Best Online Master’s in Project Management

Many companies use a project–based approach to setting and accomplishing organizational goals and achieving growth. To meet these goals, companies often employ a project manager to lead projects and project teams. While project teams use a variety of specialists, each with unique and significant tasks, project managers possess a broader background that incorporates knowledge from many of these specialized fields. The best project managers can effectively organize, plan, lead, and execute a project, directing the team through the process and ensuring the project meets the deadline and satisfies the investors.

While a project manager leads projects as a whole, a scrum master specifically leads the project team, ensuring the team stays on task, on schedule, on budget, and productively works toward its goal. While project managers lead a project team, their job includes other, larger responsibilities as well, such as awareness of ethical and legal concerns, mediation between the company and the client, presentation of the project to the company, and resource management.

Part of a project manager’s job may involve hiring a scrum master to manage the team on a day–to–day basis while the project manager tends to other tasks. The scrum master maintains accountability for the team, but not accountability of the overall project. This falls to the responsibility of the project manager.

A master in project management degree prepares students to pursue careers as leaders in a variety of fields, specifically in regards to organizing, directing, and executing projects. The best programs for this degree incorporate a healthy blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. They convey to students a strong foundation in all aspects and factors relevant to project management, including planning and execution, personnel management, and negotiation and mediation.

Subjects students in an MBA in project management online degree program might pursue include:

Individuals who earn a master’s in project management online work in various fields and positions. In every industry, projects need managing. If you love film or photography, pursue a position as a project manager for a creative agency. If you possess an interest in architecture and construction, work as a project manager on a new development site.

Earning a master’s degree can open doors for higher–level management positions. For example, individuals with just a bachelor’s degree typically only qualify for project coordinator positions rather than project manager positions. Bachelor’s degrees provide foundational knowledge about a industry, but earning a master’s in project management online allows you to learn the ins and outs of overseeing projects from the comfort of your home.

If you’re still not convinced that earning a master’s degree is right for you, look at how much more you can make with an MBA in project management compared to a bachelor’s degree.

Online MBA project management programs differ from traditional programs, but many students find the format convenient. Individuals remotely complete their degrees at their own pace, a flexible format ideal for busy professionals and working parents. In an online program, students complete homework, write on discussion boards, and sometimes watch video lectures. Most online programs allow students to take unsupervised timed tests.

Self–motivated students often find success with asynchronous learning. In this format, students move at their own pace and communicate with other students and professors via online discussion boards and email. However, students who lag behind in self–discipline might find more success with synchronous learning. This learning format requires students to attend online lectures and chats at specific times and can provide structure, immediate feedback, and stricter deadlines. Some students find this format too restrictive, while others love the dependable routine.

When it comes to choosing a master’s in online project management program, find a school that best fits your needs. Find an accredited program that offers coursework which aligns with your future career. Keep in mind that in–state programs generally cost less than out–of–state programs, though some online programs will charge in–state rates for all students.

As you research online project management programs, pay attention to accreditation. Accredited schools receive regular assessments from private agencies that the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education deem reliable. Schools should list whether they possess regional or national accreditation. If you don’t see the accreditation listed online, a school might not hold accreditation. For regional accreditation, an accrediting agency reviews schools in a certain U.S. region. Schools with national accreditation receive their assessment from agencies certified to accredit schools anywhere in America.

You should also ensure your desired school boasts programmatic accreditation for project management. The Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs is the field’s leading accrediting agency.

On average, full–time students complete an online master’s in project management program in just two years. Part–time students complete the degree in about four years. If you want to complete your degree faster, look for an accelerated program. These programs typically allow students to take more credits per semester. Course length remains typically shorter but faster to cover all the necessary material.

With rising tuition costs, completing your degree in a timely manner can save you money. In order to graduate on time, full–time students must take around 30 credits per year. Part–time students must take 15 credits per year. Choose a pace that works with your lifestyle.

Like certification in any field, Project Management Certification provides professionals with a stamp of quality that opens up career opportunities and higher potential salaries. With the PMP certification from the PMI, students enjoy a better chance at career success in project management. Maintenance of PMP certification requires ongoing learning and achievement, and certified professionals must earn 60 professional development units every three years.

Some master of project management degree programs offer curricula certified by the PMI or designed to PMP standards. These programs also help students meet the certification’s basic requirements. The requirements include:

In order to get PMP certification, students must meet the prerequisite criteria and apply to take the certification exam through the PMI.

A master certificate in project management takes no more than a year to complete, and though not as lengthy or comprehensive as a full–blown master’s degree, a master certificate in project management provides a general overview of the subject. Whether earned after a student has returned to school, or as a complementary addition to a full master’s degree in a relevant field, a certificate provides students some extra qualification to enter or advance in project management, and presents a step toward a master’s degree.

The best project managers commit to lifelong learning. By joining professional organizations and surrounding yourself with other successful project managers, you stay inspired and on top of the latest project management trends. Most professional organizations offer networking opportunities, training webinars, exclusive job boards, and other membership perks.