Project Management Certificate Objectives by Module and Clas

Our nine-month non-credit program consists of 5 six-week modules plus 1 five-week test preparation module; all six need to be completed in order to receive the University’s PM certificate. Each week consists of one class session.

Module 1

Week / Module, Class

Topic

Objectives
Week 1 / Module 1, Class 1 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Introduction
  • Review and discuss program objectives
  • Review course agenda
  • Set instructor and student expectations
  • Distinguish the characteristics of a project
Week 2 / Module 1, Class 2 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Project Definitions & Organizations
  • Differentiate between portfolio, program, project, and operations
  • Distinguish the characteristics of a project
  • Define the role of a project manager
  • Identify the qualities of successful project managers
  • Differentiate between organization structures
Week 3 / Module 1, Class 3 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Organizations, Process Groups & Knowledge Areas
  • Describe how different organizational structures impact project management
  • Identify and describe the different phases of a project
  • Describe and differentiate the five project management process groups
  • Explain the relationship between the project management process groups, project management knowledge areas, and project management processes
Week 4 / Module 1, Class 4 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Initiation & Chartering
  • Describe different methods for project selection
  • Define project initiation and project integration management
  • Define the project charter and identify the components of it
Week 5 / Module 1, Class 5 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Stakeholder Management, Scope & Authority to Execute
  • Describe the importance of stakeholder identification and management
  • Describe the importance of formal authorization
  • Review case studies
  • Case studies from Harold Kerzner
Week 6 / Module 1, Class 6 Project Management Concepts

Sub-topic: Careers & Case Studies
  • Case studies in project management
  • Careers in project management
  • Professional development for project managers
Week 7 / Module 1, Class 7 PMP Simulation Exams

Sub-topic: Integration & Stakeholder Management
  • Process Groups and Knowledge Areas
  • Organizations and PM Roles
  • Integration Management Plan
  • Stakeholder Management Plan

Module 2

Week / Module, Class

Topic

Objectives
Week 8 / Module 2, Class 1 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Introduction to Project Planning
  • Describe the planning processes as related to the project knowledge areas
  • Identify the components of a project management plan
  • Describe the time/cost/resource implications of project planning on the project lifecycle
  • Describe the tools and techniques used in project planning
Week 9 / Module 2, Class 2 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Scope Management
  • Identify the three processes of the project scope management knowledge area in the planning process
  • Learn how to plan and define project scope
  • Define scope creep
  • Explain the importance of a scope management plan
Week 10 / Module 2, Class 3 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Requirements
  • Describe how to identify requirements
  • Learn how to interpret and validate requirements
  • Create and prioritize a requirements list for a project
Week 11 / Module 2, Class 4 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Work Breakdown Structures
  • Define the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  • Define the WBS development process
  • Describe how the WBS is used to plan and manage a project
  • Describe the value of WBS
  • Create a WBS for a project using the decomposition process
Week 12 / Module 2, Class 5 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Time management & Activity sequencing
  • Define project time management and understand the context within the project management knowledge areas
  • Describe how to decompose work packages to activities
  • Develop an activity list from a project WBS
  • Learn the most common diagramming techniques
  • Sequence an activity list
  • Diagram activities based on the activity sequence using various methods
Week 13 / Module 2, Class 6 Project Planning I

Sub-topic: Estimating & Resource Managemen
  • Describe different methods for estimating
  • Develop skills for performing estimates
  • Describe how to identify resource requirements for project activities
  • Apply estimating skills to determine activity durations for project activities
Week 14 / Module 2, Class 7 PMP Simulation Exams

Sub-topic: Scope, Schedule, Resource
  • Scope Management Plan
  • Schedule Management Plan
  • Resource Management Plan

Module 3

Week / Module, Class

Topic

Objectives
Week 15 / Module 3, Class 1 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Schedule Development & CPM
  • Describe the process of schedule development
  • Learn how to calculate forward and backward pass
  • Learn how to determine lead and lag times for activities
  • Learn how to identify the critical path of a project
  • Learn how to calculate float on a project
  • Describe schedule compression techniques
Week 16 / Module 3, Class 2 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Using Microsoft Project for scheduling
  • Learn the fundamentals of Microsoft Project
  • Develop a schedule in Microsoft Project from a sequence of activities
  • Use Microsoft Project to identify the critical path of a project
  • Use Microsoft Project to generate a network diagram
  • Use Microsoft Project to compress a timeline
  • Use Microsoft Project to generate project management reports
Week 17 / Module 3, Class 3 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Using Microsoft Project for Resource Management
  • Learn key elements of how to estimate, budget, and control costs within an approved budget
  • Define cost estimation with respect to the project lifecycle
  • Describe the effects of estimating activity duration on cost
  • Describe resource leveling and the techniques to level an overallocated resource
  • Use Microsoft Project to practice resource leveling of an over-allocated resource
Week 18 / Module 3, Class 4 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Contract Management
  • Describe the steps in planning a contract process
  • Explain the techniques needed to effectively prepare and award contracts
Week 19 / Module 3, Class 5 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Risk Management
  • Define risk management and its role in managing a project
  • Describe common risk categories and their impact on a project
  • Learn to identify risks and triggers based on project type
  • Learn different methods to assess and rank project risks
  • Learn to develop appropriate risk strategies
  • Learn the difference and significance between different risk responses
  • Understand the importance of planning responses to project risks
  • Describe the key components of a risk management plan
Week 20 / Module 3, Class 6 Project Planning II

