The STML Certification is a two year program for Brooks MPA Students and/or Cornell graduate students who wish to dive more deeply into the systemic issues faced by policy makers, scientists, organizational leaders, activists, and social entrepreneurs. Systems Thinking is one of the most sought after skills of employers and it is a foundational skill in the modern world.

STML Certificate Course Requirements:

Fellows are required to complete the following coursework (9 credits):

1. PUBPOL 5449 – Systems Thinking and Modeling in Public Affairs– 3 credits. It is best if you enroll in this course Fall Semester (of your first year of the MPA Program) although you can take it in your second year.
2. PUBPOL 5114 – Organizational Design, Change, and Leadership– 3 credits. It is best if you enroll in this course Spring Semester (of your first year of the MPA Program).
3. PUBPOL 5949 – MPA Program Systems Thinking, Mapping, and Leadership (STML) Practicum – 3 credits. You will enroll in this course Fall (year 2) and Spring (year 2) for a total of 3 credits.

Additional Components of the STML Certificate include:

1. Dinner Table Discussions: Fellows participate in a series of monthly seminars in the form of dinner table discussions. These are lively debates on special topics of interest.
2. Cohort Trip: An experiential, national or international trip to explore systemic policy analysis of a topic and trip chosen annually. The 2020 STML Cohort went to the Galapagos Archipelago to research the Galapagos as a System. During COVID-19 quarantine in 2021, the cohort identified a research project, attended a Research Bootcamp and published a book on their research results.
3. Exit Project: Students must successfully complete an exit project (a capstone, thesis or professional report) on Systems Thinking, Systems Leadership, or Systems Mapping and present their report at the Cornell STML Symposium. The STML Exit Project meets the MPA Program Capstone requirement.
4. Optional: Internships with Cabrera Research Lab or other organizations. For students interested in deepening their knowledge and skills, there are limited internships available on a competitive basis.

Timeline:

During their first three semesters STML Fellows engage in their core coursework and four courses in their specialty area of systems thinking, systems mapping, and systems leadership. During this time, Fellows engage in a series of monthly “Dinner Table Discussions”—lively debates on special topics of interest. Some Fellows engage in internships with Cabrera Research Lab for students interested in deepening their knowledge and skills.

After 1.5 years of coursework and engagement in their cohort, STML Fellows prepare for a semester to engage in an experiential trip to a unique part of the world that embodies systemic policy problems. The trip is an experiential, national or international trip to explore systemic policy analysis of a topic and trip chosen annually. In January 2020, the STML Cohort traveled to the Galapagos Archipelago to study the Galapagos as a System.

After the trip, Fellows engage with their cohort in their final semester to produce a comprehensive and systemic report with recommendations and present their report at the Cornell STML Symposium.

During COVID-19, the STML program did not travel and instead engaged in a student-led research project including a high-intensity Research Methods Bootcamp and research design. The research program resulted in a report, several pending publications in peer-reviewed journals and a published book. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, we will develop an appropriate program that is engaging, challenging, fun, and ultimately useful for our Fellows.

Faculty Directors:

For further information or questions about STML, please contact Faculty Directors, Laura Cabrera (lac19) and/or Derek Cabrera (dac66).

Application Deadline:

The deadline for applying for admission to the program is November 4th of each academic year (first year of the MPA Program).

Program Prerequisites:

(1) Satisfaction of the general requirements for admission to the MPA Program or another Cornell graduate degree program, as outlined on the Cornell Graduate School website.

(2) You must be in good academic standing at the MPA Program or in another Cornell graduate program. Applications should include the following materials.

Application Process:

Submit the following electronically to Laura Cabrera (lac19) and Derek Cabrera (dac66).

• Your Resume/CV
• Submit an essay (<1 page) that provides us with an understanding of (a) your background (especially anything that gives you a unique perspective), (b) your passion/vision for change in the world, and (c) why this program will help you to take the next steps.

If selected as a finalist, you may be asked to participate in an interview process with STML program faculty and staff. We may also request your transcripts. Applicants will be notified by November 15 of the year of application.

Additional Materials:

• Overview
• Requirements