Project Planning and Scheduling
BUSA-40715
Gain practical skills and proven techniques for initiating, planning, estimating, and scheduling successful projects. This course introduces key project management concepts, tools, and processes used to define scope, develop schedules, and establish cost baselines. Students will learn to create essential project documents such as a project charter, work breakdown structure, network diagram, and communication plan. Emphasis is placed on applying scheduling and cost control techniques to monitor performance against the project baseline. Through hands-on exercises and teamwork, participants will experience the full planning process, produce related project documentation, and strengthen their understanding of project management software, team contracts, and interpersonal communication within project teams.
This course provides 30 education hours applicable toward Professional Development Units (PDUs). To request an official university transcript, please contact Student Services or click here for more information.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Skillfully develop product scope (requirements) and understand its importance as the foundation for a successful project
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Create a project charter, scope statement, schedule, and cost baseline
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Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS dictionary; network diagrams; critical paths; and communication agreements
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Identify project risks, analyze their effects on the project and determine how to respond to them as part of the planning process
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Discover how current applications of earned value management concepts can be used to control schedule and cost against the project’s original baseline values
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Apply scheduling tools to manage and analyze project schedules
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Understand the importance of the critical path in the determination of the project’s completion
Course Information
Prerequisite: Students are expected to complete Project Management Essentials or Project Management Boot Camp before enrolling in this course. However, they may take this course at the same time as a foundational course.
Individual exceptions may be granted based on prior experience or knowledge. To request an exception, please contact projectmanagement@ucsd.edu.
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
All class meetings held in-person according to published location, dates and times. Students may be expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 1/21/2026
- Early enrollment advised
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/15/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 1/22/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 1/29/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/5/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/12/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/19/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/26/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 3/5/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 3/12/2026 | Thu | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 445, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
Instructor:
Dragos Craciun, M.A., PMP
Financial Consultant specializing in Project Management
Dragos Craciun is a certified scrum master with over 20 years of international experience coordinating medium to large-scale projects from initiation through delivery, including scope definition, project objectives, cost/benefit analysis, business case, planning, implementing and closure. Craciun's specialty is in designing, implementing, testing and delivering Smart Card Payment Solutions (EMV) for the banking and financial industry. He contributed to the creation of the PM “Toolbox” for GE Capital.
Craciun received a master's in computer science and is currently a senior project manager at Bofl Federal Bank.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
Process Groups: A Practice Guide 1st
by Project Management Institute (PMI)
ISBN / ASIN: 9781628257830
An Introduction to Project Management: Predictive, Agile, and Hybrid Approaches 7th
by Kathy Schwalbe
ISBN / ASIN: 9798695713459
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 1/18/2026
- Early enrollment advised
Schedule:
Instructor:
Alex Hosch, PhD, MBA, MPM
Owner, The Office of Project Management and Coaching
Alex Hosch, Ph.D., MBA, MPM, PMP, is an independent Information Systems Management Consultant and Project Manager. He has worked in the financial services industry for more than 25 years, successfully managing technology, information systems, product development, and operational projects for various financial institutions.
