IPH-STPH: Systems Thinking In Public Health

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to systems thinking and its application to public health challenges. Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analyzing how components of complex systems interact and adapt. Problems in public health and health policy tend to be complex, involving many actors, institutions, and risk factors. If an outcome depends on many interacting and adaptive parts and actors, the outcome cannot be analyzed or predicted with traditional linear methods. Systems thinking is a core skill in public health that helps health policymakers build programs and policies that are aware of and prepared for unintended consequences.

The course introduces contemporary systems thinking concepts and practical tools for working with complexity to improve population health and wellbeing. A selection of systems thinking methods will be considered and related to many disciplines across the health and community settings from local to global systems. Students will explore the fundamentals of systems thinking theory and apply key methods and approaches to health policy and health questions. The course emphasizes real-world application, demonstrating how systems thinking can inform effective policy design, decision-making, and sustainable solutions to complex health challenges.

COURSE TEACHING OBJECTIVES

1. To introduce key systems thinking concepts and their relevance to public health
2. To develop practical skills in applying systems thinking methods to complex health problems
3. To enable students to analyze public health challenges through a systems lens
4. To prepare students to anticipate unintended consequences of health policies and interventions
5. To equip students with the ability to communicate systems insights to diverse stakeholders

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Define systems thinking and discuss its relevance to health and community settings
2. Describe the principles that underpin systems thinking methods
3. Identify characteristics of complex adaptive systems and “wicked” problems that require systems thinking
4. Apply a variety of systems thinking methods to address complex public health problems
5. Use systems diagrams and models to show how feedback loops might lead to unanticipated consequences
6. Critically appraise the strengths and weaknesses of applying the systems approach to public health problems
7. Communicate appropriate systems thinking methods to address complex problems to diverse audiences

Organization of Course Studies

The First part of the course will be taken at a coursera platform(https://www.coursera.org/learn/systems-thinking). The student submits both the certificate and grade report from the platform. The student then writes an MP on an approved topic and takes an oral exam for full course credit.