In recent years, the IT sector managed to completely shift education to a virtual environment. Whether it would be programming or data analysis, everything seems to be within hand’s reach. Even more so, some universities offer virtual higher education like online project management degrees.
Regardless of whether you’re a complete newbie in this field or not, the best MOOC platforms have classes ranging from introductory project management courses to Master’s Degree programs.
Now I’ll take you through a number of reasons why you should pursue project management certificate programs. Likewise, you’ll get my top picks of project management classes online. So, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
- 1. Online Project Management Degrees are Actually Worth It?
- 2. The Project Management Course: Beginner to PROject Manager (Enroll Here)
- 3. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One (Enroll Here)
- 4. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery (Enroll Here)
- 5. Professional Certificate in Agile Project Management (Enroll Here)
- 6. Professional Certificate in IT Project Management (Enroll Here)
- 7. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate (Enroll Here)
- 8. Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization (Enroll Here)
- 9. Conclusions
Online Project Management Degrees are Actually Worth It?
While some specializations aren’t virtually obtainable, online project management degrees are definitely legit. And I’m sure you’re interested in how much you can make by managing projects.
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Well, on average, project managers earn about $90k/year in the US. More than that, specializing in IT project management may get you a huge career boost, and a salary bump - over $100k/year.
I mean, that’s actually huge when you compare it to, let’s say, coding or robotics. But how hard is it to learn from project management classes online? Let me tell you all about that.
The answer is simple: it depends on your experience. If you were to start learning today on an online learning platform, it might take you some time to get all the basics. But that’s not all.
You’ll probably need to go through some project management certificate program in order to score a job in a tech company or whatever. So it may be at least a couple of years before you can enter the work environment.
However, virtual learning platforms have made the whole learning thing much easier. Even some online project management degrees became accessible through the web.
Now, becoming a project manager may not require any specific skills like coding an app or something. However, you do need at least high school knowledge of math to fill in financial reports, and do some small calculations. Also, some accounting knowledge could come in handy.
Not to worry though, everything is googleable these days. Likewise, I’m sure you’ll come across some accounting software at a workplace, if you do in fact score a job as a project manager. And it will probably make your job a lot easier.
Anyways, you might be wondering what project managers do all day. Do they just sit and boss people around? To a certain degree, sure, because, in one way or another, they are team leaders. But that’s only a small fraction of what they do.
Project managers must be able to plan and organize the workflow of their team. Likewise, they are usually responsible for allocating the budget of a project, and making sure that the work is done in time.
So if you actually decide to pursue an online project management degree - pull your socks up, because the job will most likely require a sense of leadership and control.
Finally, running corporate decisions, like changing schedules or improving quality, usually rests on the project manager’s shoulders. So, even though you’ll take credit for all the success, you will also be responsible for your team’s failure.
But is this career path any good in terms of the future? I mean, AI is taking over everything, so we might have virtual project managers telling us what to do, right? Not quite.
If you've just started taking project management classes online, then you know that it requires having a large set of people skills, effective communication. And robots are usually lackluster in these areas. For now, of course.
So, if you’re convinced that project management is up your alley - might as well go for it! Not sure where to start? Well, just for you, I’ve looked through some of the best online learning platforms, and picked out top online project management courses.
Keep in mind that you'll need to pay bigger bucks for a project management certificate online, free is usually not an option.
Now, to be honest, online project management degrees are quite costly, and they are usually tied to business administration or computer science. Therefore, you’ll need to have a broad skill set in order to pursue such a degree.
If you’re just starting out, then the first three classes from Udemy might bring you up to speed.
When, or if, you feel quite confident around this area, and want to go for some online project management degrees - try looking through classes on edX or Coursera. These platforms usually offer professional project management certificate programs, and even Master's Degrees.
However, I'd suggest you start with professional certificates and specializations, because, as I've mentioned before, online project management degrees are usually tied with other fields of study.
Therefore, if you'd like to be a pro in a specific project management area, then specialized programs are the way to go.
Now then, let’s get right into it.
The Project Management Course: Beginner to PROject Manager (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 7 hours 17 minutes
- Price: $103
- Certificate: YES
- Level: All Levels
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
So, before you start chasing online project management degrees, you’ll need to learn all the basics. This class will take you through all the steps to become a project manager with no experience.
