Online Master of Science in Project Management

At a Glance

Completion Time

12–20

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$31,815-$37,071

Part-time*

*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

Master the Tools of Modern Project Management

As the logistical complexity and technical requirements of today’s projects become more sophisticated, the demand for skilled project managers cannot be underestimated. In fact, a recent Project Management Institute study (Make Reality Global Survey 2020–2021) cited project management as one of the top-five areas business leaders would like to prioritize in 2021. Yet, a talent shortage persists. According to the PMI 2021 Talent Gap Report, the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030, filling about 2.3 million job openings per year. To counteract this shortage, we need to ensure that the project management workforce has the skills necessary to navigate a rapidly evolving profession.

The program includes an optional concentration in:

Program & Project Portfolio Management

The MS in Project Management is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.

Curriculum

Students who are not choosing the concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management must complete the degree core courses, four specialization courses, and two electives.

Degree Core Courses

MET AD 642 Project Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

The course explores modern project management by providing an enterprise- level, experiential view of the discipline focused on connecting projects to the organization's mission, vision, and values. The theme of the course is applying key project management tools and techniques, through case-based group work, which will help students identify, analyze, and develop practical proposals to real-world issues. Groups select, plan, report, and then present on their project's scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and communications elements using tools such as the WBS, network diagram, PERT estimate, Gantt chart (including the use of MS Project), risk register, and heat map. Students also gain familiarity with important new concepts in project management: Agile frameworks, actionable sustainability thinking, and Benefits Realization Management, all of which will be important for their success not only in other graduate courses, but as they lead projects for their organizations so as to provide lasting, triple-bottom-line value. The course is aligned with the latest PMBOK' Guide from the Project Management Institute.

MET AD 643 Project Communications and Leadership

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course examines the increasing importance of leadership and communications in projects. Since project outcomes and the delivery of value are accomplished through teams of people, the course aims to improve the capability of a project manager to become a project leader and to excel at motivating and inspiring their teams. Students begin by gaining a better understanding of their own social, leadership, and communications styles. Self-awareness is key to the course. We investigate motivation, conflict management, negotiation skills, and the Agile principles of stewardship and servant leadership. Grounded in the use of tools, the course will provide students with templates to enhance team collaboration and communication. The course also addresses more contemporary issues in PM, including resolving ambiguity and complexity, the use of improvised working styles, sustainable PM, and issues around power and politics within the project.

MET AD 715 Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making

4 credits. Fall and Spring

The purpose of this course is to help improve business problem solving and managerial decision-making through the use of quantitative and qualitative decision-making tools and techniques. This course will provide the student with an overview of how decisions are made to solve management problems in the business environment. It introduces the fundamental concepts and methodologies of the decision-making process, problem-solving, decision analysis, data collection, probability distribution, evaluation, and prediction methods. Students will learn how to apply different quantitative and qualitative analytical tools commonly used in business to provide a depth of understanding and support to various decision-making activities within each subject area of management. Through the use of case studies of decisions made by managers in various production and service industries and a business simulation package specifically prepared for this course, the scope and breadth of decision-making in business will be described.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Dickson	Independent	M	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	CDS 262

Section A3, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ritt	Independent	M	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	CDS 264

Section A4, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Dickson	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PHO 201

Section A5, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zlatev	Independent	W	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	EPC 206

Section A7, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Parzen	Independent	R	12:30:00 PM–03:15:00 PM	FLR 123

Section A8, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Valath Bhuan Das	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CGS 527

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zlatev	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 807 Principles and Best Practices in Project, Program, and Portfolio Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course is one of the last courses that a student in the master's degree project management program is required to take. Students are expected to carry out independent research on a relevant topic in the area of project management under the supervision of the instructor. This course focuses on emerging trends and reviews unique methodologies and approaches to project management. Students are exposed to research methods and practice that contributes to original research in the emerging project management areas. Approval of the instructor is required.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Maltzman	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MUG 205

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Abramo	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Specialization Courses

With the advice of the department coordinator, students who are not choosing the concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management must select four courses from the following list. Other graduate-level courses may be selected upon approval of the department coordinator.

MET AD 571 Business Analytics Foundations

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: METAD100 Pre-Analytics Laboratory. This course presents fundamental knowledge and skills for applying business analytics to managerial decision-making in corporate environments. Topics include descriptive analytics (techniques for categorizing, characterizing, consolidating, and classifying data for conversion into useful information for the purposes of understanding and analyzing business performance), predictive analytics (techniques for detection of hidden patterns in large quantities of data to segment and group data into coherent sets in order to predict behavior and trends), prescriptive analytics (techniques for identification of best alternatives for maximizing or minimizing business objectives). Students will learn how to use data effectively to drive rapid, precise, and profitable analytics-based decisions. The framework of using interlinked data inputs, analytics models, and decision-support tools will be applied within a proprietary business analytics shell and demonstrated with examples from different functional areas of the enterprise. R, SQL, and Power BI software are used in this course.

