Graduate School Admission Essay
Michelle_Michy
1-Northeastern-MsProjectManagementSyllabus.docxNortheastern University – Ms in Project Management
https://cps.northeastern.edu/academics/program/master-science-project-management-boston
Program Introduction
The Master of Science in Project Management is designed to provide you with the practical skills and theoretical concepts you need to lead complex projects.
Companies succeed or fail based on their ability to bring quality products and services to market in a timely manner. Without skilled project managers in place, companies are challenged to deliver projects on time, on budget, and according to specifications. From inception to completion, project managers are responsible for every step in the process: project definition, cost and risk estimation, schedule planning and monitoring, budget management, negotiation and conflict resolution, project leadership, and project presentation and evaluation. Rapid technological and digital transformation, with never-ending disruption, require project managers to be true innovators within their organizations. Featuring real-world case studies, this project management degree presents techniques and tools for managing long- and short-term projects, successfully and cost-effectively. Augmenting the core project management courses are concentrations that provide you with content-specific expertise—enabling you to deepen your knowledge in your field of interest. Mission Statement The mission of The Master of Science in Project Management in the College of Professional Studies is to prepare learners as project management practitioners capable of applying project management processes and the technical, professional, and strategic expertise necessary for managing projects successfully. With emphasis on experiential learning, the program provides dynamic opportunities for learners with varying degrees of work experience to practice their knowledge both globally and collaboratively while implementing traditional and innovative project management concepts to real-life and complex projects.
PJM 5900 - Foundations of Project Management
4.00
Examines the differences between general and project management responsibilities. Introduces the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), which provides a structured approach to understanding project process groups and knowledge areas needed to manage any size project through a complete project life cycle. Explains high-level distinctions between project, program, and portfolio management. Includes an introduction to Microsoft Project, which is one of the most widely utilized project management software tools. Strongly recommended for students with little or no formal project management experience.
PJM 6000 - Project Management Practices
3.00
Provides an overview of the project management process. Emphasizes project definition, identification of project scope, project life cycle, and project planning. Uses case studies to examine best practices and common project management pitfalls.
PJM 6005 - Project Scope Management
3.00
Offers insight into how projects are defined, evaluated, and ultimately translated into manageable project requirements and concrete deliverables. By learning how to identify stakeholder needs and convert those needs into viable, measurable project scope documentation, a project manager can successfully manage not only a project’s scope but also make informed recommendations when trade-offs between project scope, cost, and schedule become necessary.
PJM 6015 - Project Risk Management
3.00
Examines quantitative techniques for risk assessment and decision making, as well as the steps and elements of a risk management plan, including the ongoing monitoring of risk factors. The accurate identification of risks, and understanding of how to account for the potential impact of risks, can greatly impact the likelihood of project success.
PJM 6025 - Project Scheduling and Cost Planning
3.00
Builds on the project schedule to explore cost estimation methods, break-even analysis, and earned value management. Studies effective tools and techniques that can allow project managers to translate specifications to realistic project plans that lead to a resource-loaded schedule and baseline budget. These tools and techniques can be used to minimize bottlenecks and downtime, identify and plan for resource needs, develop contingencies, and manage risk and scope creep. Topics include schedule development, cost estimating, and cost and schedule management through earned value management. A well-thought-out and well-managed schedule is critical to successful project management and is integral to the efficient management of project costs. Offers students an opportunity to learn to manage the project budget, revise cost estimates, and develop confidence levels.
PJM 6135 - Project Quality Management
3.00
Designed to provide detailed instruction in Project Quality Management (PQM) processes, one of the nine knowledge areas outlined in the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge. Discusses how to integrate PQM processes into the overall project plan and how to prepare a PQM plan. Encourages students to work together in a team environment to complete a PQM plan for a project.
PJM 6910 - Capstone
3.00
Offers students an opportunity to utilize all of the project management skills they have acquired in this master’s certificate program to evaluate project processes and outcomes of a single project throughout the entire project life cycle. Examines both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with an emphasis on tactical approaches and earned value management. Also examines stakeholder analysis and practical techniques for reporting performance results. Intended to be the final course in the project management curriculum after successful completion of all other courses.
PJM 6125 - Project Evaluation and Assessment
3.00
Offers students an opportunity to learn to develop metrics for determining and reporting project performance. Examines both quantitative and qualitative approaches of evaluation, with an emphasis on earned value management. Examines stakeholder analysis and techniques for reporting performance results.
PJM 6140 - Managing Troubled Projects
3.00
Examines how to prevent failed and troubled projects, how to perform a project assessment/audit, how to develop a troubled project recovery plan, and how to develop a failed project shutdown plan. Includes team presentations of case study assignments to gain experience in managing and avoiding failed and troubled projects, one of the most significant assignments for a project manager.
