Online project management degree programs provide students with basic business skills, emphasizing supervising techniques, scheduling, and cost analysis. Individuals with an analytical mind and a desire to work in business in a leadership role may find these programs rewarding. Students may earn career diplomas and certificates, or an associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree in the field.

Students may find employment in a variety of sectors, from large corporations and consulting firms to nonprofit organizations and divisions within the government. In addition to the standard project manager role, students may find work as sales managers, business analysts, schedulers, and cost estimators.

Available Degree Levels

• Career Diploma: Varies
• Certificate: One to two years to complete
• Associate Degree: Two years to complete
• Bachelor’s Degree: Four years to complete
• Master’s Degree: One to two years to complete
• Doctoral Degree: Three to five years to complete

Online project management career diploma programs are often designed for current or aspiring project managers working full-time in the field. Students may take courses that cover project management concepts and needs, planning, schedule control, and management. These courses may equip students to become effective managers, leading project teams in smart and resourceful ways.

A project management certificate program may include courses such as fundamentals of project management and project management practical application. These certificate programs may prepare students to earn their Project Management Professional credential, which is secured after completing an exam in the field.

Online associate degrees in project management combine business basics with a focus on project management principles. Coursework may include business communication, organizational behavior, team development, and management decision making. Students may have the opportunity to transfer these credits to a four-year program in the field, or they can seek out a career as project manager or assistant project manager.

An online bachelor’s degree in project management arms students with the technical knowledge they need to plan, execute, and manage projects. Students often take courses such as management for organizations, organizational ethics, project quality assurance, and leadership and communication skills for project management.

A master’s program in project management may include interdisciplinary courses that challenge students to solve problems they may face as project managers. Courses may focus on such topics as value management, project control, strategic issues, and commercial law. Select programs may allow students to focus their studies by choosing a specialization, such as supply chain management or advanced project management.

An online doctoral degree in project management challenges students to research, write scholarly papers, and evaluate global and technological issues. Students may take courses such as theory and practice in business management, strategic management, management theory creation, and applied research methods. Students often choose a specialization in the field, which helps guide their dissertation research and writing.

Career Options

A degree in project management equips students with the business acumen and leadership skills to successfully manage a project and team to achieve its goals. Project management professionals may find work in a variety of sectors, including education, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, corporations, and government offices.

Possible career fields include:

• Project Manager
• Master Scheduler
• Business Planning Analyst
• Cost Estimator
• Industrial Production Manager