Project management is a rapidly growing and quickly evolving industry. As careers in project management become more competitive, it’s important to set yourself up for long-term success with the right educational background, on-the-job experience, and relevant certifications.
What is Project Management?
Project managers play a critical role in ensuring that businesses stay profitable by keeping projects on time and on budget. A “project” is essentially a business endeavor that has a start and a finish and is designed to bring about a specific outcome. This endeavor could be the launch of a new website, the construction of a new elementary school, or a business opening their first store in a new country. While the projects themselves may be different, a project manager relies on a key set of skills and considerations to keep the projects on track. Successful project managers are extremely organized, capable of staying cool under pressure, communicating clearly with a variety of people in stressful situations, and providing motivation when the going gets tough. Additionally, project managers are able to see both the big picture as well as the smallest of details, keeping an eye on both and ensuring each are well-tended throughout the duration of the project.
Project Management Degree vs. Project Management Certification
Project Management Degree
If you’re new to the project management field, a BA in Project Management can provide a foundation from which to build a career. In an undergraduate program in project management, you can expect to learn critical skills related to leadership, team development, risk analysis, project cost management, schedule and task organization, effective communication, and quality control.
Is a Degree in Project Management Worth it?
While it can depend on your specific personal and career goals, dedicating your time and energy to a specific field such as project management can be a rewarding journey. Becoming a subject matter expert in a specific area can often times be a competitive advantage when seeking out careers. Even if you decide to pursue a different path, you will learn skills that can be applicable to a variety of different careers and industries.
PMP Certification
The Project Management Professional (PMP) is an internationally recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). To apply, you’ll need either a secondary or four-year college degree, plus a varying number of education and work hours. The PMP certification validates your subject-matter expertise, and is often preferred by employers compared to other certifications. By planning to achieve a project management degree and practical hours early in your career, you can see how applying for the PMP certification later on may become an easier task.
Is a PMP Certification Worth it?
Earning your PMP certification can be truly worth it if you are willing to spend the money and time. While there are some requirements and fees associated with the certification, if you pass, it can lead to some attractive benefits that can help your PM career. Those who complete their PMP certification learn universally recognized knowledge.
Global Campus Online Project Management Degree
The faculty in the Forbes School of Business and Technology®, hold real-world experience, allowing them to impart much of his practical knowledge into the degree curriculum. Classes related to the project management degree are also often taught by professors who are also project managers. Getting access to the real, working backgrounds and perspectives of expert instructors helps students learn about project management as it exists in the field today, not simply from a textbook.
Interested in a career in project management? The online degree in project management is a great way to get started in this exciting field.
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For more information on careers in this occupational field, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Project Management at the University of Arizona Global Campus by itself does not qualify a student to sit for any certification examinations offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) including: the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP), or the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP). Graduates of this program may meet some of the requirements to sit for PMI certification exams, but it is the responsibility of each student or graduate to research the requirements for each. In most instances, the requirements to sit for a PMI certification exam include a secondary diploma or a four year degree, and a certain number of documented hours of project management experience. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is an independent entity not affiliated with the University of Arizona Global Campus. Successful completion of this degree does not fully qualify a student for any PMI certification. Students or graduates that are interested in pursuing PMI certifications are strongly encouraged to visit their website (www.pmi.org) for additional information.