Application deadline
Credits and costs
The Importance of Project Management Credentials
Delivering complex projects on time and under budget is a daily challenge for most corporations. More organizations now use project-based methods to accomplish such tasks, so the demand for project managers is on the rise. This increased job competition means that you need additional credentials or certifications to stand out in the job market. A graduate certificate in project management can help you add an important credential to your résumé — as you acquire a skill set valued in virtually any industry.
Why a Certificate in Project Management at Penn State?
The Penn State World Campus online Graduate Certificate in Project Management is an interdisciplinary, 12-credit program that uses problem-based learning to provide a strong foundation in project management theory and practice. The program is AACSB–accredited, and Penn State is a Project Management Institute (PMI)® Registered Education Provider (R.E.P), so your certificate will be a well-respected credential.
As a student in the program, you can learn project management fundamentals from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc. (2013), as well as the European model (APM).
After completing an introductory project management course taught by renowned industry professional Dr. Jeffrey Pinto, you can customize your certificate to suit your personal career goals, choosing from the following topics:
- cost and value management
- planning and resource management
- commercial law and project procurement
- organization theory
- interpersonal and group behavior
- corporate, business, and project strategy
Who Should Apply?
Whether you are in project, program, or portfolio management; construction management; or project execution, this could be an ideal program for you if you are looking for career development opportunities to enhance your knowledge and skill sets in managing large, complex projects.
"PMI" and "PMBOK" are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.
Courses
You will take one required course and choose three elective courses to obtain the 12-credit certificate in project management. Courses are based on real-world business needs and are taught by industry-respected faculty. Because you can continue working in your current position while you study, the knowledge you attain can be immediately applied to your career and situations you face in your workplace. You can acquire expertise in:
- planning
- cost and value management
- project control
- workforce issues
- strategic issues
Required Course (3 credits)
Electives (select 9 credits)
Prerequisites as listed may be waived by the course instructor if you can demonstrate the required level of competency.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,017 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,203 per semester |
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, should be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete:
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
The 12-credit graduate certificate in project management is embedded in the master's degree program, sharing the same course offerings and tuition rates. If you apply and are accepted into the Master of Project Management program, the 12 credits you earn toward this certificate may be applied to the master's program.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
GPA and Test Scores — Postsecondary (undergraduate), junior/senior (last two years) GPA is required.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
References (2) — Each applicant who is not an employee of a sponsoring partner (Rolls Royce) is required to provide recommendations from academic or professional sources. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment to success in an online program. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Statement of Purpose — The statement should be one to two pages and answer the following questions:
- Why have you chosen to participate in Penn State's project management program? Describe how your previous or current work experience will enable you to apply course concepts to project management situations you have experienced.
- How will these studies help you attain your career goals?
- How will your participation contribute to the program?
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
- Choose "Project Management" as the certificate
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.
Contact Us
For questions regarding how to apply, contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
For academic and curriculum questions, contact:
Project Management Administrative Office
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 814-898-6200
For questions regarding your submitted application, contact:
Email: [email protected]
Faculty
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Richard Peng
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DegreePh.D., Management Science, The University of North Texas
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DegreeMBA, Operations Management & Supply Chain Management, The University of Texas at Dallas
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DegreeB.E., Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Dr. Richard Peng is an associate professor of project and supply chain management at Penn State Behrend. His research articles have been published in journals including IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Cleaner Production, Quality Management Journal, and Resources, Conservation & Recycling. His research and teaching interests include health care operations, operations management, project management, quality management, supply chain management, and technology management.
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Jeffrey K. Pinto
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DegreePh.D., Organization Theory, University of Pittsburgh
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DegreeMBA, Finance, University of Pittsburgh
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DegreeB.S., Business, University of Maryland
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DegreeB.A., History, University of Maryland
Dr. Jeffrey K. Pinto is professor and Andrew Morrow and Elizabeth Lee Black Chair in the Management of Technology at Penn State. He has been the program chair for Penn State's Master of Project Management program since its inception in 2002. An internationally renowned scholar in project management, Dr. Pinto is the author of 28 books and 150 research papers, principally on project management topics. Among his honors, he has received research achievement awards from the Project Management Institute (2009) and the International Project Management Association (2017).
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B.C. Kim
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DegreePh.D., Construction Management in Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
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DegreeM.S, Civil Engineering, Seoul National University
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DegreeB.S., Civil Engineering, Seoul National University
Dr. B.C. Kim is an associate professor in project and supply chain management. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and a registered structural engineer in South Korea. He has authored a book on project management and published research articles in European Journal of Operational Research, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Production Planning & Control, and Journal of Management in Engineering. His primary research interests include project analytics with an emphasis on probabilistic project control, forecasting, and risk analysis.
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Joongseo Kim
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DegreePh.D., Business Administration, Oklahoma State University
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DegreeM.S., Management, University of Colorado at Denver
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DegreeB.A., Business Administration, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Dr. Joongseo Kim is an assistant professor of management at Penn State Behrend. His research interests include culture, deviance, and behavioral ethics. His research has appeared in top journals, including Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of Applied Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (PSPB), Harvard Business Review, and Human Relations. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Kim worked in the U.S. Army as a training noncommissioned officer.
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Diane H. Parente
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DegreePh.D., Management Science and Systems, University at Buffalo
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DegreeMBA, Management and Accounting, Canisius College
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DegreeB.A., Physics, Wilson College
Dr. Diane H. Parente is the Samuel A. and Elizabeth B. Breene Professor of Business at Penn State Behrend. She is widely published in various fields, including management information systems, marketing and operations management, online auctions, and simulations in education. She has two books (Project Strategy and Strategic Portfolio Management: A Primer and Best Practices for Online Procurement Auctions) and a project management simulation (Sim4Projects™). She has been named a 2021 Fellow in the Midwest Decision Science Institute.
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Peerasit Patanakul
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DegreePh.D., Systems Science/Engineering Management, Portland State University
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DegreeM.S., Engineering Management, Portland State University
Dr. Peerasit Patanakul is a professor of management at Penn State Behrend. His research interests include project portfolio management, managing multiple projects, human aspects of project management, and managing government programs. He has published three books and multiple book chapters. His works also appear in Journal of Product Innovation Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, International Journal of Project Management, and Project Management Journal. He has received several research grants from the Project Management Institute.
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Ray Venkataraman
DegreePh.D., Management Science, Illinois Institute of TechnologyDr. Ray Venkataraman is a professor and department chair of project and supply chain management and marketing at Penn State Behrend. He has more than forty years of teaching experience and has taught a variety of courses in project management and supply chain management. He has several research publications in top-tier operations and supply chain management journals and has co-authored four books.