Project Cost Management
BUSA-X409.70
Project Cost Management covers the financial strategies and cost management best practices for successful projects with an emphasis on estimating, budgeting, and cost control. Concepts and tools are studied and applied in practical course work, including group projects. Topics include the role of cost management in project initiation, project cost management planning, project budget development, project cost control, and project financing. The course culminates with an examination of case studies of real projects demonstrating a variety of cost management principles.
This course provides 20 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:
- Develop an overall understanding of project cost management.
- Analyze project goals and select appropriate estimation approaches for a point of time in a project.
- Prepare a cost estimate for all project costs, including contingency and management reserves.
- Evaluate types of project costs necessary to draw up a complete cost estimate, and determine the accounting category of each, such as direct, indirect, and capital costs.
- Use project cost estimates and other information to construct a necessary project budget.
- Apply best practices for project cost control and recommend project corrective actions to ensure project cost objectives are met.
- Apply basic Earned Value Management techniques to assess the project progress with respect to scope, cost, and schedule.
- Apply basic Earned Value Management techniques to forecast revised costs.
- Develop a basic understanding of project financing and cash flow management.
Course Information
Individual exceptions may be granted based on prior experience or knowledge. To request an exception, please contact projectmanagement@ucsd.edu.
Course sessions
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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:
No textbook is required for this course.
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Instructor:
Zach Herman
Dedicated to developing emerging leaders, Zach provides coaching that helps them navigate their new responsibilities while effectively managing and mentoring their teams. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, along with industry-recognized credentials, including the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) certification, and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB).
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Textbooks:
Required Materials. Project Cost Management: Principles, Tools, Techniques, and Best Practices for Project Finance (2nd Edition) – Ray Frohnhoefer & Inham Hassen | ISBN: 978-1-7356213-3-3
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Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
| 11/4/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
| 11/18/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
| 11/25/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
| 12/2/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
| 12/9/2026 | Wednesday | 06:00 p.m. | 09:00 p.m. |
Instructor:
Raymond Frohnhoefer, MBA, PMP, CCP
Managing Partner, PPC Group, LLC
Ray W. Frohnhoefer is an executive with strong project management skills; a methodologist; and a creative inventor and entrepreneur. His key leadership qualities have enabled him to save companies millions of dollars by efficiently making complex decisions and getting things done, even under pressure. His mission: improve the practice of project management. Ray is an active PMI member and volunteer with specialties in:
- Project, Program, and Portfolio Management
- Strategic Planning
- Methodology and Framework Development
- Requirements and Product Development
- PM Maturity Assessment
- Business Process Improvement