MS in Project Management

Offered both on the Charles River Campus and online, Metropolitan College’s Master of Science (MS) in Project Management degree program provides comprehensive preparation for managing projects in different contexts. While learning the tools and techniques used to monitor and track project costs and schedules, students develop the ability to manage project resources and communications, and successfully complete a project.

Students seeking a broad range of professional responsibilities will benefit from this detailed examination of a project’s rationale and connection to the organization’s mission, including its conception, planning, budgeting, resource allocation, implementation, and handover to the steady state. The MS in Project Management is beneficial to a wide array of students: those working on complex projects for global companies; those designing IT infrastructures; those working in biotechnology companies; and those completing consulting contracts.

This program requires an average of 12–20 months to complete. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer term.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the MS in Project Management will demonstrate competencies in three areas mandated for accreditation by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC):

• Technical: Construct a project plan and demonstrate knowledge of key subsidiary plans such as scope, schedule, cost, quality, communications, resources, and procurement; and demonstrate proficiency in developing an agile or plan-based project management life cycle for projects relevant to their professional domain.
• Leadership: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of project delivery principles—such as value, stewardship, team, stakeholders, risk management, communications, and leadership. Students will build and enhance team capability after assessing personal strengths and weaknesses and develop skills to manage a team and lead others.
• Strategic: Demonstrate knowledge of strategic planning, portfolio and program management, project analytics, and governance applicable to large projects and programs. Apply key drivers for project success—such as value delivery systems, change management, complexity management, investing in actively engaged sponsors, and social responsibility and ethics.

Laboratory Preparation

Boston University Metropolitan College prepares accepted project management students with two signature laboratories: Project Management Essentials (PM 100) and Program & Portfolio Management (PM 200). These self-paced laboratories provide students an unparalleled opportunity to master the tools and techniques of project management practice. The tutorials have been designed by highly experienced staff and are intended to enhance project management classroom learning.

Upon graduation, we provide students with an overview of Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification and Scrum Master Certification, and mentor them as they complete the application forms for candidacy and prepare to earn credentials.

Degree Requirements

All students must satisfy the degree core courses and either general electives or the Program & Project Portfolio Management concentration requirements, as indicated. Students with PMI® certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course to meet the requirements of maintaining their credentials.

A total of 10 courses (40 units) is required, as follows:

Core Courses (four courses/16 units)

• MET AD 515 Project Management
• MET AD 516 Project Leadership and Emerging Communication Technologies
• MET AD 715 Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making
• MET AD 807 Principles and Best Practices in Project, Program, and Portfolio Management

General Electives (six courses/24 units)

Students who are not choosing a concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management must select six general electives (24 units) from the following list:

• MET AD 571 Business Analytics Foundations
• MET AD 632 Financial Concepts
• MET AD 644 Project Risk and Cost Management
• MET AD 646 Portfolio and Program Management
• MET AD 647 Project Governance and Contract Management
• MET AD 649 Agile Project Management
• MET AD 680 Global Supply Chain
• MET AD 782 Project Value Strategies

With advisor approval, students may choose to take courses outside of the general electives list.

Second Master’s Degree Option

In appreciation of the converging needs of management and technology, the departments of Actuarial Science, Administrative Sciences, and Computer Science collaborate to offer a unique opportunity to students currently enrolled in their degree programs as well as alumni of those programs. Learn more.