Online MBA in Project Management

This course focuses on using available accounting information to help managers of the firm make relevant decisions. Examines how the financial information developed for external users forms the basis for the managerial accounting system. Explores costing systems, cost behavior analysis, responsibility accounting and volume-profit relationships.

During this course the student will study the practical aspects of both micro- and macroeconomics and how they are applied to the managerial environment. The students investigate the role of economic principles in management analysis and decision making: the study of demand, cost, and supply concepts from a business viewpoint; and the application of national income measures to strategic planning and the future.

Emphasizes management decision making utilizing accounting and finance concepts. The following subjects are addressed in the course: financial reports and metrics, financial analysis and planning, financial forecasting, financial markets, financial leverage, working capital management, capital budgeting processes, cost of capital and long term financing. The student will apply the knowledge learned by completing a financial strategy report and accomplishing a research report summarizing an application of financial analysis from either the academic or professional literature.

Human capital management creates a paradigm to strategically look at people as the most valuable asset. This course provides a framework for students to integrate human capital management as part of the overall business strategy. By understanding, evaluating and integrating the human capital management model, the student will also be able to apply these approaches both domestically and globally.

This course emphasizes the development and integration of project management in organizations. It provides an overview and introduction to the discipline of project management, coupled with an examination of the techniques that project managers use to complete their projects on schedule, within budgeted cost, and according to specified scope and quality. With materials presented by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in its Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), students explore the theoretical and operational framework of project management relating to the project life-cycle of project initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.

This course offers a practical approach emphasizing the project knowledge areas and process groups presented by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in its Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). The course provides an overview of aspects related to the project life-cycle and project management techniques that are used to manage projects successfully by delivering them on schedule, within budget and quality and customer acceptance.

This course emphasizes a hands-on approach to using project management tools to facilitate scheduling, estimating, tracking and controlling the schedule and costs of the project. Working with a given or chosen project schedule, a project baseline will be established so that actual schedule and cost variances can be compared to the project baseline, and corrective actions can be developed to address the variances. Specific project management tools covered include Gantt, PERT, Milestone Charts, Critical Path Method (CPM), Earned Value Management (EVM), Present Value (PV) and Internal Rates of Return (IRR). Specific topics covered include developing contingency plans, incorporating risk and quality factors into project cost and schedule and establishing ways to communicate project status to various stakeholders at various points in the project life-cycle.

This course includes writing, negotiating and adhering to contracts, as well as legal and ethical considerations. Procurement, including writing, clarifying and communicating specifications, is covered. There is an emphasis on Contract Administration and dealing with subcontractors. Topics include bidding, types of bids (e.g., RFQs, IFBs, and RFPs), types of contracts (e.g., fixed price, cost plus, and time and materials), and their respective purposes and impact on risk and project contract negotiations. Changes in contracts, methods to resolve disputes, and writing clear statements of work (SOW) are discussed.

As the Capstone course in the Project Management program, this course requires students to demonstrate how to synthesize and apply the concepts, knowledge, skills, tools, and to a real world scenario project. Students will be required to demonstrate the ability to produce a complete project plan, understand project integration and management of projects within a program, use project management software to manage cost, time, and resources, and manage project stakeholder expectations.