Overview
Northwestern’s Master of Science in Project Management (MPM) program synthesizes essential concepts of development, design, and construction practices for the built environment with functional concepts of management and behavioral science. The program is founded on a multidisciplinary approach that prepares qualified professionals for project management roles in the diverse cross section of organizations that facilitate the design, construction, and operations of projects in the public and private market sectors.
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Program Goals
The MPM program seeks to develop early to mid-level professionals into versatile and technically oriented individuals with a working knowledge of project management skills. Our students will graduate with the skills necessary to direct major projects in today’s increasingly complicated global construction market, outcomes that will facilitate their advancement in the corporate structure. We prepare our students to:
- Integrate technical and business skills to address the complex challenges of development, design, and construction today’s built environment.
- Manage the project teams that operate within architecture, engineering, construction, building operations, and real estate development and management organizations.
- Leverage the latest technology for project management and execution.
Curriculum
A series of core courses emphasizes management techniques that are useful in planning, coordinating, controlling, and evaluating the activities of diverse specialists within the framework of a civil engineering project. These courses are supplemented by specialized courses and electives that strengthen management skills, expand technical proficiency, and allow the student to tailor the program to their area of interest.
Specialization Areas
The MPM program offers five specialization areas that enable students to tailor their program of study depending on their interest and experience. The five general specialization areas are:
- A/E/C Business Management
- Construction Management
- Real Estate Development
- Sustainability
- Transportation Management
Learn more about specializations
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Electives
Further encouraging our students to embark on intellectual exploration, the MPM program also permits students to choose electives from selected courses in other McCormick departments and other Northwestern schools, including:
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences
- Kellogg School of Management
- Northwestern's School of Communication
Capstone Report
Motivated by the prevailing consensus that architecture, engineering, and construction professionals often lack communication skills equal to their level of professional knowledge, the MPM program requires every graduate to write and present a Capstone Report on a project management topic related to their specialization area. This report helps our graduates to:
- Improve both their written and oral communication skills crucial to career advancement
- Gain the personal confidence of being able to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients
Learn more about the capstone report
Full-Time Option
Full-time students can complete the MPM program in nine months (fall, winter, and spring quarters). Full-time students are required to take three courses each quarter, but typically take four.
The full-time option is ideal for those who:
- Are international students
- Wish to obtain their degree sooner, which may help them reach their professional goals more quickly
Part-Time Option
To accommodate working professionals, courses are with late afternoon (4:00-6:00 pm) and evening (6:30-9:30 pm) options on weekdays (excluding Fridays). The program can be completed in two years. MPM courses are offered in fall, winter, and spring quarters.
The part-time option is ideal for those who:
- Wish to continue working while in the program
- Have obligations that would prevent them from attending daytime classes
Faculty
The MPM program’s faculty consists of leading practitioners whose wealth of professional experience and familiarity with current trends and challenges enable them to provide MPM students with cutting-edge approaches to solving even the most complex project management problems.
