skills to shape the nature and direction of change. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Sustainable creative management (BB842) This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation. See full description Register	15	01 May 2021
Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849) This module draws on a range of theoretical perspectives from both strategic and innovation management to produce a multi-layered, practical, approach to strategic management of technological innovation. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Technology innovation management (TB801) NEW The module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to develop understanding of how you contribute to the process and management of technological innovation. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Managing for sustainability (T867) This module will increase your understanding of delivering and supporting sustainability management in your workplace or support your personal interest in this subject. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Making environmental decisions (T891) T891 ‘Making Environmental Decisions’ teaches you to use a systems framework to integrate environment with other considerations when making decisions in complex environmental management situations. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Information security (M811) Explore the professional and technical skills necessary to understand, document, manage and implement strategic and operational aspects of your organisation's information security. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Digital forensics (M812) M812 covers the history of forensics, both criminal and criminal digital law, digital investigation techniques for desktop and mobile devices as well as forensic readiness. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Software development (M813) Gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding, and analysis and synthesis skills that you will need to develop software artefacts fit for a real-world organisational context. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Software engineering (M814) Explore the advanced concepts and techniques used throughout the software life cycle, for the effective production and management of large, complex, and long-lived software systems. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Project management (M815) Postgraduate module for aspiring project managers and practicing project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects. APM accredited. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Data management (M816) Discover the data management principles, practices and technologies required to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of an organisation’s data asset. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2021
Institutional development (TU872) This module analyses institutions, identifies their significance for development, examines how to build inter-organisational relationships, and explores the skills of mapping, modelling, negotiation and brokering. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021 FINAL
Continuing professional development in practice (U810) This module allows you to evaluate and assess 150 hours prior learning and identify and progress appropriate development opportunities for future continuing professional development. See full description Register	30	01 May 2021
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B820, B821, B822, B823, B825, B856, B857, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BZA820, BZA821, BZA825, BZR820, BZR821, BZR823, BZR825, BZT820, BZT821, BZT822, BZT825, BZX820, BZX821, BZX822, BZX823, BZX825, H807, H808, T835, T837, T839, T840, T846, T848, T850, T851, T852, T853, T861, T862, T863, T877, T878, T879, T882, T883, T889, T890, T894, TD866, TU811, TU812, TU870, TU871, TU875, TUXX870, TUXX871, TUXX872, TUXX875, TXX861, TXX863 and UYL810

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 17 March 2020.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

Credit transfer

If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.

On completion

On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice entitling you to use the letters PG Cert Sys Prac (Open) after your name.

You may continue your studies and add a further 60 credits to your postgraduate certificate to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28) and a further 60 credits to gain an MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47) .

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice

Entry requirements

To start this programme, you should normally hold a UK bachelors degree, or equivalent. It may be possible to demonstrate your ability to study at postgraduate level by successfully completing a module and linking your studies to the programme at a later date.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details.

Our badged open course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will introduce you to the nature of Master's level study. It offers essential preparation for pursuing your learning at this level – and is free.

How long it takes

The minimum time to complete is 1 year. The maximum time to complete is 8 years.

Career relevance

The knowledge and skills developed through this postgraduate certificate course will provide benefits in a wide variety of economic sectors to you as well as to your employers or other organisations. Applications exist in any organisation where complex processes exist and where a change is required, including, for example, health services, environmental and development management, manufacturing and IT. Managers at all levels will find the ability to approach complex problems from a systems perspective to be a useful addition to their management and leadership skills portfolio. If you are self-employed you may also find the knowledge developed enables you to take a more objective and innovative view of the systems you have already created and how to change these for the future.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.

Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice

Certificate

Course details

Modules

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

Credit transfer

On completion

Regulations

Entry requirements

How long it takes

Career relevance

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Course details

Modules

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

Credit transfer

On completion

Regulations

Entry requirements

How long it takes

Career relevance

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