Online Master of Science in Project Management, Program & Project Portfolio Management Concentration

Master Skills to Align Projects with Strategic Business Goals and Drive Portfolio-Level Decision-Making

According to the Project Management Institute’s 2020 Pulse of the Profession®, “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.” As projects continue to play a central role in how organizations conduct operations, more people will be hired to manage project portfolios. The need for employees with applicable skills will continue to grow as industries become more project-oriented—and those with the talent will find an abundance of roles in a global economy that will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030 (PMI 2021 Talent Gap Report).

The MS in Project Management concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.

Curriculum

The Boston University Metropolitan College Master of Science in Project Management consists of 10 required online courses (40 credits). Students with PMI® certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course.

Students who have earned BU’s Graduate Certificate in Project Management may transfer their credits directly to the MS in Project Management, earning the Master’s degree by completing just two core courses, two specialization courses, and two electives.

With appropriate advanced planning, you can use degree electives from your online master’s in Project Management to satisfy up to two required courses in an Administrative Sciences graduate certificate program—leaving only two additional courses to be completed in order to receive a graduate-level certificate.

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.

• Benefit from an average 24:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
• 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 master’s degree in Project Management at BU MET is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).
• BU MET’s 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.
• Two self-paced, complimentary laboratories offer access to advanced tools and provide opportunities to hone project management skills and technological proficiency using case studies.
• Benefit from a hands-on, experiential capstone research project under the guidance of faculty and industry mentors.
• Advance your practical knowledge of project management in fun and interesting ways with the Project Management Student Club, which gives opportunities for individual leadership and group development through activities and real projects.

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

Rankings & Accreditations

#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

Students who complete the Project Management master’s degree concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management will be able to:

• Evaluate critical success factors for projects and programs across industries, 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, schedules, finance, risk, and change.
• Acquire in-depth practical knowledge of sophisticated, powerful, and highly integrated enterprise tools used in organizations to plan and manage a portfolio of programs and projects, and learn how to leverage project analytics data to make well-informed decisions.

“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.

Advance Your Career

BU MET’s Project Management master’s prepares 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 in organizations such as:

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

Interested in Learning More?