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Not necessarily, but an advanced degree can give you the boost of confidence you need to reach your goals – and even help open doors to new career opportunities.

Beyond professional advancement, there is some research to suggest that graduate degrees could lead to higher earning potential throughout various fields and industries. In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that individuals with a master's degree earned a median weekly pay of $1,737.¹ By comparison, those with a bachelor's earned $1,493.¹

Read more about how to become a project manager.

Earning your master's in project management at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ puts you in a great position to pursue and maintain your Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. This program can provide the knowledge, skills and resources to help you confidently prepare for the PMP® certification exam.

To become a certified PMP®, you must:

• Meet educational and professional experience requirements set by Project Management Institute (PMI)®
• Apply to take the PMP® certification exam
• Complete and pass the PMP® certification exam, which is a 200-question test given in one 4-hour period
• Earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every 3 years

It's important to note that some prerequisites are required before you can take the PMP® certification exam. According to the PMI®'s website, these prerequisites will vary depending on your highest level of education.

If, for example, you have a secondary degree – such as a high school diploma, associate degree or the global equivalent – you will also need:

• 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification

On the other hand, if you earn a 4-year degree, you would then need:

• 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or CAPM® certification

Not better, just different. Let's compare, to help you figure out which option would be a better fit for you.

• A PMP® is a specialized credential for those interested in the operational and project management side of the house. It is often recognized as the gold standard for project management certification, as it helps prepare professionals for success in virtually any industry. It is also "global," in that PMP®'s lead projects in nearly every country in the world, whereas many other certifications instead focus specifically on a particular geography or domain.
• An MBA, on the other hand, is a bit broader. It's designed for those who want a deep understanding of business with the opportunity to specialize in certain areas (or concentrations). The online MBA program at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ, for example, features several concentration options, including operations and supply chain management, project management, entrepreneurship, accounting and many more.

When deciding which is better for you, consider your career goals. If you're interested in making project management the focus of your career, a PMP® might be the right path for you. On the other hand, if you want to get a broader understanding of business as a whole, you may want to consider pursuing an MBA. Earning your MBA gives you the flexibility to decide which area of business to specialize your degree in - one option being an MBA in Project Management.

Most jobs in the project management, operations and business industries require a bachelor's degree. But a master's or PMP® could set you apart in these competitive fields and give you opportunities to advance your career.

If you've earned your bachelor's in project management or a related field, you may qualify for a number of entry-level jobs, including:

• Distribution manager
• Inventory control analyst
• Production planner
• Production supervisor
• Project manager
• Purchasing manager
• Quality assurance (QA) analyst
• Supply chain planner
• Supply manager
• Warehouse manager

A master's degree, on the other hand, could open up opportunities to a number of leadership roles, including:

• Business continuity manager
• Director of inventory control
• Director for strategy & operations
• Operational strategy consultant
• Operations planner
• Operations research analyst
• Process improvement manager
• Project director
• Program analyst
• Purchasing director
• Quality assurance manager
• Supply chain manager

Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ graduate Jill McCamant '21 already had operations experience, but knew a master's degree could take her further.

"The operations and project management program allowed me to learn more of how processes worked and how I can improve processes," she said.

As the point person for corporate projects both big and small, you'll be responsible for coordinating schedules, evaluating cost estimates and budgets, assessing risk and more. With all these moving parts, your day-to-day will likely require any number of tools to help keep everything in order, including:

• Gantt charts. If you're already working in the industry, you've no doubt come across a Gantt chart. Built to represent a project schedule from start to finish, this chart uses a series of bars to neatly lay out the steps it takes to complete individual tasks, thereby helping teams stay aligned at every step of the process. While there are plenty of programs out there to help you create Gantt charts, you can also build these simple tools with widely available software like Google Sheets or Excel.
• Project management information systems (PMIS). A project management information system uses one or more software applications to organize all the information relevant to completing, tracking or referencing a project. Typically, a PMIS provides tools for schedule and planning, resource management, budget, integration and reporting.
• Responsibility matrixes (RACI). RACI stands for "responsible, accountable, consulted and informed." True to its name, this model uses a chart to track all responsible parties in a project, keeping everyone accountable and managing expectations for each team member involved.
• Video conferencing software. With many businesses and global brands relying heavily on remote communication, video conferencing software is an important tool in any project manager's toolkit. Not only can it reduce time-consuming email chains or IM interactions, it gives teams an opportunity to align, ask questions, and deliver updates in real time.
• Work breakdown structure (WBS). A work breakdown structure takes deliverables and divides them up into smaller components. For example, if a team is planning to host a space at a marketing conference, they might separate deliverables into categories like "furniture," "swag" and "booth." From there, each step can be identified, estimated, scheduled, and budgeted in smaller, manageable sections.

In addition to proficiency with some of or all these skills, as well as knowledge of common project management methodologies, you'll need a handful of key soft skills, including:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Organization
• Self-motivation

It's worth noting that many of these soft skills are essential to military service members and veterans, making this a particularly well-suited master's program for those looking to transition back into civilian life.

Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ proudly supports military service members and their families with up to 30% tuition discounts, career and academic advisors with military experience, and transfer-friendly programs that award college credits for military training.

If you’re a military service member or the family member of someone who serves, and you’re interested in a bachelor’s-level program, consider our online operations management degree.