The Master of Science in Project Management is designed for current professionals familiar with the project environment. The proposed curriculum is based upon the offerings from current professionally accredited project management programs and established professional guidelines while maintaining the people-centered leadership approach applied by all School of Business and Technology graduate programs.
The School of Business and Technology follows a mission statement where leaders are developed to embody the values of the school and demonstrate ethical decision making, social responsibility, global awareness, and professional excellence. The Master of Science in Project Management graduate program seeks to prepare students for a practice in project management and develop students as leaders in a manner that fulfills the school's mission.
The Project Management graduate program, in addition to preparing the students to be proficient in the skills and techniques of project management, prepares students to lead successful global projects and further the organization's strategic priorities through the effective application of project management skills and techniques, proven project processes and methods, and ethical leadership and decision making.
Upon completion of the Project Management program at The College of St. Scholastica, the graduate will be able to:
Effectively communicate with all stakeholders in a global project environment
Apply current project management methods, skills, and tools
Assess and improve an organization's project management practices
Evaluate projects in both an operational and strategic context
Guide projects toward effective organizational change
Incorporate ethics and values into project leadership and decision-making
The Master of Science in Project Management curriculum is made up of 13 courses for a total of 37 credits. The curriculum consists of four foundational courses to prepare students with the basic project management skills and knowledge, three advanced project management courses, three global and strategic specialization courses, and three courses associated with the capstone project. The foundational courses should be completed before enrolling in the advanced and specialization courses and there are course prerequisites identified in the course descriptions.
Students who have obtained their PMP® certification will earn prior learning credit for two courses. These students will not be required to take PRM 6110 or PRM 6115.
The capstone project is an in-depth research project that assimilates knowledge from prior courses with findings from current literature of the selected topic area. Students will perform a literature review, problem analysis and propose a solution to the defined problem. Once complete, the project is approved by a project advisor and published. Students are also required to give an on-site oral presentation of their capstone project.
Students progress through the courses as a cohort beginning with the fundamental core courses and continue through the advanced and global courses as they conclude with a capstone project. The sequencing of the courses is important since mastery of the topics in the fundamental courses are required for proper application in the advanced courses. As a result, students must progress through the fundamental courses before proceeding on to the more advanced project management courses.
Each course is delivered in an online format as an eight-week class and taught by instructors possessing a graduate-level degree, experience in the project management profession, and a project management certification.
Students may begin the program as part of a summer or fall semester start and are able, and encouraged, to enroll in two courses for each semester. Completion of two courses a semester enables the student to complete the program within two years.
The curriculum includes several courses requiring prerequisite constraints. As a result, the sequence students complete courses in the curriculum is important.
Students entering the program in the summer semester will complete the program in two years while students entering the program in the fall semester may complete the program in five semesters (less than two years).
CIS 6101 Leadership Communications (3 credits). An examination of the importance of leadership theories and styles, and the essential importance of communication. Oral and written communication methods will be studied to determine how effective communication is integral to the success of initiatives. Topics include communicating complex ideas, collaboration in a team environment, and using communication to lead a team and work effectively with complex interpersonal and team processes. Prerequisite: None
PRM 6110 Project Management Essentials I (3 credits). The first of two survey courses examining project management processes. This course provides an examination of the processes used in initiating and planning projects and the tools and techniques used to support these processes. Students study and apply current techniques to obtain project sponsorship and resources, develop project metrics, and prepare detailed plans to guide project execution. Prerequisite: CIS 6101
PRM 6115 Project Management Essentials II (3 credits). The second of two survey courses examining project management processes. This course provides an examination of the processes used in executing, controlling, and closing projects and the tools and techniques used to support these processes. Students study and apply current techniques used to lead project teams, engage stakeholders, monitor and evaluate projects, deliver effective results, and close projects. Prerequisites: CIS 6101 and PRM 6110
PRM 6119 Strategic Decision Making (3 credits). An examination of the methods used to make informed and ethical strategic decisions. The course provides a review of qualitative and quantitative methods applied to the decision making process. Topics include goal setting, systems thinking, cost-benefit analysis, contingency planning, decision trees, risk assessment, and decision evaluations. Prerequisite: None
PRM 6225 Procurement and Budget Management (3 credits). A study of methods used for developing and maintaining project budgets and the procuring the products and services supporting projects. Topics include project financial estimates, project budgeting, expense reporting, vendor relations, and contract management. Prerequisites: PRM 6110 and PRM 6115
PRM 6234 Project Risk and Quality Management (3 credits). An in-depth study on the methods, techniques, and tools used to measure, evaluate, and control project risk and project quality. Students learn and apply techniques to identify, mitigate, and communicate project risk and measure, monitor, and assess the quality of the project deliverables. Prerequisites: PRM 6110 and PRM 6115
PRM 6242 Emerging Topics in Project Management (3 credits). Exploration of current and future trends in the field project management. Scholarly and professional literature will be reviewed in the context of existing and traditional project management practices to identify potential changes to the profession and practices and reflect upon the impact of these changes. Prerequisites: PRM 6110 and PRM 6115
PRM 6556 Organizational Change Leadership (3 credits). A study of projects in the context of the organization. Students will apply the project portfolio management approach to view projects in terms of contribution of value to the organization. The course also provides an in-depth discussion on the methods used to ensure projects deliver effective and enduring change. Prerequisites: PRM 6234
PRM 6567 Global and Cultural Competency (3 credits). Exploration of the business, cultural, and economic environments of organizations and societies. Students are provided with an awareness and appreciation of the similarities and differences of cultures across the globe and the means to effectively and ethically operate in the global environment. Prerequisites: CIS 6101
PRM 6586 Leading Global and Distributed Teams (3 credits). An in-depth study on leading project teams where members exist in multiple locations and in locations across the world. The course provides insight into effective communication and management of distributed teams and discusses effective practices for motivating, guiding, and evaluating project teams. Prerequisites: PRM 6567
CIS 6795 Research and Writing (3 credits). A preparatory course for the capstone project. Students prepare a project proposal while refining research and scholarly writing skills. Topics include defining a problem statement, APA publication guidelines, writing a literature review, and developing a scholarly voice. The course concludes with the development and approval of a formal proposal outlining the purpose and scope of the capstone project. Prerequisites: CIS 6101, PRM 6110, PRM 6115, and PRM 6119
PRM 6800 Capstone Project I (2 credits). Working with an assigned project advisor, students assimilate knowledge from prior courses with findings from research in the current literature of the selected topical area. The findings from the literature research are integrated in the development of a project introduction and literature review. Prerequisite: CIS 6795
PRM 6900 Capstone Project II (2 credits). Working with an assigned project advisor, students complete the remaining work on the capstone by synthesizing a solution to the defined problem. The course concludes with an approval, publication, and oral presentation of the capstone project. Prerequisite: PRM 6800.
PMP is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.
First-Year Students
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