Online Project Management Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

Completion Time

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$12,726

Part-Time*

*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees.

Gain Essential Skills to Lead Projects Across Industries

The Boston University online Graduate Certificate in Project Management is an opportunity to study alongside motivated professionals as you master tools and techniques to help you deliver solutions on time and within budget—and to achieve the career advancement you seek in today’s competitive project management environment.

Under the guidance of distinguished faculty, you will examine detailed case studies, conduct project simulations, and gain both theoretical and practical expertise in:

Project planning and control
Project management life cycle
Methodologies of effective leadership and motivation
Essential project management tools and techniques
Cost-management and risk management
Project quality management and procurement management

Successful graduates will be prepared to move forward in a wide variety of project management related careers, and will have gained excellent preparation for PMP® Certification from the Project Management Institute.

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

Curriculum

Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Project 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 Graduate Certificate in Project Management toward degree requirements for the Boston University Master of Science in Project Management, or another of our PMI® accredited programs.

Students must take two core courses:

Certificate 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.

And two additional courses chosen from the following*:

Certificate Elective Courses

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, SPRG 2026 Jan 20th to Apr 30th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Athaide	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B29

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, SPRG 2026 Jan 20th to Apr 30th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Lynde	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	COM 213

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 O2, SPRG 2026 Mar 10th to Apr 27th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Kanabar	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

*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.

A group of students laughing in reaction to an activity in a class at Boston University

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

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 Management Expertise

Students who complete the Project Management Graduate Certificate will be able to demonstrate:

Proficiency in developing a project management life cycle.
Proficiency in all basic project management tools and techniques, with an emphasis in communications, risk analysis, cost estimation and budgeting, and quality control.
Knowledge of tools for project scheduling, templates for project management and communication, and techniques to measure cost variance, schedule variance, and earned value.

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

“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 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, and Risk Manager, 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 Programs

Richard Maltzman

Master Lecturer, Administrative Sciences

Yolande Athaide

Visiting Associate Professor, Administrative Sciences

View All Faculty

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Online Project Management Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

Gain Essential Skills to Lead Projects Across Industries