Project Management Certificate Online Graduate PMP Training Courses

Prepare for PMP Certification

Career Outlook

As long as there are projects to be done, there will be a need for people to manage them.

An analysis conducted by the Project Management Institute projects that between 2017 and 2027, the United States could create more than 200,000 positions in project management-oriented industries.²

In the U.S., the biggest growth could come from the healthcare sector – already one of the largest employers in the country.² More job openings may also be seen in:

• Manufacturing and construction
• Information services and publishing
• Finance and insurance
• Management and professional services
• Utilities
• Oil and gas

"You see credentialed project managers working in a range of fields, from aerospace to construction, healthcare to information technology, finance to communications," said Anthony Allen, an adjunct instructor at SNHU.

With such a need for project managers, the PMI analysis reported that the GDP could be at risk because of a talent shortage – which could result in a loss of $208 billion in the U.S. due to the productivity of PMs.

“There is a lot of opportunity out there for people with the right credentials,” said Dianne Swanciger, an adjunct instructor at SNHU.

Proven analytical and problem-solving skills are in particular demand in this field.

"Learning and mastering project management in that way takes a lot of trial and error, which is expensive," Allen said. "A company or organization's stakeholders and shareholders don't want to hear that you're experimenting; they want results. A project management certification or concentration on your resume signals that you have the training and education to get results, and that puts you a notch above the competition."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pay for project management and business operations specialists is much higher than the average for all occupations: In May 2019, the median annual wage was $73,570.¹

Note: SNHU is a R.E.P. of the PMI, and graduates of this program meet the educational requirement needed to take the PMP exam. Project managers are increasingly turning to R.E.P.s for certification training and maintenance. PMI is the world's largest project management member association, representing more than 600,000 practitioners in more than 185 countries. Students must take the QSO 645: Project Management for PMP Certification course in order to satisfy the educational requirement needed to take the PMP exam.

Courses & Curriculum

The project management graduate program teaches you the concepts, strategies and tools that today's project managers need to be successful.

The program is taught by practicing business professionals immersed in the field each day. They understand what's working, what's not, and what trends and technology on the horizon are likely to affect project managers.

But there will always be two factors important to getting work done.

"Cost and time are the two most valuable resources with any project," said Anthony Allen, an adjunct instructor at SNHU. "Applying the right project management methodology can help you manage those resources effectively."

In your studies at SNHU, you'll take 3 required courses that can help you develop the skills necessary to manage cost and time:

• Project Management
• Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making
• Seminar in Project Management

For your last 2 courses, you'll have the option to choose from a variety of topics.

One of them – Project Management for PMP^® Certification – is what you'll want to take if your end goal is meeting the 35-hour educational requirement for the Project Management Professional certification.

In the course, you'll learn the 5 process groups and 10 knowledge areas that guide project management using "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge," otherwise known as the PMBOK Guide. You'll use process inputs and outputs, as well as tools and techniques, to effectively plan and manage projects.

If you're seeking hands-on experience, another option you may want to seek out is an internship in operations or project management. Not only could you have a project management certificate on your resume by the end of the program, but you also could have the experience to add to it as well – giving you an edge in the field.

While you'll learn plenty of hard skills in your coursework, you'll also find yourself developing your soft skills. Dianne Swanciger, an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, listed crucial traits like:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Organization
• Self-motivation

Didn't take business undergraduate courses? You may need to take a foundation class – Mathematics and Statistics for Business – before beginning your project management certificate. The content in the course pertains to many business classes, and your admission counselor or academic advisor may request that you take this class. Find out if this class applies to you by contacting our team at SNHU.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs:
$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

The PMI Registered Education Provider logo, PMI, and PMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.