For both undergraduate and graduate students, choosing what degree you should pursue can be difficult. There are so many degrees out there, and whether you are just starting college or are a graduate student, it can be hard to find one that suits your interests and career path. This is why more fluid degrees like project management are often a good option.
Project management itself has a broad definition; it is best described as leading a team toward the goals of a project. This is a job that can be applied to nearly any field, from nonprofit work to tech projects; the possibilities are endless.
Other than the nearly endless field of diverse opportunities you would have with a project management degree, demand for project managers is also rapidly growing. In fact, the Project Management Institute is expecting around 22 million new project management job openings over the course of the next seven years.
The field will also deliver high pay. Project managers tend to have great salaries, with an average base salary of $66,137 and the potential of making more than $100,000, according to Glassdoor. With the base salary being quite high, it really would be hard to say no to a career as a project manager.
Finally, what is quite possibly the best part of project management is the skills you develop. Project management skills are extremely useful for working with and leading teams, which is useful in many aspects of life. You also develop great organizational, time management, budgeting and communication skills—you really get a little bit of everything.
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But is it necessary to gain a master’s degree in project management? Let’s explore this question below.
Why a Master’s Degree in Project Management?
As with any degree, it is important to think of how far you plan to advance your career. While pretty much every field offers a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D., there are a few factors that go into deciding how far you wish to progress.
The number one thing to consider is what your dream job may require. Different jobs will have much different requirements and your career goals will reflect what level of education you should pursue.
As mentioned above, some project managers can earn more than $100,000 per year, likely leading a team working for an established company. These positions do not often go to applicants with just a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience. The higher your education level, the more you will be paid.
The other big factors in deciding which level of education to complete are time and necessity. If you really do not or cannot be in college for any longer than it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree, then that is obviously the right choice for you. Just be sure to think of what your career path requires; entry-level jobs within your field will not require as high of an education as others. But a few years into your career, you may want to apply for a position that requires not only a few years of experience, but also a master’s degree in project management.
If you’re going to jump from your bachelor’s straight into a master’s in project management or are a working project manager looking to pad your resume before applying to your next big gig, continue reading below for the top nine schools offering master’s in project management degrees.
Top 9 Schools for a Master’s in Project Management Degree
Thousands of universities across the globe offer degrees in project management. The tough part is finding one with a great program. We have pooled information from the Project Management Institute to show you the best universities to attend if you are pursuing a master’s in project management.
- Bellevue University, College of Science and Technology
- Located in Nebraska, US, Bellevue University is well-known for its master’s in project management program, offering all options of study: on-campus, online or a hybrid of the two.
- Bond University, Faculty of Science and Design
- In Queensland, Australia, Bond University has one of the top programs in the world, offered only through completely on-campus courses.
- Colorado State University Global, School of Management and Innovation
- Colorado State University Global is located in Colorado, US, less than an hour outside of Denver. This college offers a completely online program.
- Edith Conway University, School of Business and Law
- Edith Conway University is in Joondalup, Australia, and boasts a top-notch hybrid program.
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral ESPOL
- The Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral ESPOL in Guayas, Ecuador is the only South American school to make the list. Seeing as their on-campus program has been accredited by the Project Management Institute, it is safe to say they have a great program.
- HELP University, ELM Graduate School
- HELP University, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, remains the first and only Southeast Asian university to have their project management master’s program accredited by the Project Management Institute. This makes their on-campus program one of the top programs in the world.
- La Salle- Ramon Llull University Graduate School
- La Salle- Ramon Llull University Graduate School offers both an on-campus and online program from their location in Barcelona, Spain.
- Queensland University of Technology, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment
- The Queensland University of technology is located in Queensland, Australia, and offers a great hybrid program.
- RMIT University, School of Property, Construction and Project Management
- Finally, we have RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, which boasts a fantastic on-campus master’s in project management program.
All of these schools are great choices for colleges specializing in master’s degrees in project management. If you are just beginning college, you could definitely start at your university and later transfer to a different one to complete your master’s. If you decide to do this, be sure to double check the requirements for your degree program in both schools and make sure your credits will easily transfer over.
While it certainly is not necessary to attend one of the top schools in the world, doing so makes an impression when you begin creating your resume and applying for jobs. If attending one of these schools is a possibility for you, we highly recommend applying to as many as you can so you can have the upper hand.
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After completing your master’s degree in project management, you could put any one of the above schools on your resume and be guaranteed to impress potential employers.
With that said, let’s now explore some potential careers in project management that will be available to you once you graduate from your master’s in project management program.
Careers in Project Management
Once you have a master’s degree in project management, many more opportunities will become available as you advance your career.
Nearly every job sector requires a project manager at some point during operations, meaning you can enter just about any field with your master’s degree in project management.
Some top industries always looking for project managers include financial services, law and information technology, for example.
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The project management skills you earn while earning your MS in project management will easily transfer from one industry to the next, meaning you could possibly become a freelance project management consultant and work in various sectors to always keep your job interesting.
Those just breaking into the field as a project management graduate, especially undergrads, will likely start off working as a project coordinator, an assistant to the project manager. But, with more hands on experience, you will eventually be leading projects yourself.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about beginning your college journey, project management is a great field to go into. You will be able to start working in your field as soon as you earn an undergraduate degree and can continue your education to pursue a master’s degree once you are a working project management professional. This higher degree will help advance your career as you take on more complex projects and master the art of project planning.
If you have already earned an undergraduate degree in project management, continuing on to earn a master’s degree is a fantastic decision to bolster your skills through more in-depth, core courses.
Considering all of the perks of this career path, such as the high salaries and easily transferable skills, you should most definitely give some serious thought to earning your master’s in project management degree from one of the top nine schools mentioned above.
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