Project Management Certificate

Advance your career by mastering the tools and techniques of effective project management. 

In every job, regardless of your title or your industry, you manage projects. Project scheduling, managing budgets, leading diverse teams, and effectively communicating with your stakeholders are just a few of the many skills required in successful project management. Today’s employers are looking for employees who can independently manage complex projects both large and small.

Demand for trained project managers is increasing. The world’s leading association of project managers—the Project Management Institute (PMI)—anticipates over 200,000 new project management jobs annually in the US by 2027. And that’s on top of filling the scores of positions newly vacated by retirement—which they found to be creating a considerable talent gap. Even if you aren’t looking for a full-time project manager job, project management skills are highly transferable, and are a must-have in today’s competitive workplace.

Earn these essential credentials with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Project Management certificate, offered online through the UW Flexible Option

What You’ll Learn

This certificate, awarded by UW-Parkside’s AACSB accredited Business Department, was designed from the ground-up around the PMI standards for project management. In fact, this certificate satisfies the educational requirements needed to sit for the highly sought-after PMP certification. The PMP is the industry gold standard for project management professionals.

This certificate program walks you through an entire project lifecycle—from writing the project charter and scope statement, to assessing the project risks, and closing out a successful deliverable. The certificate focuses on traditional—or “waterfall”— project management, but will also teach you principles of agile. 

Competency-based learning

The UW Flexible Option is a national pioneer in competency-based education for adult learners. This means, you can earn the project management credential you need to get ahead—without sacrificing your commitments to work and family. 

Competency-based education is all about your ability to prove mastery over the knowledge and skills in the program, not about seat-time in a classroom. That means if you already have experience in some areas, you’ll be able to build on that and accelerate your progress. On the other hand, if you’re struggling with a concept and need more time to study it, you can do so without the stress of a looming deadline. 

Benefits of the UW Flexible Option:

• Complete the certificate 100% online, with no live log-on times or course deadlines
• Leverage your existing experience to accelerate through the program
• Earn an accredited credential taught by respected UW faculty 
• Get started any month of the year 
• Have a dedicated Success Coach to support you

One program, two great formats to choose from

This certificate is offered in two separate formats: for academic credit, and not-for credit.

Students who choose the for academic credit option will complete 13 credits worth of coursework divided into 1-credit units (PMGT 301-313x). You will apply to UW-Parkside as a certificate seeking student. Academic credits earned appear on a transcript, receive a letter grade, and may even transfer into a baccalaureate program of study (like the B.S. in Business Administration at UW-Parkside). For-credit students enroll in 12 week long subscription periods, and take as many as they need to finish the certificate.

If you choose the non-credit option, you will enroll in a single, 24 week subscription period where you’ll complete the entire program of study. You only need to register for this program instead of apply. Since you’re not earning academic credit, it won’t apply to a bachelor’s program nor will you have official transcripts showing earned credit. Non-credit programs are a great fit for professionals who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking for professional development.

Who Should Enroll? 

This program is meant for students who want to earn a respected UW credential online and at their own pace. Regardless of the learning format you chose—for credit or non-credit—you should already hold a bachelor’s degree or be actively working toward one and be at least junior standing. If this does not describe you, but you are still interested in enrolling, you should be someone with more than five years of business experience, preferably in mid-level management or above.  

Since the UW Flexible Option is fully online, independent, and self-paced, this style of learning is not always the best fit for everyone. Our most successful students are those who are:

• Motivated, disciplined self-starters
• Comfortable holding themselves accountable
• Capable of thriving in an independent learning environment

Interested in project management, but need a full bachelor’s degree? Check out our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and earn this project management certificate along the way. Call our enrollment advisers to learn more: 608-800-6762. 

About UW-Parkside 

Located in Kenosha, WI, the epicenter of the mega region between Milwaukee and Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is dedicated to providing students with quality instruction and a strong return on their investment. The business department is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, which is the gold-standard accrediting body that fewer than 5% of business programs internationally are recognized by. 

Students in the business department learn and master an industry-informed curriculum, in skills ranging from marketing, project management, accounting, supply chain management, and strategic planning. UW-Parkside is especially known for its affordability and student-centered approach to learning.

Accreditation

University of Wisconsin-Parkside is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. The business department is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International (AACSB).

This certificate uses projects to simulate the types of experiences you might face in the workplace. This applied learning format ensures that you master the key concepts in action, and it prepares you with a portfolio of work that prospective employers will find valuable. 

Throughout this certificate, you will learn the skills needed to manage a project from conception to close.

