*Based on 2026–2027 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.
Master the Tools of Modern Project Management
Demand for skilled project talent continues to grow as industries become more project-oriented, with the global economy expected to need nearly 30 million new project professionals by 2035, according to the Project Management Institute® 2025 Global Project Management Talent Gap report. To counteract this shortfall, we need to ensure that the project management workforce has the skills necessary to navigate a rapidly evolving profession.
The Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) degree program at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) is a unique opportunity to combine a broad and industry-rooted knowledge of business and management principles with a mastery of successful project-based strategies and practices, preparing you for a range of career paths in a variety of industries.
The program includes an optional concentration in:
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 and general electives as indicated.
Preparatory Labs
All students are enrolled in the following free, non-unit, preparatory labs designed to strengthen their academic foundation and serve as a key resource for the degree program. These self-paced laboratories provide students with an opportunity to master the tools and techniques of project management practice and enhance project management classroom learning.
Select four courses from the following list with the advice of the department coordinator, unless you are pursuing the concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management.
Graduate-level courses may also be selected from other Metropolitan College departments, as well as from other Boston University schools and colleges, with an advisor’s approval.
Master's Thesis Option
(Two courses/8 units)
Students have the option to complete a master’s thesis. The thesis must be completed within 12 months and is available to master’s candidates who have completed at least six courses toward their degree and have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and a principal reader within the department. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member; the principal reader may be a part-time faculty member with a doctorate. Permission must be obtained by the department.
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.
Benefit from a 24:1 average student-to-instructor ratio.
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
#12 Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (Excluding MBA)
MET’s online master’s degrees in management are ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
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 and evaluate analytically grounded project plans using quantitative and optimization-based methods, supported by AI and data-driven computational techniques, to model scope, schedule, cost, resources, risk, and quality across both agile and predictive plan-based project life cycles.
Apply evidence-based decision-making, quantitative performance indicators, and AI-enabled insights to assess team capability, manage risk and uncertainty, optimize communication strategies, and support value-oriented leadership throughout the project life cycle.
Analyze and optimize project, program, and portfolio decisions using management science principles, including systems modeling, project analytics, and governance frameworks. Evaluate value delivery systems, investment trade-offs, and the complexity of interconnected projects.
“The networking and communication skills I developed in the program have been invaluable, especially since transitioning to a new field can feel overwhelming. These skills have helped me build relationships with colleagues, seek out mentors, and access resources that might otherwise have been difficult to find. Being able to communicate effectively across different teams and departments has made the transition much smoother.” Read more.
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.
Artificial intelligence is changing both what software engineers build and how they build it. Engineers are incorporating AI into products, using AI-assisted development tools, managing new types of data and models, and making decisions about reliability, security, transparency, and responsible use. These changes are happening quickly and software professionals cannot wait for the field to […]
Can You Get a Data Science Master’s Without a Computer Science Degree? The answer is yes. And the assumption that you cannot is one of the common reasons qualified people never apply. Pursuing a data science master’s without a computer science degree is a well-established path, and the applicant pools for online programs reflect that. […]
One of the hardest questions for prospective data science students is also one of the most basic: am I actually ready for a master’s program? People often answer that question too narrowly. Some rule themselves out because their undergraduate degree was not in computer science, mathematics, or another technical field. Others may assume that professional […]
