What Could You Do with a Degree in Project Management?

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at CTU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.

Project managers can be found working in every industry. While there can be substantial variation from project to project—even within the same organization—all project managers share the same purpose: to initiate, execute and complete projects using their project management expertise.1

Pursuing a project management degree program—such as a bachelor’s or master’s in project management, or even a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration or management with a concentration in project management—could be a great way for you to work toward developing project-management specific skills and knowledge.

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Project managers can be found working in every industry. While there can be substantial variation from project to project—even within the same organization—all project managers share the same purpose: to initiate, execute and complete projects using their project management expertise.1

Pursuing a project management degree program—such as a bachelor’s or master’s in project management, or even a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration or management with a concentration in project management—could be a great way for you to work toward developing project-management specific skills and knowledge.

What Is Project Management?

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, “[p]roject management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.”2 Common features of all projects are that they are temporary (they have a beginning and an end); they are non-routine; and they each involve a team, a budget, a schedule and a set expectations that must be met.

Project management specialists (PM specialists) are responsible for managing a project’s budget, schedule and other details; leading and guiding the work of technical staff; and even serving as a point of contact for the client or customer.3 They typically carry out the following activities:3

  • Communicate with clients to determine project requirements and objectives
  • Develop project plans and produce and distribute project documents
  • Identify, review and select vendors or consultants
  • Assign duties or responsibilities to project staff and confer with them to identify and resolve problems
  • Monitor project costs, milestones and deliverables
  • Propose, review and approve modifications to project plans

More succinctly, project managers help guide a project through all phases of the project lifecycle as described in PMI’s A Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide): (1) Initiation, (2) Planning, (3) Executing, (4) Monitoring/Controlling and (5) Closing.

What Is a Degree Program in Project Management?

To enter the occupation, project management specialists typically must have a degree in project management or in business, though some employers prefer candidates who have earned a degree that is specific to the technical field or industry in which they wish to work. Aspiring project managers may need to have other qualifications as well, depending on employer preference. Professional certification, such as the certifications in project management offered by PMI®, and relevant work experience may be preferred or required.3

Degree programs in project management are designed to focus on the standards and skills of project management. These standards and skills are versatile and therefore capable of being applied to projects across various industries.

Bachelor of Science in Project Management

Colorado Technical University’s Bachelor of Science in Project Management online degree program is accredited by the PMI® Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC). It comprises a combination of general education and business and management courses, as well as project-management specific courses. Courses in the project management degree concentration may include:

  • Project Risk Management
  • Contracts and Procurement
  • Project Performance and Quality Assurance
  • Project Cost and Scheduling
  • Human Resources within Project Management
  • The Evolution of Project Management
  • Project Management Tools
  • Project Management Capstone

What Is a Bachelor’s Degree Program with a Project Management Concentration?

CTU also offers project management degree concentration options in our business administration and management degree programs. If you’re interested in taking general business and management courses but prefer an elective courseload tailored to topics in project management, then one of these programs might be a good fit for you. Like the Bachelor of Science in Project Management online degree program discussed above, each of the following programs are accredited by the PMI® Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration—Project Management

CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program with a concentration in Project Management is designed to cover an array of general business topics with a particular focus on project management standards and skills that can be applied across numerous business disciplines. Project-management-specific courses in the BSBA—Project Management degree program may include:

  • Project Risk Management
  • Contracts and Procurement
  • Project Performance and Quality Assurance
  • Project Cost and Scheduling
  • Human Resources within Project Management
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Project Management Tools

Master of Business Administration—Project Management

The MBA in Project Management degree program at CTU integrates foundational business courses with project management theory and practice. If you’re thinking about possibly pursuing a master’s in project management but are also open to the idea of pursuing a graduate-level business program instead, then this program might be worth exploring. The curriculum is designed to help students work to develop the tools, techniques, knowledge and skills that can help them pursue a career path in project management. Courses in the MBA in Project Management degree program may include:

  • Project Management Fundamentals
  • Project Planning, Execution and Control
  • Project Scheduling and Control
  • Contracting and Procurement in Project Management
  • Project Management Capstone

Master of Science in Management—Project Management

CTU’s Master of Science in Management degree program with a concentration in Project Management is designed for students who want to study project management but may not have a bachelor’s degree in business. The concentration is designed to help students work to develop skills and knowledge used in effective project management. The curriculum for the MSM—Project Management degree program addresses key areas found in the PMI® PMBOK® Guide, and courses may include:

  • Project Planning, Execution and Control
  • Project Scheduling and Control
  • Contracting and Procurement in Project Management
  • Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid Project Management Methods

What Could You Do with a Degree in Project Management?

