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Certificate

Project Management

Transform Your Career: Gain the practical skills to lead projects and succeed in any industry.

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About the Project Management Program

Advance your career and gain in-demand project management skills with the Professional Certificate in Project Management from UC San Diego Extended Studies. This program is designed for anyone in any industry who wants to strengthen leadership, planning, and communication skills while learning to manage projects effectively from start to finish. With flexible learning, expert instructors, and a curriculum aligned with industry standards, you will gain the knowledge and confidence to lead successful projects in any industry regardless of project complexity.

Enrollment Now Open for Winter 2026 · Start Your Certificate Today
In-Person, Online, Live Online
Flexible formats
9 Months
Depends on courses taken per quarter; up to 5 years to complete.
$4,900
Pay per course - 7 courses total to complete the certificate

Who Should Enroll

The Professional Certificate in Project Management is ideal for anyone ready to build or advance their career in the field. Whether you're new to project management or an experienced professional, this flexible, career-focused program provides the practical tools, confidence, and credentials needed to successfully lead projects across any industry.


This program is designed for:

  • Those new to the field with no prior project management experience who want to start their career
  • Career changers ready to enter the project management field
  • Mid-career professionals looking to move into or advance within project management
  • Individuals preparing for the PMP Certification; who need required education hours
  • Professionals in technology, healthcare, construction, finance, and other industries who manage projects
  • Managers, team leads, and business owners seeking to strengthen leadership and project execution skills

How to Enroll

Getting started is simple:

  1. Submit your application (free): Click the Apply Now button at the top of this page and complete the short application form.

  2. Pay the certificate fee: Once accepted, log in to MyExtension, go to My Applications and select Pay Certificate Fee to confirm your enrollment.

  3. Start with a foundational course (prerequisite): Begin your studies with either Project Management Essentials or Project Management Boot Camp. You may take other courses in the program as long as you are enrolled in a foundational course.

How to Apply

Students may enroll in individual courses without applying to the certificate program. There is a $0.00 application fee. For students pursuing the certificate, there will be a one-time $125.00 certificate fee.

Get More Information

For detailed information, please contact our Business, Professional & Legal Programs department.

Project Management
Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List

Foundational Course - Select One

Required Courses

Completion of foundational course prior to participation in BUSA-40715 and BUSA-40970 is required.

Choose Any Elective Courses Below to Reach a Minimum of 4 Units

Process Improvement Elective Options

Earn an additional credential in Lean Six Sigma and satisfy the elective requirement for the PM program.

Free Workshops and Sessions

Student Resources & Benefits

Veterans Education Benefits

The Project Management Certificate program is approved for Veterans' funding. Eligible students may apply VA Education Benefits through UC San Diego Extended Studies. 

For assistance with applying your benefits to this program, please visit the Veteran Benefits office or contact us at  unex-veterans@ucsd.edu.

Workforce Funding Assistance

UC San Diego Extended Studies is proud to be an approved training provider for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you're a displaced or disadvantaged worker, you may qualify for federal assistance to help fund your education. To explore available funding and determine your eligibility, please reach out to one of the following:

Once you're approved, we're here to help finalize your paperwork, email  unex-workforce@ucsd.edu, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

International Programs

International students are welcome to enhance their academic experience by enrolling in Project Management courses at UC San Diego Extended Studies. 

For application details and eligibility requirements, please visit the International Programs website or contact ipinfo@ucsd.edu. For questions related to visa requirements or program options, the International Programs team is available to provide guidance and support.

UC San Diego Staff

UC San Diego employees, faculty, and their spouses or domestic partners are eligible for a 10% discount on most UC San Diego Extended Studies courses, including professional development, career training, and personal enrichment programs. For full details on this discount, visit the UC San Diego Blink – Extended Studies Discount page.

Employees may also access additional educational benefits through the university’s Educational Benefits (EdBen) system, which supports funding learning opportunities. When submitting a request, select “Extended Studies Course” and indicate whether department funds will be used.

For general information on education benefits and eligibility, visit the UC San Diego Blink Education Benefits page or contact Staff Learning and Development.

Course Waivers and Transfers

Students may request to transfer coursework completed outside of UC San Diego Extended Studies, substitute a course taken within Extended Studies, waive a prerequisite course based on professional experience, or request an extension to the 21-quarter time limit for completing the certificate. 

