Best Online Master’s in Project Management Degree Programs

Boston University is a private, nonprofit institution that serves more than 34,000 students through 17 schools and colleges. BU boasts over 300 programs and has offered online degrees since 2002. Today, distance students can pursue just over 40 web-based options, including master's degrees in supply chain management, enterprise risk management, and project management.

The 40-credit master's in project management is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs. The curriculum includes four core courses that cover decision-making, supply chains, finance, and new product development.

Through four specialization courses, students explore areas like Agile project management, cost management, and communications management. Learners earn the remaining credits through two free electives.

BU's distance learners benefit from 24/7 access to course materials, which include recorded lectures, discussion boards, and multimedia content. Students can earn the MS in project management in 18-24 months.

Based in Denver, Colorado, Regis University is a private, nonprofit institution that offers 131 degrees, including 80 online options. The College of Business and Economics offers an MS in project leadership and management that students can complete online or on campus. The program features accelerated eight-week classes that begin in January, May, and August.

The project management master's, which is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs, builds skills in communication, risk management, and business intelligence, among other areas.

Much of the curriculum focuses on leadership strategy, and students take courses on leading change and leading in contemporary organizations. Additionally, learners explore project monitoring and project performance. Learners also take a capstone class on strategic corporate social responsibility.

Applicants must submit official transcripts, a resume, and an admissions essay. Regis sometimes requires a faculty interview or standardized test scores.

American University is a private research university based in Washington, D.C. The institution serves over 12,000 students through 71 bachelor's programs and 87 master's degrees, along with doctoral and professional programs. AU boasts 11 online master's options, including a unique MS in Agile project management.

The Agile project management degree features a 30-credit curriculum that students can complete in 20 months. The four-phase curriculum encompasses core courses, electives, professional classes, and a capstone.

Core courses and electives explore key areas of project management, while professional courses focus on the Agile methodology. An interesting course on solutions and risk management explores topics like risk assessment, cost accounting, and financial decision-making using Agile methodologies.

At the end of the program, students apply what they learned about data, technology, leadership, and emerging trends in project management to produce a final report.

Penn State is a public institution serving around 100,000 students through 24 campus locations and online programs. The school, founded in 1855, enrolls over 17,000 learners. Distance students learn through Penn State's World Campus, which offers dozens of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

World Campus students can pursue a master of project management online that holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The program requires 30 credits from eight core courses and two electives. Some interesting electives cover enterprise architecture, enterprise resource planning, and engineering product innovation. Through a capstone course, students synthesize skills by solving a project management problem.

Students earn the online master of project management through asynchronous classes that typically include weekly assignments, readings, group projects, and discussions. World Campus delivers course material through Canvas, and learners can finish their degree in two years.

Purdue University, based in West Lafayette, Indiana, is a public institution that enrolls over 39,000 students. Distance learners can earn a certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree through Purdue's many online and hybrid programs.

Purdue offers a fully online MS in information technology project management that students earn through self-paced, asynchronous classes. Learners can complete the 34-credit curriculum in as little as one year. Students take courses in eight-week blocks.

The MS in IT project management readies students to pass the project management professional certification exam with a one-credit course focused on exam preparation. The program explores project management from an IT perspective and incorporates coursework on IT economics, IT quality management, and IT law. Courses also cover more general project management subjects, such as risk management, research and communication, and interpersonal skills.

The University of Maryland - College Park is a flagship public institution that offers over 200 programs through 12 schools and colleges. The A. James Clark School of Engineering offers many online options, including a master's in project management.

UMD's professional master of engineering in project management targets engineering professionals looking to enhance their credentials and advance their careers. The program is practice-oriented and requires no research component.

Learners complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credits. They take five core classes on topics like basic project management, risk management, and cost accounting. Students can customize the rest of their program through electives, which may cover topics like sustainability, systems engineering, automation, and investment theory.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field with at least a 3.0 GPA. They also need prerequisite coursework in calculus, differential equations, and statistics.

Based in Washington, D.C., George Washington University is a private, nonprofit institution that enrolls over 26,000 undergraduate and graduate learners. Distance learners can choose from more than 100 online programs in fields like business, communications, legal studies, and public policy.

Students who earn the MS in project management online take the same courses as on-campus learners. GW records on-campus lectures and posts videos to Blackboard within three hours of the in-person session. Learners may view lectures at any time and can participate in optional live class sessions each week. Full-time students typically finish the program in 18-24 months.

