Program Description
According to the Project Management Institute (PMI) 2015 Global Job Report, project management will continue a decade-long trajectory of growth. The report cites that from 2010 to 2020, as the profession grows by over $6.6 trillion, the global economy will see 15.7 million new project management roles created in seven project-intensive industries: manufacturing, business services, finance & insurance, oil & gas, information services, construction, and utilities. As the need for project management skills and knowledge increase, qualified applicants must be ready to enter the workforce in this area.
The concentration in Project Management is designed to help students prepare for responsibilities related to planning, executing and supporting a wide-range of projects in organizations. This concentration incorporates real world principles, tools and techniques while emphasizing practical, hands-on projects. The coursework is structured for students to explore critical thinking, effective communication, data-driven decision making, project scope analysis, resource management, continuous process improvement, finance, and statistics. Students will also learn how to effectively build and manage a team, minimize project costs, and incorporate the latest research insights into the planning and management process.
Learning Objectives
- Explore practices and processes required to become a successful project manager
- Apply a range of project management tools to ensure projects are completed on time, on budget, and within scope
- Develop analytical frameworks, strategic planning skills, and managerial insight to be an effective project leader
- Demonstrate effective communication and leadership skills within various roles of an interdisciplinary project team
Careers
Project management is strongly in-demand and one the fastest growing professional disciplines. Even the smallest projects can benefit from project management processes such as planning, time and cost management, scope management, human resource management and communications management. The Project Management concentration allows graduates to become a project lead, project coordinator, program manager or business analyst in virtually any industry. According to the 7th edition of PMI’s Project Management Salary Survey, which polled over 30,000 project managers from 29 different countries, the median salary for a Project Management Practitioner is $92,000 worldwide. Salary.com shows the median annual Project Manager salary in the United States as $68,025 with a range usually between $59,513-$79,341, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Project Management students can pursue the following positions:
- Project Manager
- Project Leader
- Project Planner
- Team Leader
- Program Manager
- Project Management Analyst
- Manager
