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The project management certificate program is a structured series of courses designed to prepare students for careers in the planning and business fields. Designed for managers and supervisors from organizations involved in engineering, research and development, data processing, construction, facilities management, manufacturing, corporate planning, finance, and marketing, it may also enhance the skills of technical competence and practical applications, whereas the elective courses stress the acquisition of effective supervisory skills. A Penn State certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the four required courses.

Requirements

Project Initiation and Planning
Project Initiation and Integration
Project Costing and Control
Project Risk and Change Management

Descriptions

Part 1 Project Initiation and Planning:
This course introduces the student to the project management process; the role of the Project Manager; project communications, and project leadership. It begins the planning process covering topics such as the objectives; scope, and success criteria. This is the first of four courses required for the Certificate in Project Management.
Prerequisite: None

Part 2 Project Scheduling and Integration:
This course continues to build upon the lessons learned in Session 1. Content covers the Work Breakdown Structure, Project Schedule, PERT/GANTT/CPM methods, and Project Integration.
This is the second of four courses required for the Certificate in Project Management.
Prerequisite: Project Initiation and Planning (Part 1)

Part 3 Project Costing and Control:
This course continues along the Project Cycle and introduces selection criteria, procurement, cost estimating, and control mechanisms are discussed here. This is the third of four courses required for the Certificate in Project Management.
Prerequisite: Project Initiation & Planning; Project Scheduling (Parts 1, 2)

Part 4 Project Risk and Change Management:
This last course in the series introduces the student to risk and change management; team responsibilities; conflicts; quality; ethics; and closeout.
This is the last course required for the Certificate in Project Management.
Prerequisite: Project Initiation & Planning; Project Scheduling; Project Costing & Control (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

Optional Courses (Not part of certificate program):

Introduction to MS Project
CSE 6579-001 (2.1 CEUs)
Microsoft Project 2003 is a powerful project management application. This course introduces its basic features. Some of the topics to be covered are: finding your way around in Microsoft Project, entering and organizing tasks, setting up resources, assigning resources to tasks, fine-tuning task details, fine-tuning resource details, and fine-tuning assignment details.

Advanced MS Project
CSE-5237-001 (2.1 CEUs)
This course goes into more advanced topics, such as customizing and printing project information, publishing project information online, sharing project information with other programs, sharing project information between multiple sources, tracking progress against the project plan, and viewing and reporting project status.
Please note: Penn State Abington's Basic MS Project 2003 (7 weeks) and Advanced MS Project 2003 (7 weeks) will cover the appropriate study material for the Microsoft Office Specialist (Office Specialist) certification for the Microsoft Project exam.

Project Management Professional Exam Preparation
BUSAD 5518-001 (1.8 CEUs)
The PMP Exam Preparation course is a six-week program designed for professionals who are experienced in project management or who have taken courses such as those in Penn State's Project Management Certificate Program. This course covers all "knowledge areas" and "process areas" of the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), 2004 edition. It offers a review of the material normally covered in the exam, sample questions, and instruction on how best to prepare and study for taking the exam.
("PMI" and "PMBOK" are trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc., registered in the United States.)

ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Procurement Management- Vendor Selection, Contract Negotiation and Vendor Management in Projects
BUSAD 5750-001 (2.1 CEUs)
Develop a working knowledge of the vendor selection, contract negotiation, and vendor management processes to ensure that projects are successfully delivered. Learn the methods necessary to prepare for and select the right vendor, negotiate the best terms, and manage the vendor during the implementation of the vendor’s product or service. Decision making techniques and a concise process for vendor selection are explored. Students will be given information on the outcome of the decision-making process and how the contract negotiation phase will result in the vendor contract. Students will study the process of integrating the vendor contract into the project planning and scheduling process of the internal project. Contract types and legal aspects of the selection process will be explored.

See our Spring 2008 schedules.

More Information

Eva Klein, 215-881-7387