Systems Navigator
There's still time to apply for January 2025 programs. Search all January programs.
Apply for September 2025 and get your chance to win $5,000 toward tuition* See details.
Program Overview
Prepare for an exciting career at Humber. Learn a new skillset to enable you to work with inter-disciplinary teams in hospitals, medical centres, community services, correctional and probation facilities, schools, and in private and public facilities. Guide patients, clients, families and members of vulnerable populations through complex health and social care systems and difficult decision-making processes.
The Systems Navigator graduate certificate program will prepare you for a career in this emerging profession helping individuals manage and co-ordinate their care within the health, community, education and social services fields. Systems navigators assist with navigating complicated and interrelated systems and are the primary source of communication between the inter-disciplinary team and individuals, acting as an advocate and guide.
You will acquire skills to assess diverse clients’ service priorities and to develop personalized care plans. Building on your current professional knowledge and practice, you will learn about the complex systems in which support services are provided to patients and clients. Through hands-on work experience and in-class learning, you can expect to attain and exceed the practice-ready knowledge, skills and attitude employers are seeking. In addition, you will learn the business and economics of service delivery systems and how professional roles and responsibilities intersect.
Courses
At Humber, courses are delivered in a variety of formats:
In-Person - An in-person course is delivered fully on campus.
Online Asynchronous (A) - An online asynchronous course has no fixed class schedule and allows students to engage with the course at different times according to their needs. Faculty provide modules, which are completed independently by the students according to established deadlines.
Online Synchronous (S) - An online synchronous course is delivered fully online and requires faculty and students to participate in real-time according to a fixed schedule. Classes are scheduled for a specific day and time.
Hybrid - A hybrid course is a combination of in-person and online classes and follows a set schedule. Students must be available to attend in-person classes at scheduled times during the semester.
The chart below outlines the delivery options available for each course in this program, by campus. For some academic terms, there may be more than one delivery option available. You’ll be able to select your preferred options when building your course schedule during open enrolment. Preferences for course delivery will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Some Humber programs are also delivered fully online, where all courses are delivered online.
International students: the impact of studying from outside of Canada on Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility differs significantly based on when you start your program. Please review the PGWP eligibility before choosing your program and course delivery.
| Course code and Name | Delivery Type by Location | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code | Course Name | North | Lakeshore | IGS | DL/Online |
| Semester 1 | |||||
| SYSN 5101 | Systems Theory and Systems Navigation | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5102 | Strength-Based Approaches to Service | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5103 | Professional Conduct: Legal and Ethical Standards | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5104 | Interprofessional Collaboration | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5105 | Motivational Interviewing | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5106 | Health Literacy | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester 2 | |||||
| SYSN 5501 | Professional Communication: Documentation and Knowledge Transfer | Hybrid In-Person |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5502 | Ethical Practice | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5503 | Professional Self-Care | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5504 | Clients and Communities: Health and Wellness Promotion | In-Person | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SYSN 5505 | System Specialization | Online (A) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester 3 | |||||
| WORK 5515 | Field Experience - Systems Navigator | TBD | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Work-Integrated Learning
You will complete this which is reflective of your specialization, and learning and professional development goals. The variety and number of health, school-based, correctional, and community service organizations utilizing systems navigators, along with our extensive industry partnerships, will help you to find a field experience opportunity that’s right for you. You will complete 240 hours of field experience.
Professional and Community Partnerships
Humber maintains strong partnerships within the community – and is the preferred choice by many agencies and facilities because of the Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness reputation.
An Education in High Demand
The Systems Navigator graduate certificate will prepare you to work in an emerging profession helping individuals manage and co-ordinate their care within the health, community, correctional, education and social services fields.
Program Highlights
Experience a number of interesting and unique courses within the program such as:
Health Literacy
Students acquire advanced skills in obtaining, reading, understanding, and using healthcare information in order to inform wellness-related decisions in their own professional systems navigation work across varied contexts and with diverse individuals. They learn to identify the unique health literacy demands on clients based on settings and the skills people bring to the situation and strategies for developing health literacy skills of individuals and communities.
Systems Theory and Systems Navigation
Students investigate the structure of complex systems, with a special emphasis on how parts and people relate to each other and to the whole system. Students focus on the varied ways individuals relate to each other and to their society as a whole, and the effects that established and emerging social practices have on individuals. Using a critical lens, students deconstruct the dynamic interrelations between individuals, families, institutions, and societies in order to identify how a system functions, the potential impacts systems have on people, and strategies that could be employed to influence change within systems.
Motivational Interviewing
Students examine the fundamental concepts of motivational interviewing and learn to ask open-ended questions, provide affirmations, and engage in reflective listening to provide summary statements to the client. Through case-based scenarios and simulated client experiences, learners acquire interviewing skills and strategies to increase clients' awareness of the potential causes, consequences, and risks faced as a result of specific decisions and behaviours. The focus is on the present, and working with clients to support self-determination and decision-making that is consistent with a client's personal values and goals.
The Humber Advantage
We Know What It Takes
Continue to expand your education at Humber. Learn a new skill set to be able to work with inter-disciplinary teams in hospitals, medical centres, community services, correctional, probation and private & public facilities to guide patients, clients, families and members of vulnerable populations through complex health and social care systems and difficult decision-making processes.
Why Choose Humber?
Humber is one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions, offering programs that emphasize a solid academic foundation and practical, hands-on learning. In class, you will learn practical skills from faculty who are connected to industry, giving you an advantage when it comes to beginning your career. With over 50 years of excellence, Humber offers real-world training and practical skills and knowledge to thousands of students every year. Humber develops highly skilled and adaptable citizens to be successful in careers that significantly contribute to their local communities.
The Humber Experience
The Right Fit
Do you like to help others? Are you a critical-thinker and a good communicator?
This three-semester program is ideal if you possess a bachelor’s degree, advanced diploma or diploma in health, social and community services, or other health-related or human services fields. With ongoing changes to the health care, community and social sectors in Ontario, skilled systems navigators will be more in demand than ever for their expertise in guiding and advocating for patients.
Continue to expand your education at Humber. Learn a new skill set to be able to work with inter-disciplinary teams in hospitals, medical centres, community services, correctional, probation and private & public facilities to guide patients, clients, families and members of vulnerable populations through complex health and social care systems and difficult decision-making processes.
Testimonials
Interested in Systems Navigator at Humber College yet want to know more before enrolling?
Your Career
This program will prepare you for an exciting career in the emerging field of systems navigation.
Graduates will be prepared to work across various health and community service systems and will also have the skills to take on client leadership roles specific to seamless service delivery for patients and clients, often acting as the single point of contact. Career opportunities exist in the fields of nursing, occupational/physical therapy, social services, community services, mental health and addictions, child and youth care, and correctional services.
Need Advice?
Program Advising Appointments
Get help narrowing down your program options or book a one-on-one pre-enrolment advising appointment with one of our Recruitment Officers.
Book An Appointment
Transfer & Pathway Advising
Speak to a Student Mobility Advisor learn more about getting Transfer Credit(s) for previous post-secondary experience, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and Pathways options.
Book a Virtual Appointment
Contact Us
Admissions Questions
Domestic Applicants
General Inquiries 416-675-3111 or enquiry@humber.ca. If you have already applied, be sure to check your application status on myhumber.ca.
International Student Enquiries
Contact the International Centre for information about full-time programs (including the International Graduate School), how to apply and to follow up on your submitted application.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber Polytechnic reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.