Established by PMI in 2001, the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC) is a specialized accrediting body that accredits degree programs at the bachelors, masters and doctorate levels in the field of project management that are offered within accredited institutions of higher education worldwide

The discipline of project management has increasingly become more recognized within the academic world over the past 20 years.

In 1994 there were only two bachelor-and nine master-level project management degrees — primarily in construction management — identified. By 2009 the number had grown to over 640 degree programs at 456 institutions worldwide. The degree also has broadened to encompass construction management, business management, engineering, architecture and information technology. This growing interest in the profession signaled a need for higher standards in project management education — thus, the establishment of GAC Program.

The GAC confers accreditation only upon the degree programs within institutions that meet the accreditation standards defined in the GAC Handbook of Accreditation of Degree Programs in Project Management - Third Edition.

View a list of GAC Accredited Degree or Applicant Degree programs.

Find out about the GAC Academic Network 

GAC Mission

To advance excellence in project management education worldwide through collaboration with and through support of academic institutions and accreditation of academic programs.

Primary Objective of GAC Accreditation

To ensure that "GAC Accredited" educational programs in project management adequately prepare students to meet the current and anticipated needs of businesses and government organizations for qualified professionals working in the field of project management.

GAC Board

The GAC Board functions as the policy making body in all matters related to GAC Accreditation of academic programs in the field of project management, and is solely responsible for all related decisions. Responsibilities include:

• To develop and enhance standards and guidelines for evaluating program effectiveness in the field of project management education and to foster excellence in the same.

• To develop and maintain policies and procedures, on site visit processes and other appropriate documentation to support GAC accreditation.

• To receive, review, arbitrate and decide written appeals from any applicant program appealing an action of the GAC.

• The GAC has the sole and final authority for granting GAC Accreditation to applicant academic programs in the field of project management.

Board members may serve as many as three consecutive three-year terms. The GAC Board aims to strike a member balance of geography and of professional and academic individuals.

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The 2009 GAC Board Members are: