Distance Learning Management Program: Certificate and Degree Overviews

Management programs are frequently offered as distance-learning programs for professionals, but they vary significantly in their focus and academic level. Specialties range from healthcare to human resources management. Degree levels can also vary from certificates to full graduate curricula.

Online Certificate Programs in Project Management

Project management is a profession that seeks to increase the profitability of a project through the efficient application of resources. Distance-learning certificates allow students to focus their educational efforts on project management while working full- or part-time.

Program Information and Requirements

Most programs in project management require little or no prior formal education; instead, project managers will be expected to have a background in the types of projects that they oversee. The coursework will then focus on general project management skill sets, such as those found in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a published set of management standards.
Most programs can be completed with either a PC or Macintosh computer. All students should have a high-speed Internet connection and audio capabilities prior to enrolling in their first courses. Many programs request that students use the most up-to-date version of popular browsers, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

List of Common Online Project Management Courses

Certificate programs in project management tend to use a consistent curriculum, deriving the lessons primarily from the PMBOK.

Introductory Project Management Course

This introductory course gives students a primer on project management and the life cycle of business projects. Students learn to define and manage project deadlines based on information required from multiple project sources.

Project Risk Management Course

This online course focuses on the methods needed to identify and mitigate the effects of risky project factors. Case studies help students identify these factors, which include quality, cost, schedule and necessary oversight.

Project Human Resource Management Course

Human resources is one of the most important facets to completing a project at or above expectations. This course discusses techniques for motivating and coaching human capital with regard to an individual project.

Career Information for Graduates

Project managers are not individually classified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are instead classified based on the industry for which they manage projects. For example, construction project managers may differ greatly from information technology managers in both duties and compensation. According to PayScale.com, the median salaries for these two management fields were $70,687 for construction and $83,355 for information technology as of May 2010.

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Online Bachelor's Degree in Management

This general online program prepares students for a broad range of careers in business and management. A typical program can provide the skills to enter management in different industries or start a career in areas such as business consultancy, international relations management and more.

Program Information and Requirements

Typically, online bachelor's degrees in management are designed as an extension to prior training. Some programs are borne out of collaborative efforts with technical and other postsecondary schools, and others may have minimum age requirements. Programs vary in their implementation, with some being offered purely online and others combining online and evening courses to accommodate working professionals.

List of Common Online Bachelor's-Level Management Courses

Most bachelor's degree programs in management have a common core of courses that cover finance, leadership, communication and more. The latter part of a curriculum typically allows students to take electives that focus their management training toward a particular field, such as quality or industrial management.

Introductory Management Course

This class introduces students to the different types of managers prevalent in the modern business environment. Student learn to employ strategies to become more effective leaders.

Financial Accounting for Managers Course

At the core of managing profitability is an understanding of a company's accounting systems. Management courses at this level cover financial statements, profitability analysis, budgeting and other skills required for managerial decision-making.

Project Management Course

Similar to certificate-level project management classes, this online course gives students the skills to manage projects as well as personnel. Case studies will allow students to see project management theory in action.

Career Information for Graduates

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that most management positions are highly competitive (www.bls.gov). A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum education required for management careers, and graduates may pursue low-level manager jobs to start building up the experience needed for higher positions. Graduates might also consider pursuing a master's degree or a Master of Business Administration.

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Online Master's Degree in Health Management

The field of health services management generally requires a master's degree for entry. Master's degree program in health management, which can be offered through distance learning, typically combine general medical knowledge with administrative skills

Program Information and Requirements

Focusing primarily on professionals already working in their career field, these online health management master's degree programs require professional experience as well as an accredited bachelor's degree before applying. Most programs range in length from 36-42 credits, with some awarding individual graduate certifications throughout the process.
Most programs today utilize state-of-the-art technology to deliver fully interactive learning environments. Though requirements vary, it is recommended that student have a laptop or desktop computer with a 56k or better Internet connection, running the latest version of a popular browser. Some programs may require limited face-to-face instruction in addition to distance learning.

List of Common Online Health Management Courses

Combining the unique challenges of the American healthcare system with managerial training, health management master's degrees offer courses in health and business. A core set of distance-learning courses usually precedes a student's option to specialize in a particular area of health management.

Healthcare Management Course

This online course introduces students to the theories behind delivering effective healthcare while using available resources efficiently. Topics cover healthcare billing processes, quality assessment, analysis of wait times and standardized versus customized processes.

Healthcare Financials Course

An in-depth study of the finances of the healthcare industry, this course teaches students to effectively interpret and manage the balance sheets of a healthcare organization. Online lectures differentiate between the accounting practices of for- and non-profit organizations.

Ethics in Healthcare Administration Course

Management decisions in a healthcare environment can carry deeper ethical issues than most managerial roles. This course addresses these issues, including their legal impact and strategies for making ethical decisions.

Career Information for Graduates

Health managers can find employment in areas such as clinical management and health information management. Administrators in a nursing care facility and some assisted-living facilities are required to pass a licensing exam in all fifty states; health managers at other facilities are not required to have such licenses. As of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated the median salary of health services manager to be $81,850 (www.bls.gov).