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Advanced Degree or PMI Credential — How Do You Choose? Advanced academic degree in project management, or a PMI credential: Which one should you choose?
Yet, as project management continues to grow, academic education is becoming a large part of it—so much so that many project managers, both new and experienced, may have more difficulty choosing the path that’s right for them. This problem—and opportunity— is a new one for project management because it is not yet as mature as other professions, such as architecture or engineering, says PMI Manager of Accreditation Mike Price, PhD. It took those professions decades, or in some cases even hundreds of years, to get to the point where they could require a specific degree. Project management’s academic opportunities, however, are increasing. PMI’s 2008 Pulse of the Profession survey found that, between 2006 and 2008, the percentage of project managers with a project management degree rose 18 percent. And since its founding in 2001, the PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management has accredited 54 project management degree programs at 23 schools in nine countries, with more in the pipeline.
The rise of project management degree programs can confuse some practitioners, as they may wonder whether their careers will be better served with a project management degree or a PMI credential. Academic programs give you a solid academic foundation, and their greater depth and breadth offer many benefits—including, says Dr. Price, “greater marketability, the ability to make better and faster workplace decisions, and a larger set of practical solutions from which to draw when planning and executing projects.” They do require greater time and financial commitments, however, and do not yet have the same visibility and renown of PMI credentials. “The PMP, in the professional context, is the eye-catcher people look for,” says Uwe Schaefer, MSc, PMP, of Zurich, Switzerland. So what should you do? The reality is that there is simply no one-size-fits-all approach to project management education. The wide-ranging experiences of PMI members show that only you can decide what is best for you. “It depends on what your immediate needs are, what your goal is both in the present and in the future, and what your organization’s goal is for project management,” says Joyce Douglas, MPM. PMP, of Juneau, Alaska, USA. In fact, you should not consider yourself limited to one or the other. Many project managers see credentials and academic degrees as natural companions that stress different aspects of their qualifications. “I think one complements the other,” says Daniel Ros Hernandez, PMP, of Barcelona, Spain, who earned a Master of Project Management (MPM) from BES La Salle in Barcelona, Spain. “The MPM gave me knowledge on specific areas of project management. However, the PMP provided a more comprehensive, end-to-end view of a project.” And given the growing role of formal education in project management, degrees will become more and more important. Silvia Romeu, MPM, PMP, of Sabadell, Spain, agrees. “You miss a lot by missing both or one of them,” she says. “In the future, both will give me an advantage above other candidates when applying for new jobs or other opportunities. Tom Cuillla, MPM, PMP from Spokane Valley, in Washington, USA, said “Having the certification and the degree has been helpful in my approach to my daily work, with the knowledge I gained through formal education helping me in both general and project management.." Indeed, a credential and an academic degree complement each other and your experience. Dr. Price notes, “The project management master’s or bachelor’s degree is one leg of the professional stool,” with credentials and experience encompassing the other two. Where possible, project managers should strive to embrace all three. After 25 years of teaching and working in project management, Lynda Bourne, DPM, PMP, of Melbourne, Australia, agrees that a mix of education and experience is best. “It is the combination of seeing what makes a project manager successful, study, and seeing the business side of projects that ensure that those starting out will not only be successful, but also stay in the profession,” says Dr. Bourne, who has a Doctorate of Project Management (DPM). When it comes to project management credentials and academic education, you will be well-prepared for the future, regardless of what you choose. Latin America gains a degree program that receives accreditation by the PMI Global Accreditation Council. First in the region. See more in this issue of Community Post. |
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That may seem like a strange question for an industry that has long defined itself largely through credentials, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP®), and not yet through academic education. 
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