Why Project Management?
The Master of Science in Project Management is designed to provide you with the practical skills and theoretical concepts you need to lead complex projects.
Companies succeed or fail based on their ability to bring quality products and services to market in a timely manner. Without skilled project managers in place, companies are challenged to deliver projects on time, on budget, and according to specifications. From inception to completion, project managers are responsible for every step in the process: project definition, cost and risk estimation, schedule planning and monitoring, budget management, negotiation and conflict resolution, project leadership, and project presentation and evaluation. Rapid technological and digital transformation, with never-ending disruption, require project managers to be true innovators within their organizations.
Featuring real-world case studies, this project management degree presents techniques and tools for managing long- and short-term projects, successfully and cost-effectively. Augmenting the core project management courses are concentrations that provide you with content-specific expertise—enabling you to deepen your knowledge in your field of interest.
Mission Statement
The mission of The Master of Science in Project Management in the College of Professional Studies is to prepare learners as project management practitioners capable of applying project management processes and the technical, professional, and strategic expertise necessary for managing projects successfully. With emphasis on experiential learning, the program provides dynamic opportunities for learners with varying degrees of work experience to practice their knowledge both globally and collaboratively while implementing traditional and innovative project management concepts to real-life and complex projects.
More Details
Unique Features
- Option to engage in experiential learning and co-op education program
- Program curriculum can be tailored to student's past professional experience with project management
- Concentrations allow students to focus their study on content specific knowledge
- Boston location is a hub for healthcare, education, finance, business, biotechnology, and the life sciences
- This is a STEM-designated graduate degree
Program Objectives
- Specialized Knowledge - Effectively lead and manage sometimes interrelated, complex projects in a mature manner while avoiding common project management pitfalls.
- Broad, Integrative Knowledge - Manage project scope, risk, quality, and performance metrics while effectively communicating with all project stakeholders.
- Civic Learning - Understand the need for ethics and social responsibility in the practice of project management as outlined in the PMI Code of Ethics.
- Intellectual Skills - Develop the critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills necessary to lead projects in a complex and dynamic project environment.
Accreditation Description
In October of 2016, the Master of Science in Project Management accreditation was re-affirmed for the maximum five-year accreditation cycle (originally accredited in 2009) by the Project Management Institute's Global Accreditation Center (GAC), the world's leading association for project management professionals. Accreditation is achieved by meeting the GAC’s rigorous standards, which include an assessment of program objectives and outcomes, a review of onsite and online resources, evaluations of faculty and students, and proof of continuous improvements in the area of project management.
Enrollment Data
| Enrollment Data | |||||
| Annual Enrollments | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| MS in Project Management | 693 | 749 | 962 | 1059 | 1188 |
| MS in Leadership. Project Management Concentration | 68 | 104 | 134 | 124 | 90 |
| Degrees Conferred | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| MS in Project Management | 248 | 279 | 270 | 398 | 386 |
| MS in Leadership. Project Management Concentration | 27 | 31 | 51 | 46 | 43 |
Career Outlook
According to PMI, through the decade ending in 2020, 15.7 million new project management roles will be created. The profession is expected to grow by US $6.61 trillion. Now is the time for professionals and job-seekers to build project management skills, as demand for these skills outstrips supply.
In the United States, this growth will mean:
- Rising salaries
- Growth in the project-intensive sectors of manufacturing, business services, finance and insurance, oil and gas, information services, construction and utilities
In 10 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom) with established or quickly developing project-intensive sectors, project management roles are expected to grow by 13.4 million through 2020.
What you'll study
General Requirements
45–48 total quarter hours required.
Note: Foundations of Project Management (PJM 5900) must be completed before taking Project Management Practices (PJM 6000) for students who do not have at least three years of professional experience directing or leading project tasks. This course is highly recommended for students who do not have a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Project software. Students with project management experience are not required to take Foundations of Project Management (PJM 5900):
The following course should be taken last:
Project Management Required Electives
Complete two of the following. Note: Students who take PJM 5900 are required to take only one course in this section:
Electives
Note: Foundations of Professional Communication (CMN 6005) is recommended for students seeking to strengthen communications skills.
Complete two of the following:
Concentrations
Students in this concentration are only required to complete one project management required elective.
Required Courses
Elective
Complete one of the following:
This concentration is NOT offered on ground.
Required Courses
Elective
Complete one of the following:
Required Courses
Elective
Complete one of the following:
Required Courses
Elective
Complete one of the following:
Required Course
Electives
Complete four of the following:
Students in this concentration are only required to complete one project management required elective.
This concentration requires a minimum of 3 years of full-time project management work experience. You must be able to articulate your role leading a team and creating key project life cycle deliverables from project initiation through closeout.