Here you will learn the ways of becoming a successful project manager. As the title suggests, you’ll be guided through multiple stages of beginner lessons. Then, you’ll gradually move on to more advanced project management skills that require making decisions on your own.
It has over 7 hours' worth of content with 100 different lectures, and 31 downloadable resources. After almost every lecture, you’ll get a short quiz to see how well you remember everything.
There are no set requirements for these online project management courses, but you’ll need to have the Microsoft Package (Office, Excel, etc.) to practice with the course material.
During the first few courses, you will be introduced to the very basics of project management, and how projects are made from start to finish. Later on, you will learn about timelines, schedules, the budgeting process. Also, you'll be introduced to managing risks and dealing with change requests.
The final phase will be all about the execution of your project. You’ll get on board with managing meetings and project diaries.
Now the expert that you’ll be working with is part of a group called 365 Careers, which is the #1 best-selling business and finance course provider on Udemy. Currently, this group has over 1.6 million students enrolled in their classes.
At the time of writing this article, the Beginner to PROject Manager course is rated at 4.6 stars out of 5 with positive feedback from previous students. Most of them enjoyed the class, because it was quite engaging, and simple to understand. Even people with experience in project management found the class to be useful.
At the moment, these project management classes online cost $103 which is quite expensive compared to other Udemy classes. However, you may look through our coupon page, and see if there are any discounts for this particular course.
Anyways, now that you know a little bit about the class, let’s put all the essentials into a small summary. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Project Management Skills (Basic to Advanced)
- Waterfall and Agile project management with Scrum
- Microsoft Excel skills for Project Management
- How to create a Case Study of a Project
- The role of a Project Manager
- Best practices for Project Management
So that’s basically it. If you’re looking to make an entrance to the project management field, this course will surely get you going in the right direction.
Start the course NOW.
Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 3 hours 31 minutes
- Price: $86
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Here are some beginner online project management courses where you’ll focus solely on the basics.
The Project Management Level One program will have all the right tools for your first project. There is 3 and a half hours worth of content, which is separated into 45 different lectures. Also, you’ll gain access to 9 downloadable resources for any after-class work.
So, at the first stage, you will learn all the fundamentals of creating projects, and the role of a project manager. Then, you’ll move on to the 3 main project building stages - how to initiate, plan, and execute a project.
During the final stages, you’ll be introduced to keeping your project in check (which includes the team members), and putting the finishing touches so it is ready to be delivered.
Now your instructor will be Joseph Phillips who has over 20 years of experience in project management, with multiple publications under his belt.
The course itself has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Previous students praised the simplicity and easy-to-follow structure of the course.
As of right now, this program costs $86, but you can look for a discount on our Udemy coupon page for the best deals available.
So now let’s go through some of the things that you’ll get to learn from this course:
- The Project Management Process
- How to initiate a project
- Overseeing a project
- How to finalize a project
- The fundamentals of project management
- The role of a project manager
All in all, if you want to get the basics of managing projects right, then you’ll surely be interested in this particular package of online project management classes.
Start the course NOW.
Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 2 hours 41 minutes
- Price: $113
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
If you’re looking to learn an innovative approach to project management, here’s your chance to do so. This program will bring you up to speed with the Agile Project Development methodologies, and how to apply them in your work environment.
The Agile Crash Course is almost 3 hours long with 24 lectures, and 70 downloadable resources. At the end of the program, you’ll be given a certificate of completion which you may add to your resume for potential career benefits.
You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of Agile Project Management. Later, you will move on to key concepts, tools, and real-world examples of an Agile project.
Finally, you’ll get a brief introduction to job opportunities for Agile specialists, and a small recap of what you’ve learned during the course. As a matter of fact, you will get some practical activities throughout the class, and even a short exam for revision.
Your course instructor will be Mauricio Rubio who is a self-made entrepreneur with 2 business majors. In fact, he has published a book on the Agile Project Development methodology.
Mauricio's course is rated at 4.4 stars out of 5 with feedback from students appreciating how informative the course was for beginners. However, some mentioned that the course lacks depth, and it might not be useful for experienced users.
Currently, these project management classes online cost $113 so you may explore our coupon page for a discount. Also, there’s always an option to get a refund as Udemy offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee on all classes.
