Leadership. Teamwork. Problem solving. Strategic thinking. Management. These are skills at the core of any MBA program. Add a concentration of project management and you may just have a ticket to the corner office.
The potential for career advancement is prompting many project managers to take a second look at advanced degree programs like the University of Southern Indiana online Master of Business Administration program with a concentration in Project Management.
Focus on Project Management
Core coursework in most MBA programs covers business fundamentals, with concentrations in project management providing early- and mid-career professionals with the niche expertise required for advancement, says MBACentral.org.
“The best project managers generally have some experience in the hands-on aspects of the team they’re managing,” the website says. “If you’ve worked on a team for several years and think you have what it takes to move up and begin managing a similar team, a project management MBA is a no-brainer.”
The core courses in the USI MBA in Project Management provide students with a foundation in areas such as leadership training, strategic and international management, marketing strategy, and accounting — all important areas of expertise for any senior manager. Where the USI degree program differs is in the required project management courses. Focused on technical enterprises, these courses cover essential project management techniques and strategies through lectures, case studies and role-play exercises.
Then, two project management courses equip students to initiate, manage, monitor, and control resources and schedules to execute projects based on industry practices, with opportunities for practical application. Additionally, both courses prepare students to obtain industry-recognized project management certifications with income-boosting potential.
ProjectManagementDegrees.net says a project management master’s can open doors to senior management positions across a number of industries.
“Some 46% of project managers hold a master’s degree, while 43% hold a bachelor’s, making a master’s degree a significant source of differentiation when it comes to hiring and promoting, particularly to senior project management positions,” the website says.
It’s common for mid-career professionals to pursue an online degree program like an MBA focused on project management while staying employed in project-driven fields like construction, telecommunications or information technology. Doing so enables them to add the degree and leverage their previous experience with a company to move into leadership roles or seek new opportunities elsewhere. There is neither loss of income nor interruption in one’s tenure with a company for students in an online degree program.
The project management MBA at USI is offered entirely online, allowing working professionals to obtain an advanced degree while maintaining family and job responsibilities. USI’s Romain College of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and this affordable MBA program can be completed in as few as 11 months.
Learn more about USI’s online MBA program with a concentration in Project Management.
Sources:
MBA Central: What Can I Do With a Project Management MBA?
ProjectManagementDegrees.net: What Jobs Can I Get with a Master’s in Project Management?
