Graduate Certificate in Project Management

The Certificate in Project Management provides a broad theoretical framework and practical tools to develop a robust understanding in project-management knowledge areas and mastery of advanced project-management skills. The curriculum is designed for business leaders, professionals and administrators who are involved in the management of complex projects, or who wish to be prepared for managing projects across organizational and functional lines.

Courses critically address these project-success issues and intertwines all 10 project-management knowledge areas: project integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk, procurement and stakeholder management.

The course work also includes all five process groups: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing.

Program Design

Courses are taught online and students may begin the certificate program in the fall, spring and summer terms.

Required Courses and Suggested Sequence

MGMT 6030 Management Information Systems (3 Credits)

Management Information Systems explores the technologies and organizational factors that make information systems a vital part of contemporary business. By designing and building software applications, students will become familiar with the unique problems and opportunities that information systems present. The analysis of business cases will enable students to manage effectively both the hard and soft aspects of information systems in the workplace. An important focus of this course is clear, concise communication of technical concepts and business decisions. Therefore, there is an emphasis on written work that clearly states the business case and problem statement and explains information-system technology.

Students will take courses in:

introduction to information-system analysis and design through the system development life cycle
database technology
design of Web-based business presence
integrating information systems into a business process
organizational implications of information systems.

MGMT 6115 Tools and Processes in Project Management (3 Credits)

This course introduces modern tools and techniques for planning, scheduling, reporting, controlling and managing business-related projects. Students will study and analyze the project life cycle and the core project-management processes (scope, time and cost). Participants will gain knowledge of the concept of work-breakdown structure and different approaches to project screening and selection and will apply those techniques in the project-planning process.

Students will:

learn financial analysis to evaluate and select a project using Excel
plan a project
estimate duration and setup project schedule and allocate resources using MS Project
communicate project information using electronic and e-collaborative tools.

MGMT 6120 Managerial Perspectives in Project Management (3 Credits)

A true understanding of project management comes from knowing:

all project-management knowledge areas and process groups
how to partner with contractors, stakeholders, or users
how different elements of project-management systems interact to determine the outcome of the project.

Project-management success is established upon mastering technical, sociocultural and leadership dimensions of the field.

Learning activities in this course cover the impact of project management on:

organizational strategy and decision-making practice
advancement in corporate operations and global competition
improvement of products and services.

The course critically addresses these project-success issues and intertwines all project-management knowledge areas.

It exposes and addresses the major aspects and issues of the managerial project-management process and provides a theoretical foundation and practical solutions to these increasing challenges.

MGMT 7070 Strategy and Tactics in Project Management (3 Credits)

Although project managers can be successful as individuals, organizations will be much more successful in all their projects if they create a systemic, strategic approach to project management companywide. This course integrates the concepts and processes discussed in earlier courses by relating them to evaluating and implementing multiple projects within the framework of:

portfolio management
project-management offices
virtual project management
project monitoring and assessment (Lean and Six Sigma).

By completing a variety of individual assignments, class discussions and a final capstone project, students will learn more about the human side of project management, including:

team building
managing virtual teams
developing and implementing effective project communications.

Admission and Advisement

Admission to the certificate program requires the applicant to submit an official transcript of his or her bachelor’s degree along with a completed application. Advising will be provided by the certificate program coordinator, Dr. Hope Sun, PMP.

While the 12 credits are fully transferable into the MBA program, acceptance to the MBA will require candidates to apply to the master’s degree program and complete the full admission process. Completion of the graduate certificate does not guarantee admission to the master’s program.

Advanced certificates may be incorporated into a related master's degree for those meeting the program admission requirements.

Apply online or request information for more details on the Certificate in Project Management.