So now here’s a brief list of the main things that you’ll learn from this course:
- Key concepts of Agile Project Management
- Agile tools
- Real-world examples of Agile
Overall, if you’re applying for a position that requires Agile methodologies, or you just have a general interest in project management with Agile, then you might as well check this program out.
Start the course NOW.
Professional Certificate in Agile Project Management (Enroll Here)
- Platform: edX
- Duration: 5 months
- Price: $895.50
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Advanced
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Now, we’ve recently gone through a beginner’s Agile course on Udemy that focused on the fundamentals. edX, on the other hand, offers an expert-taught Agile Project Management program with a professional certificate of completion.
Here you’ll get the whole package of courses related to Scrum mechanics and Agile principles.
You should finish this program in the span of 5 months, as long as you study at least 2-3 hours per week. There are 5 separate courses, and for completing each one, you can get 10 PDU credits which are recognized by the Project Management Institute.
So, for the first lecture, you’ll get to learn about basic project management processes and Scrum frameworks. During the second lecture, you will be introduced to sprint planning which essentially brings speed and order into your projects.
Then you’ll get into problem-solving and leadership skills which are crucial for a team leader. Finally, you’ll get into the actual process of Agile with tips on making the most out of your project.
Your course instructor will be John Johnson who is the Strategic Program Manager at the University of Maryland.
As of right now, the course price is set at $895.50 with access to full benefits, and a certificate of completion. However, you can use our coupon code and save on your purchase, or choose the audit track for limited access to the program.
Anyways, let’s see what the course has in store for us:
- Scrum mechanics and Agile frameworks
- Agile principles
- Agile results-based controls
- Lean/agile work management techniques
- Innovation and leadership approaches
Overall, it’s a great program for experienced project managers. So, if you would like to learn how to create projects with Agile Scrum and Lean Kanban methodologies, then this course may be perfect for you.
Start the course NOW.
Professional Certificate in IT Project Management (Enroll Here)
- Platform: edX
- Duration: 5 months
- Price: $537.30
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Introductory
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
There are multiple fields of work where project managers are always welcome. However, some tech industries usually require you to have specialized project managing skills.
This certificate program will get you on board with the ways of project management in an IT environment. It’s especially useful for IT specialists who have little or no experience in managing projects.
Likewise, you are expected to finish in 5 months, at a pace of 2-5 hours per week. After you’re done, you’ll be awarded a professional certificate that may assist your future career in IT project management.
You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of managing projects. This will be a 6-week lesson with methods for improving the efficiency and speed of your project.
Later on, you will be introduced to the ins and outs of a Project Management Office (PMO), and how to keep your project in check.
Finally, the Leadership & Management part will give you all the right tools on becoming a competent project manager, as well as a great leader, in order to maintain diverse projects and teams.
In fact, your course guides will be Luke Panezich and Debra Hildebrand who are project management experts at the University of Washington.
At the time of writing this article, the program costs $537.30 with all the benefits, ranging from available practice exercises to a professional certificate. If you do choose to purchase the class, then you might as well use our coupon code that gives a sweet discount on MicroMasters programs.
On the other hand, you may enroll in separate courses of this program for a smaller price, or choose the audit track for limited access.
Now, here’s a brief compilation of courses that are on this online project management program:
- Strategic Applications for IT Project Management
- Portfolio Management and the Project Management Office
- Leadership and Management for IT specialists
As a side note, if you’d like to pursue some online project management degrees, then a Master’s Degree in IT Management from the University of Indiana might be something to consider.
However, in order to apply, you’ll need to fit the application requirements, and have your finances in check, because this Master’s program is quite expensive.
Either way, if you’re just looking to get certified, and get the basics of managing IT projects right, then this project management certificate program might be the perfect fit.
Start the course NOW.
Google Project Management: Professional Certificate (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Coursera
- Duration: approximately 6 months to complete
- Price: from $49
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Not Available
- Apply HERE
Google has recently established its own certification programs in multiple areas. These certifications are usually recognized by employers. Not only because the name Google carries a lot of weight, but these online classes are in fact built by industry experts.
This project management certificate program is a beginner-friendly class that may help you start a career in many modern workplaces.
It is a fully online program that you can complete in about 6 months, at a suggested pace of 10 hours per week. It is split into 6 separate modules with specific goals that you’ll be aiming at.