Section A2, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Padalkar	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 324

Section A5, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Parzen	Independent	W	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	CDS 262

Section A6, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ritt	Independent	W	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	MET 101

Section A7, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Page	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B53

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Rabinovich	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 632 Financial Concepts

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Critical Thinking
Quantitative Reasoning II

Introduction to the concepts, methods and problems of accounting and financial analysis. Includes accounting principles, measurement and disclosure issues, financial statement analysis, time value of money, cash flow projection and analysis, capital budgeting and project evaluation, bond and equity valuation, cost of capital and capital structure. 4 cr. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
McGue	Independent	M	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	MET 101

Section A2, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
McGue	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MET 122

Section A3, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Vizek	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MET 122

Section A4, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Vizek	Independent	F	11:15:00 AM–02:00:00 PM	SHA 206

Section A5, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Mendlinger	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B53

Section A6, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Vizek	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 315

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ge	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 644 Project Risk and Cost Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: PM 100. In this course, you will be introduced to macro and micro approaches to project cost estimation. Case studies of both pre-project and in-process estimating examine some of the more common perils of human irrationality associated with project estimation to help develop more sensible, achievable project outcomes. You will learn how to manage both project cost and schedule objectives using the Earned Value and Earned Schedule Measurement Systems. You will also study risk management through an examination of both individual and overall project risk and apply your learnings using advanced risk management software in an actual case study. Project quality management, procurement/contract management, and project ethics and professional conduct will be explored using case study scenarios.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Osagiede	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 226

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Sawhney	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 646 Portfolio and Program Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: PM 100 and PM200. The course focuses on the relationship among portfolios, programs, and projects, and the important strategic objectives of each endeavor. The course is designed to assist students in developing a program management framework, policy, and organizational structure. Students will develop skills and techniques for chartering constituent projects, directing and managing program execution, and managing the program team and stakeholders. The global legal, economic, cultural, and political environments in which projects operate will be contrasted, and mechanisms for resolving conflicts will be addressed.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Lynde	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B31

MET AD 647 Project Governance and Contract Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: MET AD 642. - Ideal for project and program managers, analysts, consultants, educators, and managers in government, nonprofit, and private institutions, this course offers a comprehensive survey of the methods of use in monitoring, evaluating, and overseeing projects and programs. You’ll learn to identify and understand enterprise-wide project interdependencies and gain experience with the tools that determine what pace best complements appropriate planning, scheduling, executing, monitoring, and controlling of the projects within a program in the future. You’ll develop the ability to assess program results and identify ways to improve program performance, as well as learn to assess factors linking projects under one program and provide guidance on the best allotment of resources between them. Ultimately, students will leave this course with the understanding necessary to shape accountable and responsible organizations with well-defined roles and that are based on transparency, resource allocation and decision-making, and enterprise project management.

MET AD 649 Agile Project Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: MET PM 100. In this course, you will gain an understanding of how new Agile principles and practices are changing the landscape of project management and be provided a fresh insight into how to successfully blend Agile and traditional project management principles and practices in the right proportions to fit any business and project situation. You’ll also gain a deep understanding of Agile project management principles and practices in order to see them as complementary rather than competitive to traditional project management. Topics include: Agile fundamentals, principles, and practices; roots of Agile in TQM and Lean Manufacturing; adapting an Agile approach to fit a business environment; planning and managing an enterprise-level Agile transformation; and scaling Agile to an enterprise level using Agile frameworks and Agile project management tools.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zariwala	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B31

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Kanabar	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 680 Global Supply Chains

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course covers the quantitative analysis tools to support operations management for a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse. The tools necessary to assure that the products/services are delivered/provided in the quality and timely manner include demand forecasting, inventory and capacity buffer optimization, delayed differentiation, statistical risk pooling, and stochastic inventory optimization. These tools are applied to decisions such as offshoring, multi-country outsourcing, push-pull, reverse supply chains, and risk mitigation. Particular attention is given to sustainability, information technology and digitalization, and creating resiliency.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Mayer	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 218

Section A2, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Gunes Corlu	Independent	R	12:30:00 PM–03:15:00 PM	MET 122

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Mayer	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET AD 782 Project Value Strategies

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Undergraduate Prerequisites: METAD 642 - Prereq AD 642. This course will introduce students to Project Value - a unique perspective on classical Project Management that is focused on assuring that a project delivers value that is aligned with the mission, vision, and values of an organization. This increasingly popular framework with which to view projects and project management is derived from current research, standards, and thought leadership from PMI and other international bodies. Students will learn how to create value in projects even in today's disruptive, turbulent environment. They will learn how to apply the conceptual framework of benefits realization management (BRM) and to use tools to manage a portfolio of programs and projects strategically with an aim of sustainable project value. Value in Agile projects will be discussed. The element of the Triple Bottom Line and a focus on sustainability is part of the subject matter. Case studies and real life experiences, illustrated with guest lectures, will be intertwined with current research in project management.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Athaide	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS B36

Elective Courses

View curricula for optional concentration:

Program & Project Portfolio Management

Dates & Deadlines

View BU MET’s academic calendar for online programs, including important dates and deadlines.

