Project Management (M.S.)

Stuart faculty developed the M.S. in Project Management curriculum in collaboration with the program’s advisory council, who are practitioners, Project Management Institute affiliates, and major employers. The program’s curriculum focuses on mastering the ideal skill set outlined by the PMI, which includes high-level skills in technical project management, leadership, and strategic and business management. Elective courses allow you to customize your degree to match your interests and career goals.

This program requires successful completion of at least 33 credit hours (11 courses).

• Full-time students are expected to enroll for at least three courses per semester and can complete their degree in two years or less.
• Part-time students can enroll for as few as one course per semester.
• The program schedule has options for students to accelerate their studies. For example, full-time students may be eligible to graduate in 12-16 months by beginning their studies in the summer of year one and completing their program in the summer of year two.

Core Courses

Required; 24 credit hours (eight courses; three credits each)

PM 501—Foundations of Project Management

PM 502—Project Scope and Quality Management 
This seminar focuses on the identification, elaboration, planning and management of project scope, including selected processes from the Project Integration Management and Project Scope Management Knowledge Areas. The class addresses requirements identification and analysis, scope identification and planning, the scope baseline, scope management and change control, integration of scope, schedule and cost, scope verification and sign-off by the customer. During the course “best practices” will be introduced, and put into context through various exercises and scenarios and case studies. 
 
The Project Quality Management section of the course will introduce students to the process and theory of quality management. Process and theory of total quality management with primary emphasis on the total quality approach, ethics and corporate responsibility, strategic alliances, quality culture, employee empowerment, leadership and change, team building, effective communication, and tools and techniques. Students understand how continual improvement of people, processes, products/services, and environments can enhance the process and outcomes of project management. Students have the opportunity to develop practical total quality management skills as they apply theory and practice to real-world cases.

PM 503—Project Scheduling and Cost Planning

PM 504—Project Risk Management
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization’s capital and earnings. These threats, or risks, could stem from a wide variety of sources, including financial uncertainty, legal liabilities, strategic management errors, accidents and natural disasters. If an unforeseen event catches your organization unaware, the impact could be minor, such as a small impact on your overhead costs. In a worst-case scenario, though, it could be catastrophic and have serious ramifications, such as a significant financial burden or even the closure of your business. To reduce risk, an organization needs to apply resources to minimize, monitor and control the impact of negative events while maximizing positive events. A consistent, systemic and integrated approach to risk management can help determine how best to identify, manage and mitigate significant risks. 

PM 505—Financial Management and Procurement
This course covers all aspects of financing projects and setting up a procurement system. Topics include project finance, project agreements, project finance markets, financial models, supply chain issues and procurement systems. Learn how to manage projects efficiently and effectively.

PM 506—Agile Project Management
Agile project management is an iterative approach to managing projects and teams that focuses on incremental changes to a project throughout its life cycle. Rather than a pre-planned course of action, Agile project management outlines adaptable tasks that are flexible based on the needs of the project and evolving circumstances. It is a popular methodology for tracking various roles, responsibilities, deadlines and other factors of a project. When used properly, Agile can save organizations a great deal of time, frustration and money.

PM 507—Project Management Capstone
This course teaches students various leadership concepts such as leadership behaviors and styles, and several critical project leadership skills like communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, decision making, problem solving, coaching and mentoring. The course covers both the theory and practice of leadership as it applies to project management.

BUS 510—Strategic Management

Elective Courses

Choose any three courses (three credits each)

ITMM 571—Project Management for Information Technology Management
ITMM 574—Information Technology Management Frameworks
ITMM 587—Product Management
ITMM 537—Vendor Management and Service Level Agreements
ITMS 578—Cyber Security Management
MAX 502—Analytics for Decision Making
MAX 507—Visual Analytics - Data Analytics and Visualization
MBA 532—Artificial Intelligence
MBA 523—Negotiations and Strategic Decision Making
MBA 511—Marketing Strategy

• Completed online application
• Official transcript submission with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• No GMAT or GRE scores required
• Experience is desirable, but not essential
• English proficiency exam, if required