Course Outline

The Project Management Certificate Program is a structured sequence of courses that prepare you for a career in the planning and business fields. It is designed for managers and supervisors involved in engineering, research and development, data processing, construction, facilities management, manufacturing, corporate planning, finance, and marketing.

Penn State is a Project Management Institute (PMI)® Authorized Training Partner (A.T.P.), committed to enhancing the ongoing professional development of both current and future PMI Members, PMI-certified Project Management Professionals (PMP)®, and other project management stakeholders. We also offer Project Management Supplemental topics.

This program is a remote learning opportunity and delivered via Zoom and Canvas.

Program Scope and Sequence

Each project management course is approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to receive one Professional Development Unit (PDU) for each contact hour (21 PDUs per course). PDUs are necessary for individuals who wish to apply to and take the Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam.

A Penn State Behrend certificate is awarded upon completion of the four required courses. Courses MUST be taken in sequence and CANNOT be taken concurrently.

Who Should Attend

This program is specifically designed for people looking to gain more information in the project management field. Our program is designed for a mix of individuals who may be on the path to becoming a project manager, those new to the field, and tenured project managers already involved in projects.

Our students work in various fields, including engineering, research and development, data processing, construction, facilities management, manufacturing, corporate planning, finance, and marketing.

Program Objective

The Project Management Certificate Program is a structured sequence of courses that prepare you for a career in the planning and business fields. Throughout this program, you will be able to apply project management practices, such as project initiation, planning and scheduling; project cost management; and project risk management, to achieve success in a wide variety of fields, including marketing, financial services, information technology, government, construction, and more.

Upon completion of the certificate program, you will have earned 84 educational PDUs you can put towards achieving the (PMP) Project Management Professional credential through the Project Management Institute.

Continuing Education Units

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded based on a standard of one unit per ten (10) hours of classroom contact.

Note: The University reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances.

PMI, the Registered Education Provider logo, and PMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Course Offerings in Sequential Order:

Project Initiation and Planning

The first course in the project management certificate program addresses the role of the project manager; organizational structures; the project life cycle; the project office; leadership; project selection criteria; the project planning process, objectives, scope, benefits, and strategies; as well as project planning, constraints, assumptions, exclusions, milestones, communications, and closeout criteria.

Cost: $645
Discount available: $50 discount if registered by April 29.
Dates: Tuesdays, May 5–June 17, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Register for Project initiation and planning

Project Scheduling and Integration

This dynamic, hands-on course can provide students with the knowledge and ability to take a project plan and develop a schedule of the work needed to deliver the project objectives. Students can learn about developing a work breakdown structure, developing tasks, networking these tasks together, and analyzing the resulting schedule.

Cost: $645
Dates: Thursdays, March 6–April 17, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Scheduling and Integration.

Cost: $645
Dates: Tuesdays, July 1–August 12, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Scheduling and Integration.

Project Costing and Control

The third course in the Project Management Certificate program focuses on selection criteria, procurement, cost estimating, and control mechanisms.

Cost: $645
Dates: Thursdays, May 1–June 12, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Costing and Control.

Cost: $645
Dates: Tuesdays, August 26–October 7, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Costing and Control.

Project Risk and Change Management

The final course in the Project Management Certificate program addresses risk and change management, team responsibilities, conflicts, quality, ethics, and closeout.

Cost: $645
Dates: Thursdays, June 26–August 14, 2025 (no class July 3)
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Risk and Change Management.

Cost: $645
Dates: Tuesdays, October 21–December 2, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration to open soon for Project Risk and Change Management.

Information Session

Join us for a live and remote information session on any of the following dates:

Want to learn more about our four-course project management certificate? Contact Ryan Parker.