Online Certified Project Management Courses and Classes

Online project management certification classes provide value to project managers, because certification can facilitate promotions, increase job security, lead to higher salaries and is often a requirement on job postings. Online classes may be part of a scholastic curriculum or training offered by independent organizations. Most online classes in project management are fee-based.

Overview of Online Certified Project Manager Courses and Classes

Students wishing to obtain project manager certification through online courses have two main options. The first is to complete a project management program at a degree-granting college or university. The second is to complete a course of study at an outside institution. These institutions often call their programs 'boot camp' or similar names to highlight their intensive nature. Some universities partner with outside institutions to offer classes as part of a package. All options offer a mixture of on-campus and online courses, with classroom-based courses being more common.

Degrees and Certificates

Possible scholastic degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Project Management or a Master of Business Administration in Project Management. Some academic institutions award certificates such as a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management.
The Project Management Institute (PMI), the primary professional certifying organization, grants its Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate when the student has met certain criteria and passed a comprehensive examination. Candidates can use online classes to meet some of the coursework requirements; the complete requirements are listed on the PMI's website (www.pmi.org). Certified project managers can also use online classes to obtain professional development units in order to maintain their certification.
Since the PMI is so important in the field, many institutions align their classes with the PMI processes, tools and terminology. Some independent organizations place the PMI logo on their websites to show their status as an official coursework provider.

General Requirements for Online Courses

Students can sometimes find general class information, attendance policies and completion requirements online, along with costs and required texts. The instructor, syllabus, grading criteria and test or quiz schedules are often listed as well. Students may also be tasked to write research papers, examine case studies, collaborate with others or work independently.
Online classes can be asynchronous, and this allows students to proceed at their own pace. Time-boxed classes require completion within a certain timeframe; when offered by a university, this usually corresponds to the school's academic schedule. At independent institutions the student often has the option of enrolling in the entire program as a whole or completing individual classes at his or her own pace. When enrolled in a comprehensive program, the student often must complete the entire program within a set period.
Some classes have intensive media content, so a high-speed connection is recommended beyond basic online access. Speakers and headphones may be needed as well. Many computers have built-in calculator programs, but a separate calculator allows students to perform budgeting and cost control exercises without leaving the program or changing screens.

Sample List of Online Certified Project Management Courses

Project Management Essentials Course

This class introduces the concept of project management and presents the basic required terminology, tools, techniques, processes and procedures. This and similar courses are often the first class required in a program.

Strategic Project Management Course

In this course project managers learn to examine projects in the context of an organization's strategic plan. The idea is to train project managers to recognize the most effective ways to align projects to a business plan, expend resources to fulfill a company's mission and quantify results against a bottom line.

Effective Organizational Design Course

This class develops the student's ability to contribute to shaping an organization capable of achieving its objectives. Specifics examined include personnel issues and how to mitigate risk factors, maximize response time and overcome potential cultural issues. The course also demonstrates successful techniques to address changing strategies.

PMP Exam Prep Course

This course is a comprehensive preparation for taking the PMP exam and contains a series of class modules. Courses like this are usually offered by independent organizations as part of their boot camp programs. All the material is aligned to the PMI knowledge areas, processes and terminology. The course also provides practice taking the test and techniques for successful completion.