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System Thinking
A 5-week online course for professionals who want to solve challenging problems, lead with clarity, and create lasting impact.
Start Date
February 2, 2026
Duration
5 weeks
Price
$1,500
GET THE WEEK-BY-WEEK COURSE SCHEDULE
Understand the course flow over five weeks and receive updates on sales, events, and more.
By providing your information, you are agreeing to receive periodic information about online programs from MIT related to the content of this course.
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Start Date
February 2, 2026
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Duration
5 weeks
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Price
$1,500
Start Date
February 2, 2026
Duration
5 weeks
Price
$1,500
Understand, Model, and Improve Complex Systems
Every project, process, and product we touch exists within a larger system. Whether you’re coordinating teams, managing supply chains, or building new technology, the challenges you face rarely stand alone. They’re part of something bigger and more connected than they first appear.
In this 5-week course, you'll look beneath the surface to see how systems actually work—how relationships, functions, and behaviors interact and evolve.
You’ll learn to recognize patterns, explain complexity clearly, and design solutions that make lasting improvements across your organization. With a systems mindset, you’ll approach every problem with sharper insight and a clearer sense of impact.
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WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE?
You'll get a solid understanding of the foundation of system thinking and the concepts of emergence, function, and performance.
You'll be able to identify and describe the relationships among entities in systems and apply them to your own experience.
You'll be able to apply system thinking in technical environments such as logistics & transportation and computation.
You'll apply the systems dynamic method to understand complex processes.
You'll create models of systems based on networks and on dynamics.
You'll practice concepts from the course through a project management simulation.
is this course right for you?
This course is designed for professionals who want to see the bigger picture, improve performance, and make better decisions in complex environments.
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Technical professionals who want to strengthen their analytical and systems-based thinking
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Individual contributors looking to work more efficiently and make a visible impact
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Managers focused on building stronger, more collaborative teams
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Project and product managers responsible for coordinating interconnected workstreams
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Professionals in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, or technology who deal with complex systems every day
WHO WILL YOU LEARN FROM?
Edward F. Crawley
Ford Professor of Engineering, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT
John Sterman
Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management
Daniela Rus
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Director CSAIL, MIT
Hamsa Balakrishnan
Associate Dean of Engineering and the William E. Leonhard (1940) Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT
WHAT ARE LEARNERS SAYING?
MIT xPRO's Systems Thinking learners have transformed their problem-solving, leadership, and system-design skills in just 5 weeks online
The insights gained...have profoundly changed the way I approach problem-solving
Taking the system thinking course was truly transformative for me. The insights gained from learning how to map and analyze complex systems have profoundly changed the way I approach problem-solving in both my personal and professional life. The course provided a solid foundation in understanding interconnectedness, feedback loops, and emergent behaviors within systems. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, I developed invaluable skills that have empowered me to tackle intricate challenges with confidence and clarity.
Hamilton Pinheiro
CEO, Codengage
System thinking explains the world
Amazing way of explaining how we think, rationalizing a lot of the "common sense" so one makes sure its is never a gut feeling anymore, but proper science that is driving one's results. System thinking explains the world!
Renata Puertas
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
Applying what I've learned has already made a noticeable difference in my work
This course...has been a transformative learning experience for me. It skillfully blended theoretical knowledge with practical applications, enabling me to see complex problems through a new lens and approach solutions in a more structured and effective manner. Applying what I've learned has already made a noticeable difference in my work. I'm better equipped to identify, analyze, and solve complex problems, and I've begun to implement more efficient and sustainable solutions within my organization.
Artemiy Kruglov
Head of Emerging Product Exploration, Visa
It can empower anyone to breakdown and try to tackle any type of issue
As an analytical person dealing with software systems, I can often get lost in the "weeds" of things. This course provided me with a method of structuring and organizing the information from my mind in a meaningful way. It can empower anyone to breakdown and try to tackle any type of issue, no matter at which scale.
Adrian Filip
Sr Manager, Revenue Strategy and Operations Manager, Bloomreach
I saw a new world open up before me
I enrolled in this course to learn how to deal with complex systems, as I have to deal with them daily in my work as an application architect. When the course started, and I began to realize how easily I could break down the complex systems I was working with, when I gained new insight into the complexity behind project management and the concepts behind the supply chain, I saw a new world open up before me.
Muhamad Sugui
Senior Java Developer
It provides both important knowledge and skills that are directly applicable in my work
Before this course, I had a fairly broad vision of the themes covered but I lacked detailed methodological approaches to better understand the functioning of a system. The course fully met my expectations. Indeed, it provides both important knowledge and skills that are directly applicable in my work.
François Vermeulen
Chef de Projets, Ligue Pulmonaire Vaudoise
WEBINARS & RELATED NEWS
Inside MIT xPRO's System Thinking Online Certificate Course
MIT's Ed Crawley discusses what he calls "the cognitive skill of the 21st century" and takes your questions.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Survey Recap: MIT xPRO’s System Thinking Course Transforms Careers
A recent survey of professionals who completed MIT xPRO’s System Thinking course shows just how much the course has influenced their careers by giving them a fresh perspective on problem-solving and practical skills they can apply to their work.
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7 Innovators Who Used Systems Thinking to Bring Big Ideas to Life
Throughout history, systems thinking has been behind some of the world’s game-changing innovations. To truly grasp the value of this approach, look no further than the incredible work of some of the most notable visionaries
THE MIT XPRO LEARNING EXPERIENCE
LEARN BY DOING
LEARN BY DOING
Turn theory into practice through interactive activities, reflections, and simulations that help you apply systems thinking to real challenges in your projects and organization.
LEARN FROM OTHERS
LEARN FROM OTHERS
Join a global network of peers who bring diverse perspectives to collaborative exercises and discussions.
LEARN ON DEMAND
LEARN ON DEMAND
Access all course materials online. Videos and assignments are designed for busy professionals, so you can learn anywhere, anytime.
REFLECT AND APPLY
REFLECT AND APPLY
Guided reflection helps connect course concepts to your professional environment, ensuring what you learn sticks.
DEMONSTRATE YOUR SUCCESS
DEMONSTRATE YOUR SUCCESS
Earn a Professional Certificate and 2.25 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
LEARN FROM THE BEST
LEARN FROM THE BEST
Gain insights from leading MIT faculty, including experts from the School of Engineering and the Sloan School of Management, whose research shapes industries worldwide.
JUSTIFY YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
