There are four items to consider when choosing the best online project management courses: online learning tools, accreditation, faculty, and level of effort. Project management courses are available from a wide range of universities, community colleges, and online schools. The traditional schools have expanded their technology to allow them to offer online versions of their courses to students. This has increased both the revenue to the traditional schools, and the number of students who can access post-secondary education.
Online schools provide access to course materials and instructors through the Internet. Students log onto a website, where they can communicate with other students, submit assignments, receive instructions and support. Many online schools provide access to academic counselors and other support staff to assist students.
The online project management courses provide access to instructor lectures, course notes, and group discussion tools. Most schools include the cost of the textbook in the course fee and send it directly to your home. Look for schools that have dedicated customer service available to support the online course software 24 hours per day. Most students complete their course work during evenings and weekends, and support during these times is very important.
When looking at online project management courses, the first item to check is the accreditation status of the school. An accredited school has been reviewed by an independent third party. Courses from an accredited school can be transferred to other post-secondary institutions. In addition, certification and professional associations, such as the Project Management Institute® (PMI®) will accept these courses.
The PMI® is responsible for the administration of the Project Management Professional® (PMP®) certification, which is the industry standard for project managers. Verify the status of the school before paying any course fees. Accredited schools are able to offer students access to government student aid programs.
Review the biographies of the online school’s faculty or instructors on their website. The information listed typically includes the academic credentials, work experience, special training, and any awards they have received. Review this information and verify it independently with the PMI®. These courses are very lucrative, and it is important to ensure that you are not wasting time and money to complete courses that will not be accepted by the PMI®.
The most important part of selecting the best online project management courses is to ensure that you are able to complete the work. It is a common misconception that an online school is easier. In fact, success in an online school requires students to be more disciplined, focused, and self-motivated. Project management courses typically require a significant amount of reading. Make sure that you have the time available to dedicate to both the assignments and the required readings.
