Project management is a simple but essential concept: it is nothing more or less than the ability to plan projects and see them through to completion. It may sound straightforward, but there is a lot to learn about planning, organizing, motivating, scheduling and more when it comes to this field. This is why an online program for project management has the potential to be such a valuable investment. On this page, we'll review the best online colleges for project management, explain the differences between an online master's in project management and an online MBA in project management, and go over certification and career options.
To help students pinpoint the best programs in the nation, OnlineColleges.com has created this list of the 10 best online colleges for earning a degree in project management. To do this, we used data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and a methodology that considered metrics such as acceptance rate, number of programs and graduation rate. Click here for more details about our methodology.
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45 Ottawa NWWhile the campus for this school is in the rural Wisconsin community of Platteville, its project management program enrolls students from most states as well as people from around the globe. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville offers two online project management certificate programs as well as an online master's program in project management through its College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture.
The university ranked high for accessibility, with an admission rate of 94 percent in 2014. It also came in the second spot in terms of prominence since nearly 3 percent of the degrees awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2014 were in the field of project management.
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1 University PlazaAccreditation:
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600 South Clyde Morris Blvd.Accreditation:
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700 Terrace HeightsAccreditation:
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98 Bridge St.Accreditation:
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2600 Cleveland Ave. NWAccreditation:
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150 W. University Blvd.Accreditation:
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Two Union AvenueAccreditation:
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9200 University Blvd.Accreditation:
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3333 Regis Blvd.D.W. (Bill) Haskins
Director of the Master of Science in Project Management Program
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
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D.W. (Bill) Haskins
Director of the Master of Science in Project Management Program
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Q: What qualities make the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's online project management degree an outstanding program?
A: First and foremost, the program is accredited by the Project Management Institute, and we view that accreditation as the gold standard worldwide for project management education.
Aside from that, UW-Platteville has a long history and a lot of experience in graduate education in the online environment, particularly project management education. The program dates back to the late '90s, and we've graduated probably 700 students in that period.
The [current] student body ranges in age from 22 to 62 in this program, and that makes for a very interesting dynamic between younger and older students. At any given time, I have students in 40 out of 50 states and probably half a dozen foreign countries. That brings a range of perspectives and life and professional experience into the classroom like no other project management program of which I am aware.
Q: What support does the University of Wisconsin-Platteville offer their online student body?
A: In terms of student services, we have a separate department called the distance learning center (DLC), and they have created a one-stop shop for our learners who study at a distance. They have won a number of awards and they handle nearly every non-academic aspect of a student's experience.
That begins with helping a student navigate the admissions process and then after that providing a regular structure of communication and deadline reminders. The DLC is a student's first stop for financial aid and help with veteran's benefits. The DLC provides a staff of academic advising specialists who know and understand the field the student is in and provide regular and periodic academic advising during the student's entire time in the program.
Beyond that, the DLC offers a really competent help desk for technical issues. We also employ a group of instructional designers, and they ensure our courses work well in the online environment.
Q: How does the online project management program differ from the on-campus program?
A: This is a really interesting question because we don't offer this degree on-campus, and there's a key reason why we don't.
This campus is located in a rural community away from any large metro area. It's difficult to attract all the talent you need to run a project management program on-campus. So the vast majority of my instructional cohort are not based here. We have instructors in Kentucky, Florida, New England, California and even one in Riyadh. Their physical location is immaterial to whether we can use them in the program, and we take full advantage of that.
Project management degrees are available at several different levels and in several variations. While some degrees focus exclusively on project management, others treat it as a concentration or specialization within another field, most commonly business administration.
Here's a closer look at the most common project management degrees available online
Often completed in two years and available through technical schools or community colleges, an online associate degree in project managements provides an introduction to the field. At some institutions, these degrees may be focused on a specific type of project management such as construction management. After graduation, students may be able to work in an entry-level position or transfer their credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
The online bachelor's degree in project management is more commonly found at colleges and universities than the associate degree. These programs can traditionally be completed in four years although some may be available in an accelerated format to allow students to graduate earlier. Some schools offer a Bachelor of Science in project management while others have a bachelor of business administration in project management. The difference may largely lie in the number of general business classes required for graduation.
Although the curriculum may vary by institution, these programs typically include courses on leadership, project procurement and risk management among other topics. Some degrees may offer specializations in healthcare, construction or other industries. Upon graduation, students should typically have the necessary skills to work as project management professionals.
Those who already have a bachelor's degree in project management and want to advance their skills may want to consider enrolling in an online master's degree program. A graduate degree may open doors to promotions or managerial positions. A master's degree in project management is also an option for those with an undergraduate degree in another field who want to transition into this line of work.
As with undergraduate degrees, master's degrees can often be customized for a student's career goals. Tracks of study may include enterprise architecture, supply chain management or an independent topic of interest. A master's degree usually takes two years to complete if someone is studying full-time. However, many institutions let part-time students stretch out coursework. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, for example, gives its students seven years to earn their degree.
Another graduate degree some students may choose to pursue is an online MBA in project management. Both an MBA and a Master of Science in project management provide a comprehensive education in the field, but the focus may be different. An MBA may include more general business and leadership courses and is intended to help graduates learn how to develop high-level strategy decisions. Meanwhile, a Master of Science in project management may concentrate more on the steps needed to execute that strategy.
An MBA in project management normally could take anywhere from one to two years to complete, depending on the program. Some schools have part-time MBA programs which can go longer. Graduates may go on to work as executives in firms large and small or use their newly acquired skills to become an entrepreneur.
In addition to the ten schools listed above, several other colleges and universities have notable master's in project management programs. Here's a quick look at what they have to offer:
Professionals who want to demonstrate their mastery of project management may want to earn a voluntary certification, and the PMP designation is widely considered the most important credential in the field.
Standing for Project Management Professional, the PMP certification is conferred by the Project Management Institute. The group reports those with a PMP designation earn, on average, 17 percent more than non-certified project managers. Beyond having higher incomes, certified managers may also have access to better jobs. For example, a PwC survey discovered 80 percent of high-level projects undertaken by surveyed companies are led by certified managers.
However, not everyone can be PMP certified. The credential is only available to those who meet one of the following sets of criteria.
Or
Qualified individuals must then sit for a 200 question exam which costs $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members. Once certified, professionals must complete 60 professional development units every three years to maintain their PMP status.
While PMP certification may be the gold standard in the industry, it's not the only credential available to project managers. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is also offered by the PMI and available to those who have completed 23 hours of project management education. The UK-based APGM International also offers a certificate in program and project management which grants PPM certification. Additional designations may also be available from various other industry groups.
Students interested in online degrees in project management are undoubtedly also curious about their employment prospects after graduation. While project managers can be found in virtually every business sector and industry, here's a closer look at three popular specializations for workers in the field.