What you could do with a degree in project management depends on a number of factors, ranging from your level of professional experience, prior relevant work experience and educational background. As we discussed above, some employers will prefer to hire candidates who have a degree related to the industry they work in. For example, a degree in engineering might give an edge to someone who wants to pursue project management roles in construction management, while a degree in information technology might give an edge to someone who wants to pursue project management roles in IT management.3

Project Management Certification

Pursuing voluntary certification in project management is a way to demonstrate competency and may be viewed favorably by employers.3 The Project Management Institute offers different types of project management certification for a range of different experience levels, from beginner to seasoned professional. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) and the Professional in Project Management (PMP®) are just two of a number of voluntary certifications that aspiring or relatively new project managers may be interested in pursuing.

Qualities of a Project Management Specialist

In addition to education, experience and certification, certain personal characteristics are beneficial for project management specialists to possess. These include:3

  • Analytical skills to help them understand large amounts of information and data
  • Communication skills to convey information to team members and interact with clients
  • Critical-thinking skills to determine the most suitable strategy for a particular project, taking into consideration the project’s goals and impact
  • Interpersonal skills to establish trust in client relationships
  • Organizational skills to help them balance multiple responsibilities at the same time (multitask)
  • Problem-solving skills to help them effectively work through and resolve difficult or unexpected situations
  • Time-management skills to help them adhere to tight deadlines

Project Management Specialist Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of project management specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032.3

Demand for project management specialists is expected to result, in part, from organizations’ seeking to maintain and/or improve their productivity. They will be needed to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget. The BLS anticipates that demand will be particularly strong in computer systems design services. Further, they anticipate that more PM specialists will be needed to manage IT projects necessary for supporting remote work (i.e., work from home, telework).3

Related Occupations

Construction Managers

Construction managers (or general contractors or project managers) coordinate and supervise different types of construction projects, such as the building of public, residential, commercial and industrial structures, or of roads and bridges. They work closely with other building specialists and may also work with lawyers or government officials, depending on the particular project. They are responsible for ensuring that projects match design specifications and are completed on time and within budget.4

  • Job Duties: Some of a construction manager’s typical work activities include:4
    • Preparing cost estimates, budgets and work timetables
    • Interpreting and explaining contracts and technical information to other professionals
    • Selecting and scheduling subcontractors
    • Monitoring projects and providing progress updates to clients and the construction company
    • Responding to delays, emergencies and other project issues
    • Ensuring project compliance with legal requirements
  • Skills: Some of the typical skills required of construction managers include:5
    • Coordination
    • Management of Personnel Resources
    • Active Listening
    • Monitoring/Assessing Performance (of self, others and the organization)
    • Speaking
  • Job Growth Outlook: According to the BLS, employment of construction managers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032.4

The list of career paths related to this program is based on a subset from the Bureau of Labor Statistics CIP to SOC Crosswalk. Some career paths listed above may require further education or job experience.

Could a Degree Program in Project Management Be for You?

Do you like the idea of overseeing teams, budgets and timelines? Are you interested in studying how to effectively manage projects from beginning to end? Do you have the qualities of a project management specialist, or are you interested in working to develop those qualities? If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions, then pursuing a degree program in project management could be a good fit for you as well as an important step in your academic journey. CTU offers a number of project management-oriented degree programs that you might wish to explore.

Check out our degree programs in Project Management and Business and Management today, or apply now.

1 PMI®, “Who Are Project Managers?,” http://www.pmi.org/about/learn-about-pmi/who-are-project-managers (last visited 6/19/2024).
2 PMI®, “What Is Project Management?,” http://www.pmi.org/about/learn-about-pmi/what-is-project-management (last visited 6/19/2024).
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Project Management Specialists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm (last visited 6/19/2024).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Construction Managers,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm (last visited 6/19/2024).
5 National Center for O*NET Development, “11-9021.00—Construction Managers,” O*NET OnLine, http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9021.00 (last visited 6/19/2024).

Colorado Technical University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ1963878 6/2024

Jan 07