Online Project Management Graduate Certificate
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.
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Project Management 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.
Awards & Accreditations
Newsweek magazine ranked Boston University’s online programs #4 in the nation in its 2023 survey.
Why Choose BU’s Certificate in Project Management?
- Boston University certificate programs comprise just four courses (16 credits) and provide essential skills and capabilities in high-growth industry areas. Certificate programs also provide a pathway to Metropolitan College management degree programs.
- Learning from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, students 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.
- Online certificate programs share courses and instructors with MET’s master’s degree programs in management, ranked #10 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.
Develop the ability to manage project resources by learning the tools and techniques needed to monitor and track complex projects and schedules. Learn more about BU’s Project Management graduate degrees.
Career Outlook
Project Management Specialists
6% increase in jobs through 2032
$98,580 median annual pay in 2023
Construction Managers
5% increase in jobs through 2032
$104,900 median annual pay in 2023
Management Analysts
10% increase in jobs through 2032
$99,410 median annual pay in 2023
Operations Research Analysts
23% increase in jobs through 2032
$83,640 median annual pay in 2023
Logisticians
18% increase in jobs through 2032
$79,400 median annual pay in 2023
Emergency Management Directors
3% increase in jobs through 2032
$83,960 median annual pay in 2023
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers
25% increase in jobs through 2032
$130,160 median annual pay in 2023
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook (visited July 29, 2024)
The total GDP of projectized industries is estimated to increase from US$24.7 trillion in 2019 to US$34.5 trillion in 2030.
The global economy needs 25 million new project management professionals by 2030.
Globally, a gap between the demand for project management skills and the availability of talent continues to persist.
Project Management Institute
Project Management Talent Gap Report, June 2021
Tuition & Financial Assistance
Money Matters
Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.
Financial Assistance
Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.
Curriculum
Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Project Management consists of four required online courses (16 credits). Students with PMI® certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course.
Students interested in further study may transfer credits 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.
Courses
Courses
(Four courses/16 credits)
METAD642 Project Management
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. [4 credits]
METAD643 Project Communications and Leadership
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. [4 credits]
And two additional courses chosen from the following*:
METAD644 Project Risk and Cost Management
Prereq: MET PM100
This course introduces students 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. Students learn how to manage both project cost and schedule objectives throughout their projects using the Earned Value and Earned Schedule Measurement Systems. Students then study risk management through an examination of both individual and overall project risk and apply their learnings using advanced risk management software in an actual case study. Students also study project quality management, procurement/contract management, and project ethics and professional conduct using case study scenarios. [4 credits]
METAD646 Portfolio and Program Management
Prereq PM 100, 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. [4 credits]
METAD647 Project and Program Governance
Graduate Prerequisite: MET AD642. - This is a comprehensive course on project and program monitoring, evaluation, and governance. Students will also understand enterprise wide-project interdependencies and determine the optimal pacing for a program to enable appropriate planning, scheduling, executing, monitoring, and controlling of the projects within a program in the future. It covers governance and evaluation methods that will be useful at various levels of large projects, including government and nonprofit organizations. This course will help project and program managers, analysts, consultants, educators, and managers in government, nonprofit, and private institutions to assess program results and identify ways to improve program performance. Other topics include: evaluation for small nonprofit organizations; assessing and improving planning, implementation and effectiveness; governance methodology and models; using evaluation tools and applications to assess factors linking projects under one program and provide the best allotment of resources between those projects; monitor complex, multi-project programs, and drill into current project details; enable collaboration and stakeholder alignment throughout a project life-cycle. Other topics include: creating a transparent and accountable organization with well-defined roles and one that is based on transparency, resource allocation and decision making and enterprise project management. [4 credits]
METAD649 Agile Project Management
Prereq: MET PM100
The course provides an understanding of how new Agile principles and practices are changing the landscape of project management. The course is designed to give project managers fresh new 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. The course provides 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; scaling agile to an enterprise level using enterprise-level Agile frameworks and Agile Project Management tools. 4cr. [4 credits]
*Or any approved IT Project Management course from the Metropolitan College Department of Computer Science.
Vijay Kanabar, PMP
Associate Professor, Computer Science and Administrative Sciences; Director, Project Management
PhD, University of Manitoba; MS, Florida Institute of Technology; MBA, Webber College; BS, University of Madras, India; PMP (Project Management Professional), Project Management Institute
Virginia A. Greiman, PMP
Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
JD, Suffolk University Law School; LLM, Boston University School of Law; MEd, Boston University; BS, Pennsylvania State University; PMP (Project Management Professional), Project Management Institute
Richard Maltzman
Senior Lecturer
MS, Purdue University; BSEE, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
James Hannon
PhD, Capella University; MBA, Framingham State University; BS, Suffolk University
Getting Started
To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.