Project Management Certificate Program

The Project Management Certificate Program is a joint offering from the Lewis Institute, Inc. and NC State University's Office of Professional Development and the Industrial Extension Service. This new certificate series provides project managers with the essential skills they need to succeed at "hands-on" project management. All participants will receive certificates of completion from NC State University and continuing education credits in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs), and Professional Development Units (PDUs).

One thing that makes our certificate program different than most is that we employ "whole-brain," accelerated learning, and simulation methods in all of our courses, so that maximum transfer of skills to the workplace is achieved. The typical training program only transfers to the job about 30 percent of what is taught. Our objective is to greatly exceed that level. The certificate requires that you complete five courses - three "core" courses and two electives - over a period of three years. Each seminar is three days in duration.

CORE COURSES FOR THE CERTIFICATE

Project Management: Tools, Principles, and Practices: In this workshop you will learn how to manage every aspect of a project to achieve schedule, cost, and performance objectives, while maintaining the scope of the job. You will also master concepts and methods needed to manage resources efficiently to achieve project goals and discover the importance of being proactive and exercising leadership. You can use these concepts in any job or real-life situation.

How to Communicate, Influence, and Negotiate in Project Management: This workshop offers you the essential "people skills" that project managers need in order to get the project done when you have a lot of responsibility and little or no authority. You will learn the skills in communication, influencing, and negotiating that compliment the problem solving, goal setting, scheduling, tracking and other technical skills needed by project managers. Remember, projects are people!

Team-Based Project Management: Team leadership and management is one of the most neglected aspects of managing projects. Many projects fail, not because of technical difficulties, but due to "people problems." In this workshop you will learn vital methods of leading, motivating, and communicating with members of your project team to achieve critical project outcomes - skills that can be used in any discipline.

ELECTIVES

Whole-Brain Project Management: You will learn how to capture the unique thinking preferences of every member of a project team so that you achieve optimum performance from them. In addition you will learn your own preferences for certain ways of thinking, and how to use this knowledge to improve your own ability to solve problems, make decisions, communicate more effectively, and much more.

Managing Risks & Procurement in Projects: A 30-year veteran project manager will teach this workshop where you will learn how to manage risks and the contracting processes involved in procuring materials and equipment for projects. Most importantly, you will learn how to deal with contractors in your projects in order to get an agreement that will work. The risk management section emphasizes defining the types and sources of risk and the necessary tools to handle them. Techniques for handling the solicitation, awards, and execution of contracts - together with methods of handling conflicts that arise during the execution of them - will be thoroughly covered in this workshop.

The Project Leadership Laboratory: In this workshop you will learn hands-on, practical leadership skills through intensive self-diagnosis and skill practice. You will look beyond theory to examine the real-world relationship among task, leader, and follower. Upon completing this program, you will thoroughly understand your preferences for leading and how to adopt the best approach, whatever the situation.

Mastering Project Management: In this workshop you will learn how to think, act, and be seen as a true project manager. You will be shown methods for making better decisions about projects, handling scheduling uncertainty, improving project management processes, and dealing with power and politics. You will also learn how to solidify your position as a professional project manager.

Extreme Project Management: Not all projects lend themselves to traditional methods of planning, scheduling, and control. In this workshop you will take a practical approach to managing projects such as IT, science projects, and product development programs. This program does not focus on the traditional tools of project management, such as critical path scheduling, but instead offers a non-traditional look at managing projects that don't lend themselves to a "cookie-cutter approach."

To be eligible to earn the certificate, you must:

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A $50 processing fee is required with the certificate application form. Please complete this form and submit it with your payment to the Office of Professional Development, Box 7401, Raleigh, NC 27695-7401 or fax to 919.515.7614.