To submit a request or access the appropriate forms, or if you’d like to review the steps and confirm whether a course can be transferred or waived based on your experience, please contact Tara Amin, Program Manager, at projectmanagement@ucsd.edu.

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Related Documents

FAQs

Yes! Students can take this program fully online in the convenience of your home or office. Some select courses may occassionally be offered in person.
Curriculum is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Our program provides an overview of the PMBOK and teaches students how to best apply the various tools and techniques, in an application oriented setting. Although our courses can certainly help students to prepare for PMI’s CAPM (Certified Associate Project Management) or PMP (Project Management Professional) certification exams, the classes are not meant to be a test preparation. By taking courses you will receive the educational hours needed to be eligible to sit for PMI’s certification exams.

For information about the PMP Certification, only proctored through PMI, please visit their website: http://www.pmi.org/certification/project-management-professional-pmp.aspx
 
Yes, our Project Management courses may be used to earn the Project Management Institute’s Professional Development Units (PDUs). One hour of classroom instruction equals one contact hour. Most of the three unit courses provide 27 instructional hours and therefore equate to 27 PDU’s. To claim PDU’s, simply print out your UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies transcript or course history document, accessible through My Extension, and provide to PMI.
Yes. Our programs are designed for the working professional. Classes are offered in evenings from 6:00pm-9:00pm, online, or on Saturdays to help you find a class format that meet your schedule. Most students who work full-time take one or two courses per quarter. For those who are not employed or work part-time a typical schedule includes three or four courses per quarter.
Upon successful completion of the Project Management program, you will receive a Professional Certificate in Project Management from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. A Professional Certificate is defined as:
  • Representing mastery of an established body of knowledge as is necessary to succeed in a field of professional practice
  • Material presented by multiple instructors, representing multiple viewpoints and a breadth of issues and practices
  • Curriculum reflecting timely changes in the field of study; complementing prior or simultaneous degree study in the field
  • Meeting a minimum of 120 classroom instruction hours (the Project Management certificate provides 180 classroom instruction hours)
  • An award of a gold seal “full-size” certificate document upon successful completion

UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies—like all other UC San Diego schools, colleges and departments—is accredited by WASC through the University. All courses and certificate programs offered by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies have been developed and administered in accordance with Extension policy and the regulations of the Academic Senate of the University of California.

When you have paid your certificate fee and successfully completed all program requirements, you will need to request an audit by Student Services. To request an audit:
  • In your MyExtension account, click on “My Courses.”
  • On the right side of the page under “My Certificates,” click on the name of the certificate.
  • On the right side of the page under “Tools,” click on “Request Certificate Audit.”
  • Complete and submit the form that appears.
Once you have formally submitted your audit request, your certificate will be mailed to the address we have on file for you within ten business days.

When registering, students may choose between a Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass option. As long as a student receives a passing score (70% or higher), they will earn the same certificate of completion and any related documents, regardless of the grading method selected.

If you're pursuing employer reimbursement, we recommend checking with your company to confirm whether a Letter Grade is required for reimbursement eligibility.

Students can update their grading option via their MyExtension student portal anytime before 12:00 a.m. on the final class meeting.

 

The refund deadline for courses in this program is typically 3 days after the start of the course. This allows you to enroll in a course and participate in the first class meeting to determine if the course is a good fit. Then, if needed, either you may either transfer your enrollment to a different course or submit a drop request by emailing Student Services at unex-reg@ucsd.edu. The exact refund deadline for each section is listed in the section notes on the course page in our website, and you can also find it in MyExtension by clicking on “My Courses” and then the name of the course.

Advisory Board

Greta Blash, , PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMP-PBA

Facilitated Methods, Division of Blash Enterprises, Inc.

Sanjiv Erat, PhD

Associate Professor
UC San Diego, Rady School of Management

Ray Frohnhoefer, MBA, PMP, CC

PPC Group, LLC

Barbara Gunning, , MBA, PMP

Rocking Your Team

Matt Hayden

Sharp

Enas Ibrahim

AMN Healthcare

Asitha Seneviratne, , Ph.D, P.E., PMP, PSP

HNTB Corporation

Debbie Williams

BAE Systems

Samantha Yung

City of San Diego

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