Online Project Management (PMP) Degrees
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Project managers oversee the large engineering, construction, IT, and science projects that are becoming an increasingly common part of the global economy. These workers see that a project is aligned with the client's goals, within the allotted budget, and completed within a reasonable timeline. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that project management and management consulting will continue to grow in importance to the U.S. economy; however, high-paying and prestigious management contracts can be difficult to land. Project management is an interdisciplinary career, and it can be entered through a number of educational paths. A bachelor's degree, plus Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a post-graduate certificate, or a master's degree in project management are all viable entry points.
Think of the construction of world-revolving satellites or 500-passenger airplanes. These projects require hundreds of workers and millions of dollars to complete. The project manager is crucial for keeping such a complicated endeavor coordinated and running smoothly, despite the many moving parts involved. They create a project plan, based on the goals of the project's funders, delegate tasks within the project, and create a flow-chart of goals and project communication. Throughout the project, they make sure that goals are being met on-time, and that risks of project failure are mitigated.
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What are some of the specializations within this degree program?
- General Project Management: These professionals take on all management aspects of a large project. They develop a plan of action, create a budget, delegate tasks, and see the project through to completion.
- Program Management: Program managers are professionals who specialize in managing multiple projects at once. The help coordinate several related projects to guide the entire program towards a coherent end.
- Scheduling Management: These managers develop a time frame for a large project and ensure that important milestones are met.
- Risk Assessment: Risk assessment managers help minimize the threat of failure for large projects, by evaluating risky situations and recognizing opportunities that others might overlook.
What degree levels are available?
- Postgraduate Certificate: 1 year to complete
- Master's Degree: 2 years to complete
What are the educational and certification requirements?
The project management sector is a very broad one, encompassing construction, telecommunications, science, engineering, and more. Project management is emerging as a new, interdisciplinary career, and the educational requirements for any particular project will vary, depending on its focus. A bachelor's or master's degree in the background field and management experience may be all that is required; other, more complicated projects may require a post-graduate certificate or master's degree in project management.
The postgraduate certificate in project management is a one-year program, designed to introduce individuals to the main topics in project management, such as communication, project initiation, budgeting, and finishing. Master's degrees provide a more in-depth background in project management, along with courses in business and a specialized industry field, such as construction or telecom.
There are no mandatory certification requirements for project managers, although acquiring voluntary credentials can be helpful for one's job prospects and earnings. The most popular project management certification is Project Management Professional (PMP) status, endowed by the Project Management Institute (PMI). This rigorous credential is only given to project managers with a bachelor's degree and three year of project management experience, or a high school diploma and five years of experience. After submitting an application proving their credentials, applicants are approved to sit for the PMP certification exam, which takes four hours to complete and covers 200 multiple choice questions. Upon passing the exams, applicants earn PMP status. (PMI)
Those with more limited professional experience could apply for the Certified Associate in Project Management credential, also offered by PMI. Applicants for the CAPM credential need 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of related education.
What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?
- Contracts: Topics will include contract law, bids, negotiations, contract types, and much, much more. Students will learn about the planning and administration of amassing goods and services for the project.
- Business Systems: Problems within business systems will be analyzed by the class. They will figure out solutions to project issues through a variety of learned techniques that will allow them effectively run large projects upon graduation.
- Quality Management: The student will learn introductory methods of process control and acceptance sampling. Overall, the course will cover various quality procedures that will help to bolster business productivity.
- Human Resources: As the title suggests, the student will learn how to lead workers through in order to complete projects. Topics covered may include communication planning, conflict management, and team building.
- General Education Courses: Communication, humanities, math, natural sciences, and social sciences will all be a part of the student's more broad based learning initiatives. Classes may include literature, geography, history, and many others within each of the aforementioned GE fields.
If I pursue this program online, will I be required to complete any on-site training?
A degree in project management will be offered by most schools as a full online course of study. Students may choose to take a hybrid course of study for some classes, which will involve a mix between online study and on-site (classroom) lectures. With the project management course of study, the online option will allow students with a work from home setting where they can work at their own pace.
What are some other degrees that are related to this program?
- Real Estate Management: Courses may include property development, ownership, financing, and communication. Careers may include contracts managers, customer relations managers, and project managers.
- Educational Leadership: Students will have a main focus on solving education issues and problems which face our school systems today.
- Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs will learn how to successfully start a business and grow it in the coming years. Those with management skills, creativity, and high level ideas may find success in this forum.
- Sports Management: Students may find work with sports agencies, sports teams, college athletic departments, and many more upon graduation.
- Human Resources: HR workers will be in charge of staffing, training, payroll, and office safety within a business/office environment.
