Program Outline
The Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Project Management provides graduate students with an in-depth view of project management and the demands of the critical role to the evolution of new processes, procedures and programs.
We can help you learn how to:
- Adapt and innovate to solve problems.
- Analyze various leader, follower, cultural and situational characteristics that contribute to leadership, and adapt to the needs of situations, employees and co-workers.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and analysis to business and management problems using knowledge of mathematics, statistics, finance and economics.
- Develop plans to improve business operations.
- Apply principles of quantitative and qualitative research to business cases and evaluate the quality of research presented based on these principles.
- Use knowledge of economic concepts, principles and theory to critically analyze and evaluate economic problems and opportunities.
- Use critical thinking skills, including deriving the issue, understanding argument reasoning and developing conclusions.
- Discuss the opportunities provided by technology for businesses.
- Recognize and manage potential ethical and legal conflicts.
- Communicate effectively in business situations..
- Identify project stakeholders to assess their needs and issues at the beginning of the project..
- Evaluate various organizational systems and determine how to integrate project management processes into various existing corporate structures..
- Create a project plan (based upon the core planning processes) focused on customer needs and which effectively balances project and organizational objectives with stakeholder satisfaction and which addresses the nine project management process areas.
Classes Overview
At AIU, more of the courses you take, on average, are devoted to your field of interest than at other similar schools. Your classes may include:
Global Financial Management
Within the context of the multinational firm, this course examines the development of policy, financing options for international business, and the making of standard financial management decisions.
Business Research for Decision Making
In this course, the student will explore decision making from a managerial viewpoint and examine the role of decision making in dealing with employees, formulating strategy, and negotiating. This course requires students to understand, apply, and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies as they apply to business studies and analysis.
A Managerial Approach to Marketing
This course focuses on the application of marketing concepts in a global organization. Students will examine international channel distribution as well as promotional, pricing, and product strategies.
Strategic Management
The development and implementation by the global enterprise of integrated business strategies and policies is the focus of this applied course. Course contents include the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of the corporate resources, products, and assets. Advanced research is an integral component of this course.
Project Management: Integration, Scope, Time and Communication
This course offers a practical approach emphasizing the project phases and processes presented by such organizations as the Project Management Institute (PMI(r)) in their Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK(r)). This course will provide an overview of aspects related to the project life cycle and project management techniques that are used to manage projects that are on schedule, within budget. The student will learn the basic project management framework as well as the preparation of a basic project plan. Students will focus on project management processes including scope, scheduling, cost control, and communication.
Planning, Execution & Closure
This course offers a practical approach emphasizing the project phases and processes presented by such organizations as the Project Management Institute (PMI(r)) in their Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK(r)). This course will provide techniques related to managing projects through various life cycle stages.
Career Paths
What’s it like to be a project manager?
At the core, a project manager is someone who has a strong foundation of organizational skills. But when you look deeper, you know how much more the job title demands. Project managers are, of course, responsible for all aspects of a project, from the planning to the execution, and finally to its conclusion. Project managers often spend their time:
- Setting Determining scope and calculating budget for new projects
- Creating timelines and assigning available resources
- Developing project plans to that will guide the team
- Tracking progress through a project and maintaining client communication
- Communicating Coordinating with team members and following up to keep the project on track
- Tracking progress through a project and Anticipating and overcoming obstacles as they arisethat arise throughout the project
- Acting as a go-between where needed
- Making sure all project objectives are met
Key Skills
What makes a good project manager?
A well-qualified project manager can give the employer and clients peace of mind that a project is being completed in the most efficient manner possible in regard to time, money and resources. This usually involves:
- Strong leadership & communication
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage a team
- Client-facing skills
- Detail-oriented
- Understanding of business processes
- Ability to innovate processes and adapt as needed
- Collaborative
- Thoughtful mentor
- Familiar with Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Comfortable with project-management software
- Confidence
Industries
Where are project managers often used?
There are a number of fields that may now be searching for project-management professionals with MBAs to guide businesses through transitions, upgrades, or growth-related projects. Each of these fields offers unique opportunity to help, or lead a variety of projects from start to finish.
- Construction, to help with the design and development of a project, find the proper contractors to carry out the work, and ensure that a project is completed on time and within the predetermined budget
- Manufacturing, to help create and adhere to a timeline and budget while implementing new products or manufacturing processes
- Engineering, working on software and systems development projects, and projects other various industries
- Information Technology, working with companies to help them identify their needs, recognize changing business climates, and implement new approaches to keep their business competitive
- Consulting, working across all the popular fields of project management from construction and manufacturing, to engineering and IT
Accreditation
AIU’s business administration degree programs with all their specializations are programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).Learn More
The ACBSP accreditation means that AIU’s business administration programs meet the rigorous standards of this leading accreditation association. It helps ensure that what we teach is industry-current and industry-relevant in today’s business environment and can make your education meaningful in the marketplace.