Master of Project Management (MPM)

Program Overview

Location: Online

App Deadline: Aug. 1, Dec. 15

Pre-Requisites: GRE/GMAT NOT required

Time to Complete: 36 hours, 24 months

PMI-GAC Accredited

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Virtual Open House

Wednesday, August 9: 5-6pm

Join us at one of our upcoming virtual Graduate School Open House events on Zoom! You'll have the opportunity to learn more about Western Carolina University, understand the Graduate School application process, and meet key program representatives.

Western Carolina's fully accredited, online Master of Project Management (MPM) Program offers top quality graduate-level training for mid-career project managers as well as other professionals who aspire to management or project management careers.

Western Carolina University is listed among the nation’s best providers of online degree programs in a collection of rankings released Jan. 15, 2019 by U.S. News & World Report, and the MPM program consistently earns recognition as a Top 5 "Best Buy" among U.S. graduate programs in business management.

Accredited by PMI-GAC, WCU's MPM courses are pre-approved to provide you with contact hours that count toward the requirements to sit for the PMI Credential as well PDUs to maintain a PMI credential. Each faculty member has a doctoral degree as well as the PMP certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Demonstrated academic accomplishment complemented by significant and diverse real-world experience is the foundation for the MPM Program’s success.

We also offer a Graduate Certificate in Project Management, designed for working professionals or military personnel who are looking for more experience through certification rather than pursuing a full degree.

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Curriculum
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Unique Characteristics of  our MPM include:

First program to be accredited by PMI (1983)
First program accepted as a PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management
Highly academically qualified and professionally experienced international faculty
A broad project management perspective (not industry-specific)
A global focus, with faculty from India, China, and the USA
"Soft skills" for project management professionals
Opportunity to learn about and work in virtual project teams

MPM Vision Statement

The project management program at WCU strives to develop leaders in the project management profession through teaching, applied practice, and research within a preeminent, comprehensive educational program.

The MPM Program mission is to provide our students with the knowledge to lead in the practice of project management and:

Advance careers towards senior leadership and enhance professionalism in project management
Link theory and practice to create applied value
Develop Business Ready^® project leaders
Provide online education for the global business environment to serve the needs of the project management community
Impact the practice of project management through significant research to extend knowledge and best practices

The MPM Degree Program is a two-year program designed for project management professionals with a minimum of two years’ work experience. Additional criteria such as GPA, military service, GMAT/GRE scores and academic/merit/achievement honors and awards can serve to strengthen an applicant’s case. Students can begin the program in August or January.

Minimum Admissions Requirements

Minimum of two years' work experience managing projects
Undergraduate degree from nationally accredited institution of higher education
Relevant work experience, shown via submitted resume
A goal statement that includes the program to which you are applying, your professional goals and aspirations, your motivation for applying to the program, and any relevant formal or informal experiences.
Recommendation from a current or past employer

Application Deadlines

Fall Admits: August 1
Spring Admits: December 15

You can begin the program in January or August. The earlier you can get your application to us, the greater the chance of reserving a place in the program.

How to Apply

Start your application process at Graduate Admissions

MPM Degree Program Required Courses

Part-Time Graduate Degree Work: Western Carolina University's online MPM degree has been developed for the full-time employed project manager who wishes to study part-time. You will complete six semester hours of graduate credit in each 16-week term. Three terms are offered each year, enabling you to complete the 36 semester hour degree in two years. Courses in this program must be taken one at a time in a specific course order. Courses must be completed in summer semesters to stay on track. All students begin the program with PM 650. Taking courses out of order or doubling up on courses is not permitted.

PM 650 - The Project Management Mindset and Project Teams: An overview of the project management discipline, project phases, and PMBoK knowledge areas; project manager, leadership, and team dynamics; motivation, conflict, and empowerment.
PREQ: Acceptance to the MPM program or approval from the program director.

PM 652 - Project Selection, Initiation, and Legal Considerations: Organizational structure and project strategic alignment; decision analysis and financial tools for project selection; negotiation and influence, regulatory and legal environments in the project context.
PREQ: 650.

PM 654 - Project Planning: Preparation of the project plan; requirements, stakeholder and risk analysis; work breakdown structure, scope, quality, communication, cost planning; network diagram, critical path, and schedule development; resource allocation.
PREQ: 650, 652.

PM 656 - Project Execution: Project baseline and approval; project controls and integration management: change control, earned value management, quality assurance and control, resource leveling and schedule compression
PREQ: 650, 652, 654

PM 658 - Project Closeout, Ethics, and Approaches: Termination of projects, administrative closeout and audit, lessons learned procedures; professional responsibility and ethics, information systems and projects; AGILE project management; alternative PM perspectives; managing global projects.
PREQ: 650, 652, 654, 656.

PM 660 - Advanced Topics in Project Management: Organizational politics; the Project Management Office - chair at the table; project management maturity - the competitive advantage; using project management to lead organizational change; portfolio and program management
PREQ: 650, 652, 654, 656 and 658.

Although tuition and fees tend to change from year to year, in-state students are expected to be able to finish the Master of Project Management for less than $12,000. Out-of-state and international students can expect to finish the program for less than $36,000. There are special rates for those who are out of state and using military benefits. Students may also enroll using Department of Defense or Veterans Administration education benefits. Learn more about the education benefits available to you: Military and Veteran Student Services

Distance Tuition Rates

WCU has limited scholarship options for graduate students. University scholarship applications are due via an online portal by August 1. The university offers a payment plan through an external vendor, and students can apply for federal loans through FAFSA.gov. For assistance with the FAFSA application, students can contact the Financial Aid Office at 828.227.7290.