Online MBA with an Emphasis in Project Management
journey today.
Curriculum in Grand Canyon University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Project Management explores technical, human and conceptual skills across the functional areas of business. This MBA program can help you position yourself for possible future leadership positions by teaching you critical project management skills and integrating the principles of efficient business practices with traditional and Agile project management skills.
You will be taught the core competencies that effective and ethical project managers need. There is an emphasis on the role of innovation and interpersonal skills in maximizing productivity and business processes. The MBA with a project management emphasis is an academic experience intended to allow MBA candidates to prepare for certification by the Project Management Institute (PMI).®
Choose an Online MBA: Project Management Emphasis
GCU recognizes that graduate students often need online degree programs that are flexible and convenient. You can earn your master’s degree from home with our digital platform. Connect with your professional peers and benefit from engaging discussions on the coursework and projects. Learn from anywhere at a time that is convenient for you. You may even be able to transfer from your previous college credits to meet some of the requirements of this online MBA: project management emphasis program. Most of the online classes are eight weeks in length.
This Degree Is Offered Online
The curriculum for this project management MBA is aligned with the overall mission and vision of the college. The Colangelo College of Business believes in these three aspects of how business affects the greater good.
Business as a force for good
With a focus on conscious capitalism, business is done the right way.
Free markets and purpose for prosperity
Long-term success is gained when you have a focus on keeping stakeholders engaged and happy.
Business as ministry
Apply a Christian worldview to your business structure and take care of your team with a loving, caring and supporting nature.
MBA with a project management emphasis candidates will be taught foundational knowledge and skills in project management. This degree program encompasses a comprehensive survey of project management methodologies and processes and is designed to graduate competent business leaders. In this program, you will complete a course in Agile Project Management — a flexible, iterative approach for managing both projects and teams. This course is designed to prepare students for the Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM), Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) exams through a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) case study project.
Other learning objectives of the MBA with a project management emphasis include the following:
Work Toward Your PMI Certifications
This MBA: Project Management emphasis is designed to prepare you for these PMI certifications:
View All MBA Programs
Discover additional emphasis options that can help you find the right path for your academic and career aspirations.
By earning your project management MBA, you may have the opportunity to position yourself for possible career advancement. A master’s in project management can help prepare future business leaders to pursue opportunities across a diverse range of settings.
Some examples of careers that may be related to this MBA degree include:
Project management specialist
Sales manager
General and operations manager
Human resources manager
Median annual wage for project management specialists as of May 20221
The MBA: Project Management Emphasis program has achieved approval from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). In addition, GCU is proud to be an accredited university that prioritizes quality academics. Furthermore, the Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The Colangelo College of Business shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
MBA: Project Management Emphasis FAQs
Prior to enrolling in a project management MBA program, you may wish to do some background research on the field and your potential career outcomes. The following FAQs and answers are intended to provide a starting point.
As of May 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for project management specialists to increase by 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 54,700 new project management specialists during this time period.2
Nearly all businesses and companies have initiated projects at some point in time to increase revenue, minimize cost or boost efficiency. Project management MBA graduates can leverage their skills and knowledge to become an important asset to a business’s bottom line. According to the BLS, project management specialists have a median annual wage of $95,370 as of May 2022.1
Professionals with project management skills offer many benefits to all types of organizations.
Businesses and other entities rely on project management specialists to:3
In short, project management helps businesses please their clients and customers while managing resources efficiently and keeping the team focused on continual improvements.3
It can be difficult to secure a job with no experience. Most employers look for candidates with a working knowledge of best practices in the field. While a master's in project management is not always required, it communicates your dedication to your profession and can set you apart from other candidates. Holding skills such as organization, leadership and communication shows employers that you have what it takes to manage projects and people. In addition to demonstrating academic qualifications and soft skills, obtaining certifications in project management may help you in your future career.4
Project managers are needed in a wide variety of industries. Although very common in the IT fields, project-oriented work is also common in the following fields:5
Within these and other fields, there are a range of job titles, including:
Examine foundational skills and prepare to sit for project management certifications by earning your project management emphasis MBA at GCU. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Project Management Specialists, as of May 2022, retrieved on Nov. 28, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as project management specialists, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Project Management Specialists, retrieved on Nov. 28, 2023.
- Aston, B. (2023, Nov. 22). Why Is Project Management Important? 12 Simple Reasons. The Digital Project Manager. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
- Palmquist, K., PHR. (2023, July 18). How To Get A Project Management Job With No Experience. Indeed. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
- Indeed. (2023, Feb. 2). 9 Common Project Management Industries To Consider. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.