Become a Leader in Project Management
At UC San Diego Extension, our students enjoy stimulating classes taught by practicing professionals and subject matter experts. A Professional Certificate in Project Management provides an applied, hands-on approach to start or advance your project management career.
Advance your project management knowledge needed to plan, execute and complete complex projects within all organizations and industries. Industry-neutral curriculum allows you to apply knowledge to any field of interest.
Estimated Cost
$4,500
Selection of Lean Six Sigma as elective incurs additional fee.
Minimum Duration
6 months
Must be completed within 5 years.
Certificate Benefits
- Curriculum aligns with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Courses taught by actively practicing industry leaders and subject matter experts
- Project-based coursework enables you to apply tools and concepts first hand
- Industry-neutral curriculum allows you to customize the program to suit your career goals
- Technical project management, leadership, and business management topics provide a balanced learning approach for project professionals
- Earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) needed to apply for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam
Careers in Project Management
Join us for a free lunch and learn Careers in Project Management event on February 7, 2020. Learn tools and knowledge you can apply to your career and take the opportunity to meet with program advisors and instructors.
Why Project Management?
Project managers are becoming increasingly essential to management team functions in every industry. The Project Management Institute (PMI) notes in their Job Growth and Talent Gap (2017) report that employers will need to add 87.7 million project management jobs by 2027 across 11 countries on five continents. In the U.S., project managers earned an average wage of $105k in 2017 and over the next several years 213,974 new project management related positions are slated to be added; making the field an attractive option for those looking to advance their careers or retool into a growing field.
Instructor Mark Rushton brings together over 20 years of experience in a number of industries with a keen sense of the role of a project manager. Mark shares his story in this instructor spotlight: Mark Rushton on Becoming Agile
Project Management Institute
UC San Diego Extension's Project Management program curriculum is b
ased on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and fulfills the necessary education hours required to apply for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam or PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. Courses can also be used to maintain the PMP credential. For more on the requirements to sit for the PMP/CAPM exam, review the Project Management Institute's PMP Handbook.
UC San Diego Extension is a proud community partner of the San Diego Chapter of the Project Management Institute, which provides valuable resources, volunteer, networking, and test prep opportunities. To learn more, please visit: pmi-sd.org.
International Students
For international students interested in joining our full-time program, which gives students the opportunity to study in the United States on a student visa, please check out the full-time Project Management Program for International Students (two quarters). International students who need an F-1 student visa will need to apply at ip.extension.ucsd.edu. International students are also welcome to participate in the program online from any location.
Transfer to Online Master’s Degree
Upon completion of UC San Diego Extension Project Management coursework, as outlined in the Transfer Course Requirements below, 12 units can be transferred to the University of Wisconsin at Platteville’s M.S. in Project Management degree program, which is offered fully online.

Certificate at a Glance
Number of courses: Approximately 7 courses
Total units: 21 units
Estimated cost: $4,500 (Students that elect to take Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt will incur additional fees; please see course page for exact tuition fee.)
Minimum time to complete: 6 months*
Delivery: In-class and online delivery. Intensive boot camp and weekend classes also available for some courses.
Contact: ProjectManagement@ucsd.edu
*Students have up to five years from the start of program to complete it although it can be completed in as little as six months.
APPLY NOW
APPLICATION FEE: $0
There will be a $95 fee upon acceptance into the program