Project Management Certificate Overview
The Project Management Graduate Certificate is designed to help you practice the leadership and communication skills necessary to motivate and hold others accountable throughout the project process.
Through the online project management certificate course curriculum, you will:
- Learn to maximize the project management lifecycle, steering a project successfully from start to finish.
- Develop leadership skills and techniques to work with others to complete projects effectively and efficiently.
- Acquire knowledge of how project management impacts strategy and business success.
- Utilize change management practices to promote innovation.
Certificate Courses
The professional graduate certificate in project management requires four courses or 16 credits.
Complete one course from each of the following course groups. You can find courses by course group and term — fall, spring, or summer — in the certificate course search.
- Technical Project Management
- Build hands-on skills and training in the frameworks and tools of the project management discipline.
- Course options include Project Management, Agile Project Management, and Product Development with Scrum.
- Strategic Business Management
- Gain insight into business models, industry knowledge, and the internal and external forces that influence a business.
- Course options include Business Strategy, Applied Systems Design Thinking, Essentials of Management, Operations Management, and Supply Chain Management.
- Leadership
- Develop leadership skills and techniques to collaborate on projects effectively and efficiently.
- Course options include Leadership Communications, Organizational Behavior, Leading through Change, and Team Dynamics.
- Electives
- Through an elective of your choice, you will gain a deeper understanding of one of the three topic areas above.
The requirements for the Project Management Graduate Certificate align with the Project Management Institute’s talent triangle framework.
Courses taken before the 2018-19 academic year do not apply toward this certificate.
Course Spotlight: Project Management
Our Students at a Glance
Our students work in a variety of industries and roles — including as experienced project managers focused on updating skills and supervisors building foundational knowledge.
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36
Average Age
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83%
Working Full Time
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29%
Students Outside the U.S.
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1.5 years
Average Time to Complete
Earning Your Certificate
Most of our certificates can be completed online, and no formal application process is required to pursue a certificate.
To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete the courses within three years.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
Build a Stackable Credential Pathway
Stackable credential pathways allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements. In the short term, you can earn a micro or graduate certificate. Once completed, those courses may count toward a master’s degree.
You can:
- Stack the Project Management Methodologies Microcertificate into the Project Management Graduate Certificate.
- Stack the Project Management Graduate Certificate into a master’s degree in management.
Stackable pathways offer an efficient, cost-effective way to earn short-term credentials to help fill immediate skill gaps and acquire specialized knowledge while building a foundation for long-term success that showcases your expertise in the field.
Learn how to plan a stackable credential pathway.
Cost
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2024–25 rate) | $3,340 per course |
|---|---|
| Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $5,476 per course |
| Average Total Cost | $13,360 |
Project Management Certificate FAQs
Are project managers in high demand?
The job outlook for project managers is strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, project manager jobs are expected to grow 6 percent by 2032. The Project Management Institute reported in its 2023 Talent Gap Report that the global economy will require 25 million new project managers by 2030.
How long does it take to study project management?
The time commitment can range from a few months to several years, depending on whether you choose to earn a degree, certificate, or another credential in the field. Related professional experience can also help expedite the learning process. On average, Harvard Extension School students complete the Project Management Graduate Certificate in 1.5 years.
Is getting a certificate in project management worth it?
Earning a graduate certificate in project management can help you develop the skills necessary to succeed as a project manager and potentially increase your earning potential. Our certificate courses emphasize three key domains of project management, as defined by the Project Management Institute: power skills, business acumen, and ways of working ( leadership, strategic and business management, and technical project management). You’ll increase your capacity to lead across teams. You’ll learn to recognize the business forces that impact a project so you can maintain strategic alignment. And you’ll build expertise in the tools and techniques that can be leveraged to support project success.
Can I become a project manager without experience?
Project management experience is beneficial if you’re applying for senior positions. If you are making a career pivot or are taking on project management responsibilities in your current role, a certificate can help you gain the essential skills to be successful.