The first module will provide you with the full package of foundational management skills: leading, planning, terminology, also the roles and responsibilities of a project manager.
Then you'll tackle the 3 main phases of project management.
During the first phase, you’ll learn how to use various management tools, templates, and how to define the goals, size, and success of your project. The second phase will be all about planning: setting milestones and time estimates for your project.
Now the third stage (or project execution) will cover the aspects of tracking your project’s success, managing changes and calculating risks.
When you’re done with the core stages of project management, you’ll dive into the Agile project management methodology within a Scrum framework. Finally, the last stage will be all about revision, and putting your knowledge to practice.
After finishing this program, you’ll be awarded a professional certificate that can be used for your resume.
Like I’ve mentioned before, the program is separated into 6 separate courses. So you may enroll in any class that you want without purchasing the whole program. In fact, all of the classes are rated just under 5 stars.
Speaking of enrolling, you may apply for $49/month to gain full access, and a certificate of completion. Likewise, you can subscribe to Coursera Plus ($59/month) for unlimited access to this class, and thousands of other programs.
Finally, you may use the trial option for this project management certificate program online(free of charge for 7 days) or use the audit track.
Now here’s a quick rundown of what you should expect to learn from this program:
- Skills needed to succeed in project management
- Foundations of Agile project management within a Scrum framework
- How to create essential project documentation
- Effective communication and problem-solving skills
- How to manage stakeholders through real-world scenarios
So, if you’re looking for a straightforward guide, where you can put all the project management tools into practice right off the bat, then give this program a try.
Start the course NOW.
Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Coursera
- Duration: 5 months
- Price: from $49
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Not Available
- Apply HERE
If you’re looking for a starting point in project management where you can apply your skills immediately, then I strongly suggest this program.
It is an applied learning specialization course with all your project management needs. This means that you’ll not only be bombarded with tons of information, but you’ll also get to do practice tests and assignments.
Now, this course may seem kinda long, because it takes approximately 5 months to complete. However, the suggested pace is 1 hour per week. So you may finish it even faster, if you’re up for it of course.
After completing the program, you will be awarded a shareable certificate. In fact, according to the Learner Outcome Tab, the program helped 17% of the students start a new career. Another 10% actually got a promotion or pay increase.
Having that in mind, let’s see what this class has in store for us.
During the first course week, you’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of project management. After that, you’ll get a lesson on schedules, and the budget of a project. The third week will be all about managing risks and applying changes to your project for efficiency and cost performance.
In the last week, you’ll be making a capstone project which will incorporate everything that you’ve learned from previous courses.
So, who’s going to teach you all of this? Well, she is an instructor at the University of California - Margaret Meloni, a certified Project Management Professional. Margaret is an experienced educator who worked with huge companies such as Toyota Motors Credit.
Likewise, her project management program has over 17k ratings, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
So, basically, you can enroll in the whole program (or only certain courses of your choosing) for a monthly fee of $49. But you may also subscribe to Coursera Plus for $59/month which will give you access to thousands of other courses as well.
But then again, there’s always the audit track option with limited access to the program.
Likewise, this program is part of a larger learning course called the UCI Project Management Professional Certificate. It is essentially a refresher program that requires having at least 3-5 years of work experience in a related field. So, if you're interested - be sure to check it out.
Anyways, let’s get through some of the key takeaways from this course. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to initiate and organize projects
- Ways of using your budget to full potential and building a schedule
- How to evaluate project risks and implement changes
Obviously, at the end of the program, you’ll need to apply everything that you’ve learned as a final assignment. But either way, if you need a step-by-step guide on managing your future projects, then this program will surely fit the bill.
Start the course NOW.
Did you know?
Have you ever wondered which online learning platforms are the best for your career?
Conclusions
That’s the end of the road, but not for you, of course. Be sure to enroll in some regular classes first, and then go for an online project management degree. You'll save time and money.
If you managed to find a suitable program for your online project management degree needs, then great! However, if you haven't, then try exploring other project management programs on previously mentioned MOOCs like Udemy, edX, and Coursera.
Likewise, sometimes the class that you’ve purchased may seem completely useless, or not what you’ve expected. Not to worry though. Udemy offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, while edX and Coursera have refund options at your disposal.