For Academic Credit Option: For those that chose to to apply to the certificate for academic credit, you will enroll in 13 individual one credit courses. By breaking the curriculum into smaller, one credit courses, it is easier for you to focus on mastering each individual skill while balancing your other work and family obligations. You can take as many subscription periods (which are 12 weeks long) as you need to earn the certificate. 

Non-Credit Option: For those who want to earn the certificate not-for-credit, you’ll complete the entire program in a single, 24 week subscription period. Both options have the same learning outcomes, competencies, and faculty, but there are slightly different academic requirements to complete the non-credit program compared to the for-credit program.

Not sure which option is right for you? Call one of our enrollment advisers at 608-800-6762

The UW Flexible Option offers working adults–like you–a more affordable way to finish a certificate. Your coursework takes place in subscription periods–rather than semesters. Subscription periods have a defined start date and end date, but there are no course deadlines within them, allowing you to move at your own pace. New subscription periods start every month.

These subscription periods start every single month, and are approximately 12 weeks long.

Not sure if the for-credit or non-credit option is best for you? Call one of our advisers at 608-800-6762.

Are there any additional fees? There are no segregated fees with this program, which saves you hundreds of dollars per credit hour. However, your tuition does not include the cost of textbooks or other special materials that may be required for individual courses.

Students who enroll in this program as a stand-alone certificate are not eligible for financial aid. If you are earning this certificate as part of the B.S. in Business Administration degree in the UW Flexible Option, reach out to our financial aid team to discuss your options.

NOTE: Admission for this certificate is currently paused. The curriculum is under revision to align with the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) recent updates. If you’d like to receive an update when changes are complete, please submit your contact information by clicking the Get Program Guide button above.

This tab describes your next steps if you want to earn a certificate for academic credit.

To be considered for admission to the Project Management Certificate Program, you must meet at least one of the following four requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, or;
• Junior or senior standing in a bachelor’s program, or;
• Associate degree AND at least 2 years of business experience, or;
• At least 5 years of business experience, preferably at the mid-management level (or at an entrepreneurial firm.)

Students with transferable college credit should have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.  

NOTE: Prior college transcripts from which you may transfer credit must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation).

Schedule an advising call at 608-800-6762, or contact us at flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu to learn more about our certificate programs.

How to Apply

• You may apply up to five months in advance of your desired start date. See Steps to Apply.
• If previously enrolled in Flex, please review our returning student admissions process.

Note: On the e-application, indicate that you want to pursue a “degree.” 

Still have questions?  Check out our Admission FAQ page.

NOTE: Admission for this certificate is currently paused. The curriculum is under revision to align with the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) recent updates. If you’d like to receive an update when changes are complete, please submit your contact information by clicking the Get Program Guide button above.

If you choose the non-credit version of the project management certificate, this page details the unique program policies and structure, and how to register.

Why choose the non-credit certificate?

Earning the non-credit project management certificate is a great choice for someone with a bachelor’s degree—or higher—seeking professional development but are not interested in earning additional academic credits. With fixed start and end points, this non-credit certificate gives you 24 weeks to complete the program, so plan your start date at a time that works best for you.

This program has a one-time tuition cost of $1,995.00, which covers the full 24 week program.

Still unsure if this is the best option for you? Call one of our advisers at 608-800-6762, they are happy to answer any questions.

Terms & Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to registration in the Project Management Non-Credit Certificate:

• Registration Requirements: To register for the Non-Credit Project Management Certificate Program, you must meet at least one of the following four requirements:
  • An undergraduate degree (i.e. bachelor of science); or,
  • Be actively enrolled in a bachelor’s degree with junior or senior standing; or,
  • Have an associate degree and at least two years of business experience; or,
  • If you have no degree, then at least five years of business experience, preferably at mid-level management or above
• Refund and Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your registration through the Friday before your subscription period begins and will receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee. No refund is provided for cancelled registrations received after this time frame. Please see the Compassionate Refund/Extension Policy for information on exceptions to this policy. 
• Project Management Institute Certification: This program does not automatically grant the PMP, CAPM, or any other project management certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) upon graduation. Though our program will prepare you for those certifications, it is your responsibility to complete all the requirements (which includes education, tests, fees, and experiential hours), as outlined by the PMI, to earn those industry certifications. 
• Modality: UW Flexible Option is not a traditional learning experience. We encourage you to review the resources on how the UW Flexible Option works, as well as this short overview of competency-based education. Please note, students are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns with an Enrollment Adviser (608-800-6762) prior to registering for this program.
• Course Policies: You acknowledge that you have reviewed all the course policies, which include policies on registration, cancellation, withdrawal, grading, repeat, and more.