Sub-topic: Quality Management
  • Describe the purpose of the quality management process group
  • Determine quality metrics
  • Distinguish between process and quality metrics
  • Understand the impact of quality decisions on the triple constraint
  • Describe the components of a quality metrics plan
Week 21 / Module 3, Class 7 PMP Simulation Exams

Sub-topic: Procurement, Risk, Quality
  • Network Diagrams & Critical Path
  • Procurement Management Plan
  • Risk Management Plan
  • Quality Management Plan

Module 4

Week / Module, Class

Topic

Objectives
Week 22 / Module 4, Class 1 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Introduction to Execution and Team working
  • Recognize the relationship between the project management plan and the execution of the project work
  • Describe the processes within the knowledge areas for execution
  • Describe the difference between quality assurance and quality control
  • Describe the impact of synchronizing activities across an organization to optimize execution
  • Define the component processes of project human resources management
  • Describe the elements of a high performing team
  • Describe the five dysfunctions of a team
  • Explain methods to assess and manage the health of a team
  • Describe the role of the project manager in developing and maintaining a high performing team
Week 23 / Module 4, Class 2 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Monitoring and Controlling
  • Describe the processes within the knowledge areas for monitoring and controlling
  • Learn how to identify variances between actual performance and the project baseline
  • Identify the objective of performance reporting
  • Learn how to apply performance reporting and corrective actions used to control the project plan
  • Learn how to create status reports
  • Describe the purpose of scope control
  • Describe the change control process
Week 24 / Module 4, Class 3 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Earned value Management
  • Define earned value
  • Describe the process for applying earned value
  • Demonstrate how to calculate earned value
  • Describe how to draw project status conclusions from earned value data
  • Demonstrate how to make projections on progress on time and cost using earned value data
  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using earned value to measure planning success
Week 25 / Module 4, Class 4 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Quality & Change Management
  • Describe the tools and techniques used in quality control
  • Explain the difference between quality assurance and quality control
  • Construct a control chart
  • Describe the importance of managing stakeholders to project success
  • Describe how to conduct a stakeholder assessment
  • Describe the relationship between stakeholder requirements, stakeholder management, and change control
Week 26 / Module 4, Class 5 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Negotiation for Project Management
  • Learn the building blocks of negotiation
  • Describe how to differentiate between positions and interests in negotiations
  • Generate creative options for a negotiated result and identify standards for different points of view
  • Describe how to identify alternative solutions strategies
  • Identify how bring a negotiation to closure successfully for all parties
Week 27 / Module 4, Class 6 Project Execution, Control, and Closure

Sub-topic: Conflict Resolution & Project Closure
  • Identify the positive and negative aspects of conflict
  • Describe the primary causes of and conditions leading to project conflict
  • Describe the five conflict management styles and the results of using each style
  • Learn strategies for proactive and reactive management and resolution of project conflicts
  • Describe how to formally close a project or project phase
  • Generate lessons learned from your experience in applying project management skills in the workplace
  • Identify the tasks of appropriate finance, administrative, and contract closure
  • Identify project manager responsibilities for project closure
Week 28 / Module 4, Class 7 Special Topics in Project Management

Sub-topic: Communication Management
  • Identify communication management processes
  • Describe how to develop a communications plan to address project stakeholders
  • Identify methods of managing communications and avoiding communication problems
  • Describe strategies to provide the project team with feedback and direction
  • Describe the project manager’s role and responsibilities in team communication

Module 5

Week / Module, Class

Topic

Objectives
Week 29 / Module 5, Class 1 PMP Simulation Exams

Sub-topic: Communications, Org Change
  • Performance Management
  • Earned Value Management
  • Metrics and Measures of Success
  • Communication Management Plan
Week 30 / Module 5, Class 2 Special Topics in Project Management

Sub-topic: Leadership & Influence
  • Describe the project manager’s role in different organizational structures
  • Define "leadership" and the qualities that define a great leader
  • Describe the difference between a manager and a leader and cite behavioral examples
  • Describe different leadership styles and advantages and disadvantages to each
  • Describe examples of how to influence without authority
Week 31 / Module 5, Class 3 Special Topics in Project Management

Sub-topic: Project management & Business Strategy
  • Describe the differences between project, program, and portfolio management
  • Describe how portfolios are used to execute business strategy
Week 32 / Module 5, Class 4 Special Topics in Project Management

Sub-topic: PMO in the real world
  • Learn how to define, plan, and implement a Project Management Office (PMO) at the enterprise or department level
  • Explain how to establish PM standards
  • Describe the different portfolio prioritization methodologies and how they are used in prioritizing projects
Week 33 / Module 5, Class 5 Special Topics in Project Management

Sub-topic: Agile, Critical Chain Project Management
  • Introduce Non-Traditional / Iterative PM methodologies
  • Describe agile methodology
  • Describe critical chain project management
  • Describe the differences between Agile, CCPM and CPM methods of scheduling
Week 34 / Module 5, Class 6 PMP Final Exam (4 Hours)
  • Full simulation exam
  • Award Project Management Certificates

More Information

For more information about the Project Management Certificate, please contact:

Judd Andres MBA, PMP, CSM, OCMP
Certificate Director & Adjunct Faculty
Project Management Certificate
(860) 912-3106
JAndres@newhaven.edu

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