Certificate of Professional Learning in Creative, Critical & Design Thinking
Description
As the world continues to change at a rapid pace, thinking creatively, critically, and with a design process to solve complex problems are important skills in business, government, healthcare, IT, the arts, marketing, etc. Creative, critical, and design thinking processes involve systematic and human-centred processes to empathize with people, identify and frame problems, seek different viewpoints, identify alternative explanations, generate and test ideas, and take actions that add value to others and promote positive outcomes and opportunities. The Creative, Critical, and Design Thinking program consists of three, 3-unit courses (9 units in total). The program is interdisciplinary and will be valuable for persons from diverse professional backgrounds including business, health, social services, education, and community work. Each course will bridge theory and practice through a combination of experiential learning (i.e., case studies, simulations, discussions, and projects) and more traditional teaching methods. Students will complete a project at the end of each course. The projects will provide an opportunity to apply critical-creative-design thinking methods, tools, techniques and strategies to real-world situations/cases. Emerging trends, theories, and practices will be incorporated within coursework to ensure that program content is current and relevant.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
• Develop competencies in critical, creative, and design thinking to investigate an idea and transform it into meaningful action.
• Apply divergent and convergent thinking tools to situations within a variety of fields and settings.
• Examine principles and models of creative, critical, and design thinking to effectively solve problems for users and stakeholders.
• Practice using the tools, frameworks and processes needed to develop solutions to real-world problems and complex situations.
• Construct and execute innovative strategies for problems and complex situations.
• Become aware of and leverage the role(s) they play in creative processes and teams.
• Reflect on and meaningfully communicate their experiences of creating, problem-solving and designing.
• Recognize how to identify, participate in, and support communities of practice committed to sustainable change. The following objectives will be threaded within each course:
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical practices and professional standards applicable to the field of work.
• Exemplify the skills, attitudes and behaviours required to work and collaborate with people and develop personal management skills.
• Employ effective communication practices
Who should take this program?
• Anyone working in business, marketing, government, health care, the arts, technology and more
• New and current managers
• Recent college/university graduates
What are the Learning Outcomes of this Program?
• Develop competencies in critical, creative and design thinking to investigate an idea and transform it into meaningful action
• Apply divergent and convergent thinking tools to situations within a variety of fields and settings
• Examine principles and models of creative, critical and design thinking to effectively solve problems for users and stakeholders
• Practice using the tools, frameworks and processes needed to develop solutions to industry problems and complex situations
• Construct and execute innovative strategies in relation to problems and complex situations
• Become aware of and leverage the role(s) they play in creative processes and teams
• Reflect on and meaningfully communicate your experiences of creating, problem solving and designing
• Recognize how to identify, participate in, and support communities of practice committed to sustainable change
Creative, Critical & Design Thinking Certificate of Completion
Academic Credit – 9 Units
Students must complete all 3 courses (9 units) in order to qualify for the Creative, Critical & Design Thinking Certificate of Completion.
Courses may be taken in any order:
- Cultivating Creative Thinking
- Critical Thinking for Problem Solving
- Design Thinking
Note: Check with the institution regarding start/end dates, prices, and delivery method. These may vary according to program, section, and/or semester.
Overview
- Institution: McMaster University
- Program type: Certificate of Achievement
- Language: English
- Program Code: CCDTCOPL
- Delivery Method: Fully Online/Distance
Disclaimer:
Check with the institution regarding start/end dates, prices, and delivery method. These may vary according to program, section, and/or semester.
Check with the institution regarding start/end dates, prices, and delivery method. These may vary according to program, section, and/or semester.