Online Project, Program & Portfolio Management Grad Certificate

At a Glance

Completion Time

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$16,230

Part-Time*

Develop Skills to Align Projects with Strategic Business Goals

The 2020 Project Management Institute Pulse of the Profession® notes that “Organizations are undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift in which projects are no longer adjacent to operations but instead primary to how work gets done and problems get solved. In today’s C-suite—and tomorrow’s—it is the portfolio that disrupts, that innovates, that expands and thrives.” More people will be hired to manage project portfolios as industries become more project-oriented. In fact, it is predicted that the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030 (PMI 2021 Talent Gap Report).

The Graduate Certificate in Project, Program & Portfolio Management is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.

Curriculum

Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Project, Program & Portfolio Management consists. of four required online courses (16 units). Students with PMI® certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course.

Students interested in further study may transfer units earned for the Project, Program & Portfolio Management toward degree requirements for the Boston University Master of Science in Project Management and its concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management, or another of our PMI® accredited programs.

Certificate Core Courses

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 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 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

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

And one of the following:

Certificate Elective Courses

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

Plus one elective course chosen with an advisor. Elective could include MET AD 647 Project and Program Governance or MET AD 649 Agile Project Management, if not taken above.

*Or any approved IT Project Management course from the Metropolitan College Department of Computer Science

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.
The Project, Program & Portfolio Management graduate certificate shares courses with the MS in Project Management, which 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 curriculum also prepares you for success on the exams leading to the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) designation.
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.
Advance your practical knowledge of project management in fun and interesting ways with the Project Management Student Club, which provides opportunities for individual leadership and group development through activities and real projects.
Two self-paced, complimentary laboratories offer access to advanced tools and provide opportunities to hone project management skills and technological proficiency using case studies.

Rankings & Accreditations

Accredited member of AACSB International

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

America’s Top Online Colleges

Graduate with Project, Program & Portfolio Management Expertise

Students who complete the Project, Program & Portfolio Management Graduate Certificate will be able to demonstrate:

Evaluate critical success factors for projects and programs across industries, and use these factors to create project portfolios that align with strategic goals of the organization and describe best practices for managing such a portfolio.
Construct a program management plan that describes best practices for the creation and management of programs and how to plan and coordinate resources, procurement, schedule, finance, risk, and manage change.
Acquire in-depth practical knowledge of enterprise tools used in organizations to plan and manage a portfolio of programs and projects, and leverage project analytics data to make well-informed decisions.

More project management specialists will be needed to manage the growing volume and complexity of information technology (IT) projects required to support expanded telework.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

“While working in various project management roles, I realized the immense value that formal training and a structured curriculum could bring to my skill set. Despite my professional experience, I recognized the need to deepen my theoretical understanding and stay ahead of industry trends. This realization, coupled with a desire for professional growth and career advancement, motivated me to pursue a master’s degree in project management.” Read more.

Vinita Mehta (MET’24)
Special Projects Manager at SRMD
MS, Project Management, Concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management

Advance Your Career

BU MET’s Project Management graduate programs prepare you for a wealth of different roles, such as Project Manager, Program Manager, Marketing Specialist, IT Manager, Business Continuity Planner, Emergency Management Director, Software Developer, Construction Manager, Management Analyst, Operations Research Analyst, Risk Management Specialist, among others.

Recent graduates have found job opportunities and career paths at companies 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 Project, Program & Portfolio Management Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

Develop Skills to Align Projects with Strategic Business Goals