The MS in project management requires 36 credits, including 30 credits of core courses and six credits from electives. Core courses cover general management topics, such as statistics, risk analysis, and decision-making. Students also take project management classes on planning, cost estimation, and scheduling.

Dallas Baptist University, established in 1898, is a private university affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The Texas-based institution boasts 78 undergraduate programs and more than 30 graduate options. Distance learners can pursue online master's degrees in business, leadership, and professional development, among other fields.

DBU offers a fully online MBA with seven tracks, including a project management specialization. MBA candidates complete 36 credits to earn the degree, including 24 credits of core coursework. Regardless of their specialization, all business administration students take courses in business ethics, accounting, corporate finance, leadership, and management information systems. During their last semester, students complete a strategic management capstone during which they consider various strategic models, tools, and approaches.

The four-course project management concentration prepares students to oversee projects from initiation to closeout. During an advanced project management strategy class, learners produce a comprehensive project plan.

City University of Seattle is a private institution that serves students through 20 campus locations and online. The school designs programs for working professionals and students with busy schedules. Distance learners can pursue master's degrees in several areas, including teaching, counseling, and project management.

CityU's online MS in project management holds accreditation from the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

The curriculum consists of three phases: introduction, core, and mastery. The introduction and core components explore planning, scheduling, finance, risk, and performance evaluation. Mastery classes cover more advanced topics, such as leading global teams, stakeholder management, and portfolio management. Through a two-course capstone sequence, students complete a final project and compile an electronic portfolio. In total, students earn 45 credits.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn, established in 1959, is a public institution that serves around 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The university boasts four colleges, which offer 74 bachelor's programs, 43 master's degrees, and six doctoral/specialist options. Each college offers many online courses.

Students can complete the College of Engineering and Computer Science's MS in program and project management entirely online, on campus, or through a blended format. The degree targets professionals looking to build skills in project coordination, employee management, and cost accounting.

Seven core courses explore topics like cost estimation, risk-benefit analysis, and organizational behavior. Through electives, students can learn about subjects such as big data analytics, statistical models, and engineering management.

Applicants need an undergraduate degree in engineering, business, math, computer science or another physical science along with at least two years of work experience. They also need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Based in Nebraska, Bellevue University is a private, nonprofit institution in operation since 1966. Through four colleges, the school offers more than 80 online and on-campus degrees.

Bellevue's online master of project management is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs. The 36-credit curriculum gives students the business, leadership, and communication skills they need to manage projects in various industries.

Students take 12, three-credit courses to earn the degree. An interesting course on emerging trends in project management focuses on current events, prominent research in the field, and the future of the profession. Another class explores the challenges associated with managing virtual and global teams. At the end of the program, students complete a capstone research project.

Applicants need at least three years of project management experience. They also need a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA.

Brandeis University is a private, nonprofit institution based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1948, the school offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across five schools. Students can pursue several part-time online master's degrees in fields like technology management, strategic analysis, and project and program management.

The MS in project and program management features a fully online curriculum comprising seven required courses and three electives. Required classes explore topics like negotiation, conflict resolution, and the human side of project leadership. Through electives, students can learn about specialized areas such as Agile project management, contract management, and data science.

Brandeis delivers online classes asynchronously during four, 10-week sessions each year. While students do not need to log on at specific times, they must meet regular deadlines. Learners can complete the master's in as little as 18 months.

Founded in 1971, Liberty University is an evangelical Christian institution that serves over 100,000 students. The university operates 17 colleges and schools, which offer more than 600 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Learners can pursue more than 400 programs online.

Liberty's MS in project management consists of 36 credit hours, which students complete in 1.5 years on average. Learners can earn the degree entirely online through accelerated, eight-week courses. While classes are mostly self-paced, students must meet deadlines set by professors.

The program requires 12 core courses that cover topics like quality management, supply chain management, and leading organizational change. Students must satisfy a global business requirement by taking a course in international business or global project management.

Applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA from a nationally or regionally accredited bachelor's program. Students may transfer up to 50% of required credit hours from another graduate program.

Based in Gainesville, Georgia, Brenau University is a private institution in operation since 1878. The school introduced online programs in 1998 and boasts around 40 web-based options. Brenau offers an online MBA with 16 tracks, including nonprofit leadership, mediation and conflict resolution, and project management.

