How to Learn Project Management

Recently, we explained what project management is and why it’s so important. Here we’ll explain how to build the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to start a career as a professional project manager.

If you’re interested in learning project management so that you can assume command of organizational projects to ensure they’re delivered on track, on time, and within budget, then this post is the perfect place to begin. 

We’ll explain how to learn project management best practices, covering the possibilities of teaching it to yourself, learning via an on-the-job training program, or studying it in a traditional degree program, while explaining the pros and cons of each option. 

After you’ve read everything you need to know about how to learn project management, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management or our online Master’s Degree program in Project Management. If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Three Approaches to Learning Project Management

There are three standard strategies for learning project management, and you should choose the path that you think will best fit your own unique needs and career goals.

Your three options for learning how to be a successful project manager are:

Let’s review these three potential learning paths in detail to evaluate their pros and cons, and to help you determine which option will best suit your specific needs.

Can You Teach Yourself Project Management?

Yes, you can certainly teach yourself project management best practices, skills, and knowledge, but this may be a difficult way to launch your career in the industry.

Why? Because while it’s possible to simply study project management by reading textbooks, taking courses online, watching webinars, or attending industry-relevant conferences, events, etc., you may have trouble developing true expertise in the field if you don’t have some kind of mentor to help guide you.

There is so much information available on project management that you may get overwhelmed trying to sift through all of it and choose those sources that are still relevant, useful, and helpful for learning modern project management best practices.

This could lead to a sort of analysis/paralysis situation where you aren’t able to determine what to study, what to focus on, or how to apply the knowledge you’re gathering via self-study.

You could even end up reading all the right materials, but making the wrong conclusions about how to approach project management strategy, simply because you lack a professional teacher, mentor, or project management expert to help provide you with the feedback needed to ensure you’re taking the right approach based on the material.

While self-study is a great way to pick up certain skills, attempting to teach yourself an entire discipline is not ideal because there are too many risks of things going wrong, from failing to choose the right materials, to misinterpreting ideas, to simply failing to understand what you’ve been studying.

Finally, even if you were able to teach yourself effective and modern project management skills, you’d still be risking your ability to get a good job in the industry due to your lack of educational credentials and work experience in the field.

Can You Learn Project Management via On-the-Job Training?

Learning project management in an on-the-job training program is a much better option than trying to self-study the field, as this learning path is much more likely to include proper supervision and mentorship from someone who is an industry expert.

For that reason alone, we think this approach is far more likely to generate a positive outcome, providing you with the skills, abilities, and knowledge you need to serve as a successful professional project manager.

Having a teacher, mentor, or some kind of oversight will mean you can get feedback on your work, your ideas about how to go about certain processes and best practices, and an effective resource who can answer any questions that might come up as you’re studying the field.

The trouble with getting on-the-job training is that these sorts of programs are relatively rare and that it’s not necessarily easy to land a role that includes serious and significant training resources for somebody new to the industry and position.

If you’re lucky enough to land a position that includes a full training program, then we suggest focusing all your effort and energy on that opportunity, as that would be an excellent way to get a leg up.

However, for most people looking to become professional project managers, on-the-job training programs are likely too difficult to come by. The good news is that the best possible path to learning project management will remain open to you, which we’ll cover next.

Can You Learn Project Management via a Degree Program?

Yes, you can learn project management by enrolling in a traditional project management degree program, at several levels, including a bachelor’s or master’s program like those offered by CSU Global.

Studying project management via a degree program is highly likely to be the most effective way to launch a successful career in the field, simply because you’ll be supported by the full range of resources that only an institution of higher education is capable of providing.

Colleges and universities are far more likely to provide you access to experienced project management professionals now serving as teachers, the latest teaching resources, modern project management industry tools, and computer programs, as well as the best educational assets and training materials.

As such, completing a degree in project management is the best way to ensure that you’ll be able to develop the skills and knowledge required to launch a successful career in this complex and challenging industry.

Getting your degree from a school that’s well-known for preparing students to become successful project managers is also important for ensuring that your credentials will be respected by potential hiring managers when it comes time to apply for industry-relevant jobs.

If you’re serious about launching a career as a project manager, then you should consider enrolling in an accredited, respected degree program, like CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, or our online Master’s Degree program in Project Management.

Is a Project Management Degree Really Worth Getting?

Yes, completing a degree in Project Management is worth it, and should be thought of as making a valuable investment in yourself and your future. 

Finishing a degree program is simply the best way to develop the skills, abilities, and foundational knowledge you’ll need to launch a successful lifelong career as a professional project manager.

While it may take hard work and dedication to complete a bachelor’s or master’s program, earning those educational credentials could help make it much easier to land a good job when you start seeking relevant industry positions.

Which Project Management Degree Should You Choose?

When it comes time to choose between a bachelor’s or master’s degree program, we suggest that you pick the program you think will best meet your professional needs and long-term career goals.

To determine which degree will suit your needs best, think about your existing education credentials, your current industry knowledge, skills and experience, and your goals for long-term professional development.

For example, if you’re entirely new to project management, or if you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree (in any field), and are just looking to break into this exciting, competitive industry, then you’re likely to be the perfect candidate for CSU Global’s Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management.

However, if you’ve already got some industry experience, if you’ve already completed a bachelor’s degree, or if you’ve got your sights set on leadership or management roles in the field, then CSU Global’s Master’s Degree in Project Management may be a better fit for your unique needs.

If you’re having trouble choosing between a bachelor’s or master’s program, consider contacting one of our Enrollment Counselors by calling 1-800-462-7845, or by emailing enroll [at] csuglobal.edu.

Should You Get Your Degree Online?

Yes, you should think about getting your project management degree online, but make sure to attend a well-respected and regionally accredited university.

CSU Global’s accelerated online programs are widely respected and regionally accredited. They also offer far more flexibility than traditional in-person degree programs.

Designed entirely for online students, our programs make it easier to balance your educational pursuits with existing work and family responsibilities, as we offer:

If you’re looking to get your degree, but you need to organize your studies around a busy schedule, then there’s no better way to complete your education than by choosing to study online.

Why Should You Choose to Study Project Management at CSU Global? 

Both of our Project Management programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and were designed to provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to become a professional project manager. 

Both programs are also accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI)’s Global Accreditation Center (GAC) for Project Management Education Programs, which allows our students and alumni to receive substantial credit toward their experience requirement when they apply for PMI certifications.

Our program curriculum was designed specifically to help you succeed in the modern workplace, and our faculty all have recent, professional experience in the field, so you’ll graduate ready to provide value to any organization from day one.

Both of our programs have also earned excellent rankings, including:

For our Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management

For our Master of Project Management Program

CSU Global itself also holds several distinguished rankings, including:

Finally, we also offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee to ensure that your low rate won’t increase as long as you remain enrolled as a student.

To get additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online degrees in Project Management, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!