MS in Project Management FAQ

Are there any special entry requirements for the online project management degree program?
Yes, beyond the standard admission criteria requiring that you earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, maintained an overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, and can demonstrate language proficiency, the MS in Project Management program also requires that you have had at least one formal or informal experience as a project manager or as a member of a project team.
 
When can I start?
You may apply for admission to Saint Mary’s online MS in Project Management at any time. After you are admitted, you may begin taking classes at the start of any semester—Spring, Summer, or Fall.

How long does the program take?
To earn your degree, you will complete 14 graduate level classes equaling 42 credit hours of program work.  At two courses per consecutive semester, you will complete your course work in a little over 2 years, or 28 months.

How much time does it take to complete coursework each week? 
Although the time it takes each student to complete coursework varies, the general rule of thumb is to allocate 15 hours per week for each 3-credit class.

Will Saint Mary’s project management degree program help me to master the Project Management Book of Knowledge Guide so I can sit for the PMP exam?
The MS in Project Management is not a preparatory course for the PMP exam. However, coursework is based on the Project Management Book of Knowledge Guide, which you will need to master to successfully pass the exam.

Does the project management degree count towards the 4,500 hours I need to sit for the PMP exam?
Yes, because Saint Mary’s is one of only 32 schools in the world accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center, completion of project management master’s program counts for 1,500 of the 4,500 required hours, a significant advantage in terms of time and money. If you work a 40-hour workweek, then the master’s enables you to qualify to sit for the exam 37.5 weeks sooner—that’s nearly three-quarters of a year sooner—than you would had you obtained your master’s at a non-accredited school.    

What will my classmates be like? 

The majority of students attending Saint Mary’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs are working adults balancing the demands of career, family, and civic responsibilities. Most students in the project management degree program are practicing project managers who realize that they need the master’s to advance. Other students within the program are in middle managers who want to add valuable project management skills to their resumes. Another segment of student, recognizing that project management is a new role with much growth potential, seeks career change.

Can I transfer credits from another university and graduate program?
You may transfer a maximum of six semester credits earned before admittance upon recommendation of your program director and with the approval of the dean. Your transfer credits are subject to both graduate school and programmatic criteria.

Is there a campus residency requirement, or is the program entirely online?
The program is fully online. You do not need to attend Saint Mary’s ground campuses.

Will I be required to attend online classes during set times?
No, courses are entirely asynchronous, as long as you submit your assignments by the time they are due, you can work on them when it is most convenient to you.

Is the online project management degree program accredited?
Saint Mary’s University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The project management degree program is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC), www.pmi.org.

Do you have more questions about the online Project Management Master’s Program at Saint Mary’s? Call 877-308-9954 to speak to an enrollment counselor, or request more information today.