The project management MBA readies students to earn professional certifications, including credentials from the Project Management Institute. The degree requires 42-45 credits, including 15 credits from the project management concentration. Project management courses discuss leadership, contract management, ethics, and project planning.

Students also complete seven core business classes that cover topics like business law, financial management, strategic management, and marketing. Learners must choose one course on global business, such as international marketing, international finance, or cross-cultural business challenges.

For admission, Brenau requires a minimum 3.0 GPA in all prior college work. Applicants must submit official college transcripts and a resume.

Based in Omaha, Concordia University Nebraska is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Lutheran Church. The university, established in 1894, educates over 2,500 students and offers around 30 online undergraduate and graduate programs.

Learners can pursue Concordia's MBA online, on campus, or through a combination of in-person and virtual courses. Online students take classes through Blackboard. Distance learners can take advantage of online research guides from Concordia's library.

MBA students take 36 credits of core courses along with nine credits from a specialized certificate. Through 12 core classes, learners examine topics like entrepreneurship, operations management, innovation, and legal issues. The three-course project management certificate covers business analytics, financial statement analysis, and other key project management concepts.

Applicants submit official transcripts, a resume, and a letter of intent explaining their interest in the MBA program.

LSU Shreveport, founded in 1967, enrolls around 7,000 students through 21 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate options. Online students pursuing the MBA can choose from nine focus areas, including casino management, family enterprise, data analytics, and project management.

The online MBA in project management comprises 30 credit hours and takes as little as 10 months to complete. The program focuses on process improvement and prepares students to earn certifications from the Project Management Institute and Lean Six Sigma Institute. Learners can opt for a project management concentration or a more flexible project management specialization.

All online students pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency. Applicants need at least a 2.5 undergraduate GPA and a minimum GMAT score of 450. Students with an exceptional GPA, three years of work experience, or a graduate degree do not need to submit GRE scores.

Founded in 1912, Saint Mary's is a Roman Catholic university that enrolls around 5,900 undergraduate and graduate students. The school offers programs at several campus locations and online. Students can pursue an online master's degree in 15 fields, including accountancy, business intelligence, and project management.

The online master's in project management features a 36-credit curriculum accredited by the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs. Learners take nine project management courses, two general management classes, and a capstone.

Students can complete the MS in project management entirely online in two years, learning through asynchronous courses. Saint Mary's provides all online students with an iPad to help them through their studies.

Applicants need at least a 2.75 GPA from a regionally accredited institution. The project management program also requires one year of experience as a project manager or as a member of a project team.

The University of Texas at Dallas offers over 140 degrees through eight schools. The Naveen Jindal School of Management offers an online project management certificate along with two master's options.

The MS in leadership and organization with a project management concentration requires 36 credits. Learners take four project management classes that explore the lifecycle of a project from initiation to closeout. Through core leadership and organizational development classes, students learn about topics including organizational behavior, leading organizational change, and leadership strategy. Students complete the remaining credit hours through four electives.

Students can earn the project management master's through intensive on-campus classes, online courses, or a combination of the two formats. Online courses incorporate independent study along with live web conferencing.

The project management degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs.

Troy University, based in Alabama, is a public institution offering over 260 academic programs through five colleges. Students can pursue over 70 distance degrees through TROY Online, the school's distance education division. Distance learners interested in management might consider earning an online MS in management, an MBA, or an MPA.

Troy offers the MS in management in project management exclusively online through a 10-course program that takes one year to complete. Students earn a total of 30 credits during five, nine-week terms per year.

The MS in management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Students take 21 credit hours of core management courses that cover subjects such as ethical leadership, developing high-performance teams, continuous improvement, and strategic management. The nine-credit project management concentration comprises one introductory course and two advanced seminars.

Applicants need an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5, or a 3.0 in the last 30 semester hours of undergraduate study.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Samford University is a Christian institution in operation since 1841. The university's more than 5,600 students can pursue degrees and concentrations through 10 schools.

Samford offers a unique online master of studies in law program that prepares non-lawyers to advance their careers through a better understanding of legal issues. Learners can design their own program of study or choose from four concentrations, including a legal project management track. Students can earn the degree in two years of part-time study.

The legal project management specialization readies graduates to work in law offices where they may evaluate firm profitability, recommend new technologies, promote effective decision-making, and manage workflow. Some interesting courses cover law firm management, legal technology, and law firm accounting.

Applicants typically have at least one year of professional experience. Samford requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and strongly advises applicants to submit GRE or MAT scores.