Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

ORG710: System Thinking, Worldviews and Social Change

Instructor & Contact Information

The People tab in Canvas provides information on the course instructor and you can  send a message to your instructor following these instructions. Faculty are expected to: 1) grade and return assignments, with feedback, within 7 days from the date of submission; 2) reply to your Canvas messages within 72 hours; 3) reply several times each week in total in the discussion forums (not to each individual student); and 4) demonstrate the core values of City Vision University.

Course Description

Many of the greatest social problems (addiction, homelessness, etc.) are what are considered complex adaptive systems that have multiple causes. This course presents Systems Thinking as a collection of tools to help understand these complex problems and to be able to effectively intervene to bring social change. In this course, you will learn how to use system mapping, system archetypes, causal loop diagrams, ecosystem analysis, and other tools to better understand system dynamics to design effective interventions. This course will also explore how mental models and worldviews are foundational to all systems interventions. In this course, you will learn to conduct worldview analysis to compare your organization’s program model to alternative approaches to both improve your program and your ability to communicate with those from different worldviews. In the final project for this course, you will write a Systems Thinking Research Project & Strategy Plan for your organization, including a systems approach to organizational strategy, contextualization strategy, learning strategy, and change management strategy.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, students will be able to:

    1. Create visual systems thinking diagrams, including system mapping, system archetypes, causal loop diagrams, ecosystem analysis, mental models and worldview analysis.
    2. Apply systems thinking tools to a major social problem, including system mapping, client experience mapping, power analysis, system dynamics, patterns, structures, processes, and how mental models and worldviews impact approaches to intervention.
    3. Apply worldview analysis to compare your organization’s program model to alternative approaches to both improve your program and your ability to communicate with those from different worldviews. 
    4. Synthesize learning into a Systems Thinking Research Project & Strategy Plan for your organization including a systems approach to organizational strategy, contextualization strategy, learning strategy and change management strategy.

Degree Program Outcomes

This course supports the following program outcomes, marked with an (I) for Introduce, (D) for Develop and an (M) for Mastery. 

    1. Research methods. Apply action research methods to practical research topics in the field.
    2. Diffusion of Innovation. Utilize technology and relational networking to help diffuse innovations within a community of practice. (D)
    3. Values Alignment. To develop a theological vision and to align your organization's strategy, culture and systems with that vision to avoid secularization and mission drift. (D)
    4. Strategy. To develop a synthesis to integrate a wide range of business skills into a strategic plan for starting or growing an organization. (D)
    5. Social Entrepreneurship. Develop strategies and plans to effectively use technology and innovation to achieve organizational goals.
    6.  Action Research Project. Synthesize action research with theory and practice to solve a practical challenge facing your organization and/or the larger field.

Concentration Outcomes

  • 7a. Executive Leadership & Fundraising. Develop and implement plans to grow an organization in its impact, financial health and relational health. (M)
  • 7b. Nonprofit Program Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship. Improve the effectiveness of nonprofit programs by implementing best practices. (M)
  • 7c. Education Leadership and Innovation. Apply disruptive and continuous innovation principles to designing courses and programs to provide radically affordable and practical online education. (M)
  • 7d. Organizational Culture and Change Management. Develop and implement plans to improve organizational health and adapt to change. (M)
  • 7e. Trauma-Informed Counseling Management. Develop and implement plans to establish trauma-informed culture of health throughout an organization. (M)

Broad Institutional Outcomes

  • I1. Knowledge (Head). Apply a wide range of tools to help solve society’s great problems by shifting from a single lens/tool/discipline to a multiple lens, multifaceted Biblical understanding of reality. (D)
  • I2. Skills (Hands). Develop the skills you need for the next position in your development as a leader by shifting from mastery & understanding of a division in an organization to a comprehensive systemic mastery/understanding needed to lead across the organization. (D)
  • I3. Attitudes/Character (Heart). Develop the character and discipline needed to step into greater leadership roles by losing the bias of your old position to gain a broader perspective and intellectual humility needed to accelerate your commitment to lifelong learning.  (D)

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

Additional Policies:

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: November 24, 2025

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due