PJM 6145 - Global Project Management
3.00
Expands the detailed treatment of project management into the global areas of environmental factors, national differences, cultural differences, outsourcing, and virtual project management. The state of the art in project management has advanced to heavy use of global project management. Addresses the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge practices as applied in the organization and the future of project management.
PJM 6710 - Introduction to Program and Portfolio Management
3.00
Examines project, program, and portfolio management with a primary focus on the similarities and distinctions between program management and portfolio management. Offers students an opportunity to develop and evidence a foundational understanding of program and portfolio management and the critical role these play within today’s global environment.
PJM 6075 - Project Finance
3.00
Explores real-world cases of project finance across industry sectors (e.g., energy, resource recovery, and mining) to examine how organizations structure their capital to mitigate various project risks and to secure scarce resources in the business environment. Topics include capital structure, discounted cash flow, financial instruments, capital budgeting, cost of capital, risk and return, project agreements, project cost accumulation, project cost allocation, and project investment ranking.Offers students an opportunity to develop a profound understanding of the principles of project finance.
PJM 6205 - Leading and Managing Technical Projects
3.00
Offers students an opportunity to learn about leadership and management skills and strategies needed to succeed in a demanding technical project environment. Many project managers understand the technical aspects of a particular project environment but lack these critical management and leadership skills. Topics covered include understanding the technical environment, managing and motivating team members, understanding organizational culture, interpersonal strategies, and developing a personal leadership approach.
PJM 6180 - Project Stakeholder Management
3.00
Offers students an opportunity to learn the mechanisms necessary to effectively identify all stakeholders, including the people, groups, or organizations that are impacted or may have an impact on the project. Examines how to analyze stakeholder expectations and how to develop management strategies for effective stakeholder engagement throughout the project.
Concentration in Agile Project Management
Students in this concentration are only required to complete one project management required elective.
PJM 6810 - Principles of Agile Project Management
3.00
PJM 6815 - Advanced Agile Project Management
3.00
PJM 6820 - Agile Implementation and Governance
3.00
PJM 6825 - Agile Lean Product Development
3.00
PJM 6205 - Leading and Managing Technical Projects
PJM 6825 - Agile Lean Product Development
3.00
Offers a practical overview of modern lean/agile product exposure based on contemporary industry practice. To win in today’s competitive market requires giving your business the ability to deliver highly profitable products faster than the competition. Covers the complete life cycle of product management, from identifying customers and users through to sales, marketing, and managing teams. Covers how to minimize investment and output while maximizing the information discovered in order to support effective decision making.
General Requirements
Master of Science in Project Management General Requirements
Based on your experience, complete one of the options below (PJM 5900 is for students with less than three years experience directing or leading project tasks and is recommended for students who do not have a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Project software):
Fewer than 3 years experience
PJM 5900 - Foundations of Project Management
4.00
PJM 6000 - Project Management Practices
3.00
3+ years of project management experience
PJM 6000 - Project Management Practices
3.00
Complete the following:
PJM 6005 - Project Scope Management
3.00
PJM 6015 - Project Risk Management
3.00
PJM 6025 - Project Scheduling and Cost Planning
3.00
PJM 6135 - Project Quality Management
3.00
The following course should be taken last:
PJM 6910 - Capstone
3.00
Project Management Required Electives
Complete two of the following. Note: Students who take PJM 5900 are required to take only one course in this section:
PJM 6125 - Project Evaluation and Assessment
3.00
PJM 6140 - Managing Troubled Projects
3.00
PJM 6145 - Global Project Management
3.00
PJM 6710 - Introduction to Program and Portfolio Management
3.00
PJM 6075 - Project Finance
3.00
Electives
Complete two of the following:
CMN 6000 - Introduction to Organizational Communication
2.00
CMN 6005 - Foundations of Professional Communication
4.00
CMN 6060 - Negotiation, Mediation, and Facilitation
3.00
CMN 6090 - Organizational Culture, Climate, and Communication
3.00
CMN 6095 - Foundations of Developing Cultural Awareness
3.00
CMN 6110 - Group Dynamics and Interpersonal Conflict: Meeting Management
3.00
COP 6940 - Personal and Career Development
3.00 - 4.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
INT 6940 - Experiential Learning Projects for Professionals
1.00 - 4.00
PJM 6205 - Leading and Managing Technical Projects
3.00
PJM 6210 - Communication Skills for Project Managers
3.00
PJM 6215 - Leading Remote Project Teams
3.00
PJM 6175 - Project Resource Management
3.00
PJM 6180 - Project Stakeholder Management
3.00
EDU 6184 - Interdisciplinary Foundations
2.00
Concentrations
Concentration in Agile Project Management
Concentration in Clinical Trial Design
Concentration in Construction Management
Concentration in Geographic Information Systems
Concentration in Information Security Management
Concentration in Leading and Managing Technical Projects
Concentration in Organizational Communication
Concentration in Program and Portfolio Management
Concentration in Project Business Analysis
