Online Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Study Advanced Project Management Concepts and Take Your Career to New Heights
A project management graduate certificate online from Grand Canyon University may be ideal for students who are ready to advance their careers and who wish to pursue additional credentials. This certificate can provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to sit for the official Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification test. Even if some positions may not require the official PMP test, this certificate can build your resume, potentially allowing you to take the next steps to become a project manager in a variety of industries.
Not only can this graduate certificate in project management online teach you how to successfully organize and manage resources, but it can also provide you with the specialized knowledge necessary to position yourself for advancement in your career. The coursework for this graduate project management certificate includes concepts related to traditional and agile project management, as well as leadership and finance fundamentals.
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Benefits of an Online Graduate Certificate in Project Management From GCU
GCU specializes in online learning and strives to provide you with quality education that fits your life and schedule. GCU works with you by offering an education with affordable payment options and a plethora of useful resources. Completing the graduate certificate of project management online at GCU can provide you with the flexibility to take control of your schedule, finances, education and future.
Once you’ve completed this project management certificate program, you may be better prepared to take your PMP Certification test, an industry standard certification offered through the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Coursework Topics Covered in the Graduate Certificate in PM Certificate Online Program
GCU’s project management courses are led by knowledgeable faculty who share knowledge and experience. Your instructors use hands-on learning techniques to teach you about project management. Through these learning practices, you are taught how to evaluate, analyze and apply management concepts, as well as lead large-scale projects in a global business setting. All project management certificate courses align with key aspects of Project Management Institute’s, “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) Version Seven.”
Course topics you will focus in your online project management graduate certificate program include:
- IT management and leadership
- Organizational development and change
- Fundamentals of project management
- Agile project management
Career Paths for Project Management Graduate Certificate Holders
As a graduate of GCU’s online project management certificate program, you will be taught to use adaptive approaches to manage employees and companies on a global scale, as well as how to improve resource allocation and budgeting. You may move on to pursue management roles within the marketing and business industries, and may find yourself exploring jobs such as project management specialist positions.
Earn Your Certificate From an Accredited University
GCU is an institutionally accredited university, offering you programs with evaluated, approved curriculums to ensure you are being taught relevant materials that can help you in pursuing your goals. For more information on accreditation, visit our accreditation page.
Graduate Certificate in Project Management FAQs
If you’re interested in earning a graduate PM certificate, read through some frequently asked questions to learn more about completing this certificate and pursuing a career in project management.
The PMP Certification is an industry-recognized certification for project managers that can allow you to work in almost any industry. After completing your online graduate certificate program, you can work toward earning your certification in project management.
The PMP Certification covers a lot of material, including fundamentals of project management, and you are allotted 230 minutes for the exam.2 Of those who take the PMP exam, approximately 61% go on to pass. Studying PMP concepts, exam questions and taking practice tests may help you increase your chances of passing the PMP exam.
Companies today are committed more than ever to investing in its project management professionals, as 61% of survey respondents reported their organizations are providing project management training and 47% have a defined career path for project professionals.3 Furthermore, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, project management specialists have a median annual wage of $94,500 as of May 2021.4
Passing the PMP exam earns you a project management certification. This certification validates your competence to perform in the role of a project manager. The PMP exam consists of 180 questions which you need to answer within 230 minutes.2 The graduate certificate of project management online from GCU is a certificate program which can help prepare you for the PMT certification exam later on.
An online project management graduate certificate from GCU consists of a total of four courses for a total of 16 credits. Each course is approximately eight weeks in length.
The online project management graduate certificate can provide you with the skills, knowledge and expertise to help boost your resume and pursue potential industry pathways, such as:
- Manufacturing and construction
- Information services and publishing
- Finance and insurance
- Management and professional services
Professionals may decide to also pursue an MBA in Project Management from GCU after completing a graduate certificate of project management online.
The PMP certification is a universal project management certification that you can earn which can be applicable to many industries, including construction. For a more construction-specific certification, the Construction Management Association of America offers the Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT) and Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certifications. The CCM certification is a popular option and often referred to as a standard in the construction industry.5
To learn more about enrolling in an online graduate certificate in project management program with GCU, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor.
1 Intelligent, Best Online MBA in Project Management Programs of 2022 in November 2021
2 Knowledgehut, PMP Pass Rate in 2022: Why Most People Fail in PMP Exam in August 2022
3 Project Management Institute, Empowered From the Top in August 2022
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Project Management Specialists as of May 2021, retrieved on July 19, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as project management specialists. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
5 Richer, M. (2021, July 14). 6 Best Certifications for Construction Career Development. For Construction Pros. Retrieved on July 19, 2023.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces leadership and team management skills relevant to leading information technology teams and departments. Students examine various structures of IT organizations and consider strategies and tactics for leading virtual and co-located technology teams, encouraging high employee performance, and managing conflict within dynamic business environments. Ethical issues in leadership and management are also considered.
Course Description
This course is an exploration of the behavioral forces and relationships that influence organizational effectiveness and change. It also emphasizes the study of intervention strategy and application skills related to a foundational understanding of the role of project management in the context of leading change in organizations. The course provides insights into the leadership and management of people, processes, and best practices for successful change.
Course Description
This course covers fundamental aspects of traditional, agile, and hybrid project management. Microsoft Project competencies are developed while using a case study framework to illustrate the Project Management Institute's (PMI) standard of models, methods, and artifacts. Students also develop techniques for successfully planning, organizing, managing, closing, and evaluating projects.
Course Description
This course covers fundamental aspects of predictive, adaptive, and hybrid project management and the 12 principles of project management structured around eight project performance domains as delineated in the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and the Standard for Project Management. In addition, it focuses on how agile software development, DevOps, value streams, and business teams work in an enterprise. This course prepares students for the Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM), Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), and Project Management Professional (PMP) exams through a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) case study project. The course also covers the basic logistics of taking these exams via the DASM, DASSM, and PMP GCU bootcamps. Prerequisite: MGT-640.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.