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Certificate

Project Management

Build the skills. Earn the credential. Lead with confidence

About the Project Management Program

Advance your career with the Professional Certificate in Project Management. Our PMBOK-aligned curriculum bridges theory with practice through real-world case studies. Whether starting out, advancing, or pivoting industries, this program delivers the leadership skills and PDU education hours to lead projects in any field.

UC San Diego Professional Certificate in Project Management

Your UC San Diego Professional Certificate

Upon completing all program requirements, you receive an official Professional Certificate in Project Management from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, recognized by employers nationwide and accredited by WASC.

Gold Seal Certificate WASC Accredited 160 Instruction Hours Mailed Within 8 Weeks

Who Should Enroll

From entry-level to executive, this program builds the project leadership skills needed to lead projects and advance in any field. Choose from fully online, live online (via Zoom), or in-person courses with evening and weekend options designed for working professionals.

New to Project Management

No experience needed. Build a strong foundation from day one.

Career Changer

Pivot into PM with a recognized UC San Diego credential.

PMP or CAPM Candidate

Earn the education hours required to sit for your PMP or CAPM exam.

Mid-Career Professional

Move into leadership and take on higher-value projects.

Industry Professional

Tech, healthcare, finance — formalize the skills you already use.

Manager or Team Lead

Lead projects and people with structured tools and confidence.


Why Students choose us

There are many ways to study project management. Here is what makes the UC San Diego experience genuinely different.

01

Class Experience

Small Classes. Real Conversations.

Our instructors are senior practitioners actively working in the field — bringing current, real-world experience into every session. Courses are intentionally kept small so you can engage directly with your instructor and learn alongside working professionals from diverse industries. You are in live, interactive sessions where your real-world questions get real answers.

Felixble formats -  include direct instructor access 

02

Risk-Free Start

Try the First Class Before You Commit

Enroll in your first course and attend the first class meeting. If it is not the right fit, you may drop and receive a full refund — no questions asked. Experience the program before you are fully committed. No other local university offers this level of flexibility.

Full refund available within 3 days of course start

03

Built for Every Industry

Project Management Skills For Any Role

This curriculum is designed to be immediately applicable regardless of your industry or role. Whether you work in technology, healthcare, government, construction, finance, or any other sector, the tools, frameworks, and leadership skills you develop here translate directly to the projects you manage every day.

Technology | Healthcare | Government | Construction 


 
 
In-Person, Online, Live Online
Flexible Learning
9 Months
Depends on courses taken per quarter | up to 5 years to complete
Program Cost
$3,970 total estimated | Pay-as-you-go | $695 per course

ENROLLMENT AND QUARTER DATES

Courses are offered every quarter. Begin in any quarter. Most working professionals take one to two courses per quarter and complete the certificate in as few as nine months.

Enrollment Now Open

Summer 2026

Quarter begins June 21, 2026
Quarter ends September 11, 2026
Application fee Free
Certificate fee $125 one time

Enrollment is open now — secure your spot today.

Apply Now — Summer 2026

Coming Up Next

Fall 2026

Quarter begins September 20, 2026
Quarter ends December 11, 2026
Enrollment opens July 2026
Format Online, Live Online, In-Person

Enrollment opening soon — contact us to be notified.

Get Notified for Fall 2026

Have Questions?

We are here to help.

Our team is available to answer questions about courses, enrollment, prerequisites, and funding options.

TA

Tara Amin

Program Manager, Project Management

🕐

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm PT

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.

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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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, your certificate will be sent to you automatically, mailed to the address you have on file. The delivery of the certificate can take up to 8 weeks. 

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

Sanjiv Erat, PhD

Associate Professor
UC San Diego, Rady School of Management

Jarazet Altamirano

Agile Leadership and Business Instructor
UC San Diego Extended Studies

Alexander Hempton, LSSBB

Performance & Analytics Department (PandA)
City of San Diego

Paul Morris, MPA, PMP

Director Project Management Office
San Diego Housing Commission

Angela North, PMP, LSSGB, MBA

Project Manager
Cordoba Corporation

Sorayda Santos, Ed.D, PMP

VP, Project Manager
Banc of California

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