MPM vs. Certificate in Project Management: Choosing the Right Path For You

As a professional, you know one thing for sure: advancement requires growth.

Project management is a rare field because it’s where creative thought and big-picture awareness meet resource management and analytical data. It calls for a type of leader who understands the complexity of people and productivity, vision, and strict budgets.

It’s also the #7 most in-demand career with growth that shows no signs of slowing down — 2.2 million project-related jobs need to be filled by 2027. 

So how do you distinguish yourself in this bustling, in-demand space?

Expand your knowledge. Deepen your industry relationships. Elevate your value. These aren’t vague suggestions – they’re pillars that define Wake Forest’s University’s School of Professional Studies’ online Masters in Project Management (MPM) and Certificate in Project Management. 

Both the MPM and certificate are built for seasoned professionals and those wanting to enter the field or pivot from an adjacent industry. 

Academic Credibility + Practical Skills

What differentiates the MPM and Certificate at Wake Forest from what you see at other institutions? Both programs embrace the hallmarks of Wake Forest education in a flexible, online setting. You’ll find practical skills, a reputation for success, top-notch professors, and the pro humanitate (for humanity) motto that runs as an undercurrent through every course.

Think of it as taking Sunday into Monday — what you read, learn, and study is directly applicable to the work you do now, and in the future. This isn’t only knowledge for your advancement or promotion, you’ll absorb tactical skill sets you can deploy as you learn. 

Mentors > Textbooks

The professors and faculty within Wake Forest’s SPS are trusted industry experts who choose to teach the next generation of leaders in their field. These are practitioners connected to daily, real-world experience that transcends theory. Both the MPM and Certificate programs are designed for you, the self-motivated adult learner, because we’ve been in your seat. SPS professors coach you through a curriculum steeped in simulations and case-studies that mirror the every day realities of project management.

We also understand there are layers of personal and professional factors to consider when you decide to commit to a graduate-level path. Let’s walk through a few key highlights of both the MPM and the Certificate.

What You Get with an Online Master of Project Management Degree

It’s late afternoon as you type an email to your team. You’re leading a project, and you feel good about the plan, your tactics, and the larger impact on your company. 

A few years ago, this was the goal. But now, your mind drifts to the future. 

You know you can do more. Be more confident in your suggestions. More strategic and intentional in your relationships and leadership. Increase value for your organization.

Enter the Wake Forest SPS Masters in Project Management. The MPM equips you for today’s business challenges and tomorrow’s success. From process, to management, course correction, and resolution, the MPM teaches you to peel back layers, uncover details, and anticipate challenges. It teaches you how to shift focus to people, and where to invest your resources. 

Format: Online, asynchronous
Average time to complete: Two years
Courses: 10 (8 required with 2 electives) / 30 total credits
Tuition: $37,620 (financial aid is available) 

This is an online program that values community: Work 1-on-1 with a Student Success Manager who is exclusively focused on your academic and career achievement. You can also attend live video discussions to engage, network, and collaborate with fellow project management professionals and faculty.

Earn Your MPM and Your PMP

Wake Forest’s SPS is an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) for the Project Management Institute (PMI). As an ATP, Wake Forest partners with PMI to deliver the best-in-class content to help you gain your PMP certification. Project Managers with less work experience may be eligible instead for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), also in ATP partnership with PMI.

What You Get with an Online Certificate in Project Management

It’s Monday morning, and your coffee is still hot as you sit down to review your schedule for the week: meetings, team calls, deliverables due, and an upcoming deadline.

Your title isn’t “Project Manager,” but lately, your role is a balancing act. Your job now requires cross-departmental coordination, timeline management, and making sure any obstacles are anticipated and tackled. 

People are looking to you as a leader, and you’re ready to deliver.  

The Wake Forest SPS Certificate in Project Management is an excellent, nimble option if you want the deep dive into skill expansion without a longer-term commitment, or want to better understand the world of project management and apply it to your specific industry. 

Format: Online, asynchronous
Average time to complete: 9 months
Courses: 4 courses / 12 total credits
Tuition: $15,048  (financial aid is available) 

As a Certificate candidate, you’re a full-fledged member of the Wake Forest community. You’ll have direct access to your professors but also the 80k+ alumni network and your fellow students. Class breakout sessions and a focus on collaboration provide you with more than classmates — you’ll learn alongside fellow professionals in each of your four courses: 

• Project Management Essentials
• Mastering the Project Life Cycle
• Agile Fundamentals
• Leadership and Change Management

Two things we like to note for prospective students weighing their options:

Your 12 credits can roll over toward the MPM if you decide to pursue it. In fact, the Certificate courses are the first four courses in the MPM. It can be a natural transition if and when the time is right. 

On average, a PM who’s received a project management professional (PMP) certificate of some form will make 33% more money than a PM who hasn’t been certified.

Propel Your Career at Wake Forest SPS

Remember, anyone can have tools. Do you truly know your toolbox, how and when to effectively use each piece to pursue project completion? Both the MPM and Certificate courses zero in on technical, pragmatic, and leadership-driven techniques and skills to make you a master of your craft. 

Let’s get going.

If you’re ready to take the next step in selecting either the online Master of Project Management degree or Certificate in Project Management, we’re happy to talk. Request more information today.