Application Requirements

Learn about application requirements for BU MET graduate degree and certificate programs.

How You Benefit from a
Boston University Education

A BU credential can help lay the foundation for career advancement and personal success.

Enjoy an average 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio in courses that are 100% online, while tackling complex issues alongside peers with solid academic and practical experience.
BU MET’s MS in Project Management is accredited by the Project Management Institute® (PMI) Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).
Optional, complimentary Project Management Professional (PMP®) and PMI-ACP® exam preparation courses are ideal for those who seek to pursue PMP® certification. Those who already hold PMI® certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course. The MSPM curriculum also prepares you for success on the exams leading to the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) designation. By earning a Project Management master’s from BU MET, you can waive one of the three years of experience required for PMI’s certification programs.
Focus on practical, hands-on education, combining graduate-level theory with the core competencies and skills that underlie the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification—education you can apply on the job.
Get free access to hands-on, noncredit preparatory laboratories offered through the Department of Administrative Sciences, including Project Management Essentials (PM 100) and Introduction to Project, Program, and Portfolio Management (PM 200).
Work closely with highly qualified faculty who draw from active research and substantial professional achievements in areas such as mega-projects, earned-value analysis, improvisation, risk management, project governance, cost estimation, enterprise architecture, IT projects, and agile project management.
Learn from the best—since 2014, BU MET’s part-time master’s programs in business and management have been ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

All graduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.

Rankings & Accreditations

U.S. News & World Report - Best Online Programs - Grad Business 2025

#10 Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (Excluding MBA)

MET’s online master’s degrees in management are ranked #10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.

The GAC Accredited Program seal is a mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management

BU MET’s MS in Project Management and MS in Computer Information Systems concentration in IT Project & Product Management are accredited by the PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).

Accredited member of AACSB International

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (through BU’s Questrom School of Business)

Graduate with Project Management Expertise

Metropolitan College’s Project Management Master’s degree will equip you to:

Construct a project plan and demonstrate knowledge of key subsidiary plans such as scope, schedule, cost, quality, communications, resources, and procurement; and demonstrate proficiency in developing an agile or plan-based project management life cycle for projects relevant to their professional domain.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of project delivery principles—such as value, stewardship, team, stakeholders, risk management, communications, and leadership. Students will build and enhance team capability after assessing personal strengths and weaknesses and develop skills to manage a team and lead others.
Demonstrate knowledge of strategic planning, portfolio and program management, project analytics, and governance applicable to large projects and programs. Apply key drivers for project success—such as value delivery systems, change management, complexity management, investing in actively engaged sponsors, and social responsibility and ethics.

“One of the key factors that attracted me to BU MET was its exceptional team of project management professors. Their expertise and industry experience make them some of the best in the field, which ensured that I received top-notch education and mentorship. It was the perfect choice to fulfill my goal of earning a master’s degree in project management and gain the necessary skills for success in the field.” Read more.

ZhaoCong (Tommy) Liu (MET’23)
Project Manager, Boston Management Consulting International
MS, Project Management

Advance Your Career

BU MET’s Project Management master’s prepares you for a wealth of different roles, such as Project Manager, Program/Portfolio Manager, Scrum Master, PMO/Program Director, Project Team Leader, and Product Owner.

Recent graduates have found job opportunities and career paths in organizations such as:

Google
Amazon
Microsoft
State Street
Fidelity
Putnam
UnitedHealth Group

Deloitte
Ernst & Young (EY)
Genzyme
Biogen
Pfizer
Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Take Advantage of Career Resources at BU MET

You will find the support you need in reaching your career goals through MET’s Career Development office, which offers a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for online students. You can also take advantage of tools and resources available online through BU’s Center for Career Development.

Project Management Faculty

Vijay Kanabar

Associate Professor, Computer Science and Administrative Sciences

Director, Project Management

Richard Maltzman

Master Lecturer, Administrative Sciences

Yolande Athaide

Visiting Associate Professor, Administrative Sciences

View All Faculty

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Online Master of Science in Project Management

At a Glance

Master the Tools of Modern Project Management

Curriculum

Degree Core Courses

Specialization Courses

Elective Courses

How You Benefit from a Boston University Education

Rankings & Accreditations

Graduate with Project Management Expertise

Career Outcomes

Advance Your Career

Take Advantage of Career Resources at BU MET

Project Management Faculty

View All Faculty

Interested in Learning More?

Recent News

Area of Study

How You Benefit from a
Boston University Education