Project Management Boot Camp
BUSA-40950
Gain Practical PM Skills and Tools in Four Days
This intensive course will examine the basics of putting together a well-defined, planned, and executed project. Students will learn how to define, plan and execute a project whether the goal is simple or complex; gain the tools and knowledge for delivering projects on time and on budget, while meeting performance specifications; explore the basic components of project management and the project life cycle. This course will also help students determine the correct project through strategic portfolio analysis; create a successful charter; assemble and manage a team; analyze and control risk; monitor project milestones; and close out the project.
This course is aligned with the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and will provide 35 education hours, the amount necessary to be eligible to sit for the PMP certification exam. This course will provide a solid review of the PMBOK guide, but is not an exam prep course.
What Will You Earn?
Upon successful completion, you will receive a verifiable digital credential. The digital credential may be shared on social media and with colleagues and employers in order to recognize your achievement. In addition, you will have earned 35 hours of education from UC San Diego Extended Studies (3.5 credit units). Official university transcripts are available by request.
Benefits of the Project Management Boot Camp
The Project Management Boot Camp provides an overview of the fundamental knowledge that project managers need to lead projects using a hands-on approach to learning. The Project Management Boot Camp provides:
- 35 instructor-led education hours, the number needed for PMI's PMP exam
- Four all-day trainings to help you meet your goals quickly
- Credit towards UC San Diego Extended Studies' Project Management Certificate program
- A verifiable digital credential and printable PDF certificate
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the challenges of balancing project constraints (i.e., time, cost, scope, quality, and risk)
- Recognize and describe the five process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing) and ten knowledge areas
- Articulate the roles and skill sets of the effective project manager practitioner
- Develop awareness of factors that impact projects, including leadership, the organization, team dynamics, and power
- Work with basic project management documents, such as the project charter, the work breakdown structure (WBS), the project management plan, and the lessons learned report
- Understand the fundamental principles of Agile methodology and compare them with the traditional Waterfall approach to identify key differences in project planning and execution.
Practical Training vs. Test Prep
While UC San Diego Extended Studies' Project Management courses can be used to earn PDUs and certainly help students to prepare for the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) certification exams, UC San Diego Extended Studies' classes are not meant to be a test prep. Instead, our classes are application oriented and teach best practices to use the tools and techniques in your career. An exam prep course is solely focused on passing the CAPM or PMP exam. The Project Management Boot Camp provides students with an overview of the body of knowledge and teaches students how to apply the various project management tools and techniques. Education hours acquired during our course can be used to satisfy education requirements for the PMP exam.
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
Textbooks:
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: 12/8/2025
- Early enrollment advised
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/9/2025 | Tue | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| 12/10/2025 | Wed | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| 12/11/2025 | Thu | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| 12/12/2025 | Fri | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
Instructor:
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Kevin Reilly
Bringing 25 years of industry experience from the Software Development and IT sectors, Kevin served in various capacities, such as a Waterfall Project Manager, Agile Project Manager, and Agile Scrum Master. Throughout his career, he has implemented and scaled Waterfall, Hybrid, and Agile project management best practices across various organizations, helping to enrich his in-depth knowledge of industry standards and methodologies.
Kevin's competencies span multiple areas, including course design, creative lesson planning, public speaking, and technical writing. His exceptional capabilities have not only led him to co-author project management textbooks and create numerous practice exam questions but also contribute valuable content for significant project management publications.
Volunteerism is another hallmark of Kevin's career. Currently, he holds the position of Military Membership Directory and Monthly New Member Orientation Event Host for the PMI-SD Chapter, and Programs Director and Speaker Coordinator for the PMICIE Chapter (San Diego). He also frequently serves as a keynote and special event speaker for PMI chapters around the world. With his unwavering dedication to the field of project Waterfall, Hybrid, and Agile Project Management and his student's success, Kevin Reilly is undoubtedly a valuable addition to our teaching team.
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:
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: 1/23/2026
- 1st no meeting date: 2/14/2026
- Early enrollment advised
- 1st meeting mandatory
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/24/2026 | Sat | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room 460, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 1/31/2026 | Sat | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room 460, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/7/2026 | Sat | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room 460, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 2/21/2026 | Sat | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room 460, 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.
