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Project Management / Master of Science

Overview

The Master of Science in Project Management degree is a specialized program designed to provide professionals with skills in management, communication and leadership needed to manage complex projects and teams in achieving strategic organizational goals. Curriculum emphasizes strategies for maximizing and coordinating human and operational resources, budgeting, scheduling, and scope management. 

Project Managers plan and execute diverse projects within a wide variety of corporations and industries, including information technolgy, research and development, engineering, construction, telecommunications, health care services, manufacturing, educational services and more.

Unique Preparation for the PMP® Exam

All MS Project Management courses and seminars are approved as Professional Development Units for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification. This qualifies students to take the PMP® Exam, a highly regarded credential, awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI® ), the world's leading association for the project management profession.

Objectives

Graduates of the Master of Science in Project Management program are expected to be prepared to:

  • Complete projects under budget.
  • Deliver projects ahead of schedule.
  • Effectively organize project resources.
  • Control project deliverables.
  • Maximize human resource potential.
  • Avoid common project management mistakes.
  • Prepare students for PMP®  Exam.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted for admission into the program, a student must present the following credentials:

  1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
  2. An application for graduate admission, including a non-refundable fee. The online application is available at lewisu.edu/apply
  3. Official transcripts from all educational institutions attended. (Not required for Alumni.)
  4. Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 or GMAT ≥ 550 (conditional admission available to those with GPA < 3.0)*.
  5. Provide two recommendation forms, available from the Graduate School of Management online at www.lewisu.edu/gsm or by phone at (815) 836-5348  (One required for Alumni.) Letters of recommendation are also accepted.
  6. Professional resume.
  7. Complete orientation checklist with a member from the Graduate School of Management.

Conditional Admission Status

Students with an undergraduate GPA < 3.0 will be allowed to begin the MSPM program on a conditional basis. In order to attain full degree-seeking status, students must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.33 in the first 3 classes. A student who fails to meet this standard will not be permitted to register for further classes.

Visiting Student

An applicant with an undergraduate bachelor’s degree may enroll in MSPM courses and seminars as a visiting student with the approval of the MSPM program director.

A visiting student may take a maximum of six graduate credit hours and must have:

  1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. Submitted a completed application form with the appropriate non-refundable application fee. Apply online by visiting lewisu.edu/apply
  3. An official transcript from each college/university attended sent directly to the MSPM Admissions Committee of the Graduate School of Management.
  4. Complete the orientation checklist with a member of the Graduate School of Management.
  5. An undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 or GMAT ≥ 550.

Students Educated Outside of the United States

International applicants must satisfy specific requirements before the application will be considered, and before an I-20 will be issued. The requirements include:

  1. U.S. bachelor’s equivalent if a bachelor’s degree was obtained outside the U.S., and official transcript evaluation by One Earth Evaluations, W.E.S. ,E.C.E or Educational Perspectives.
  2. A minimum score of 550 on the paper based TOEFL or 79 on Internet-based, or IELTS score of 6.0.
  3. Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 3.0 must fulfill the admission criteria required for full degree candidacy (see Student-at-Large/Conditional). Students who are educated outside of the U.S. who have obtained U.S. citizenship or resident alien status are not required to fulfill full degree candidacy prior to beginning the program, but may be required to show English proficiency.
  4. Submission of all financial documentation and requirements of issuance of I-20.

Grading

MSPM students must achieve a 3.0 GPA (B average) overall for MSPM coursework. If any grade of D is received for any MSPM course, the grade will not count toward degree requirements and the course must be repeated.

Students whose GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimum will be placed on probation for the following eight-week session.  Students who do not successfully increase their GPA to 3.0 after the probationary eight-week session will be subject to academic dismissal.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

A student entering the Lewis MSPM program with appropriate prior graduate coursework in project management may have a maximum of six credit hours  applied to Lewis MSPM course requirements.

Course credits eligible for transfer consideration must meet the following criteria:

  1. All transfer credit must have been earned within an eight-year period prior to matriculation in the Lewis MSPM program.
  2. The coursework must have been completed at an accredited graduate school.
  3. A minimum grade of B must have been earned for the course.
  4. The coursework must have an equivalent in the Lewis MSPM curriculum.

Time Commitment

Graduate level study requires a significant commitment of time. Because of the concentrated, eight-week course schedule, it is crucial that students attend all class meetings. Students should expect two to three hours of homework for every class hour. Thus, a three-credit-hour class may result in a substantial number of study hours.

Assignments must be submitted on time, or a course grade could be jeopardized. Although most instructors will try to make arrangements for a student whose work demands travel, this may not be possible in all cases. Students are responsible for informing instructors in advance of known absences and as soon as possible in the case of emergencies. Two or more unexcused absences in an 8-week session can result in a grade of F .

Course Load

The Graduate School of Management strongly recommends that students who are employed full-time enroll in no more than one course each eight-week session, for a total of six credit hours per semester.

A course load of three classes (nine credit hours) each semester is considered full-time, and is only advised for students who are not employed or are only minimally employed.

Immunizations

Please see Immunization Law.

Outcomes Assessment

The program reserves the right to require students to participate in institutional testing programs as part of ongoing assessment of student outcomes.

Course Meetings/Times

Classes usually meet once a week during weekday evenings. Some courses are offered online.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend scheduled classes regularly. This expectation presumes a mature student’s interest in maximizing the opportunity to profit from the instructor’s expertise, planned class activities, and the interchange with peers. It also presumes the student’s responsibility to contribute to the quality of intellectual interaction in the class. Each instructor specifies the class attendance policy in the course syllabus at the beginning of each course.

Time Frame for Completion of Degree Requirements

Attending classes part-time, an MSPM student generally completes all degree requirements in two to three years (including summers). A full-time student should be able to complete all degree requirements in one to two years. The maximum time allowed to complete all degree requirements is seven consecutive years from the date of matriculation.

Withdrawing from a Course

Students should consult with the GSM advisor and the course instructor when considering withdrawal from a course. Please see Withdrawal Policies.

Incomplete Grade

Please see Incomplete Grade.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 36 graduate credits in the program to complete the Master of Science in Project Management degree. Each student is required to complete eleven courses and three professional seminars. Only six hours of previous applicable graduate coursework (grade of B or higher) can be transferred into the program. A total of 30 hours must be taken at Lewis University. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

Degree Offered: Master of Science

Total Credit Hours Required: 36

Curriculum

I. Foundation Courses (32)

65-520Fundamentals of the Business Enterprise

3
65-508Contemporary Management Practice

3
65-557Project Management

3
65-630Organizational Behavior and Development

3
65-558Human Resources Management

3
65-556Risk Management

3
65-561Cost Estimation and Control

3
65-560Principles of Six Sigma

3
65-562Project Portfolio Management

3
65-563Procurement Management

3
60-667Advanced Business Ethics

1
60-668Project Management - Certification Review

1

II. Weekend Seminars (1)

Select one of the following:

60-661Advanced Oral Communication for Managers

1
60-664Conflict Management / Negotiation

1
60-663Critical Thinking for Managers

1
60-662Developing High Performance Teams

1

III. Capstone

65-590Project Management Capstone

3