subject: Get Yourself Organized For An Mba In Project Management [print this page] A person who is interested in getting an MBA in project management may find they have skills and characteristics that can further this cause. It is not uncommon to find that people who work in project management may be more organized individuals with good communication and leadership skills. They often have the ability to motivate and manage people as well as to increase the productivity of those working with them to complete a project or projects. Many of us are project managers to a minor degree in our everyday world as we manage and structure events and projects in our own lives, often motivating others to assist us in this work.
Project management can certainly be stressful, but it can also be very satisfying seeing your work pay off and a project come to fruition. If you are considering getting your MBA in project management, here is some information that might help you in your decision-making process.
Coursework
You may already consider yourself a born leader with many of the skills necessary to be a great project manager. Especially if you already have a degree in management, business management, or areas related to operations, you may consider the idea of getting an MBA a waste of time. There could however, be a variety of subjects that you did not cover in either your undergraduate work or your experience in the real world that might be reviewed while getting your MBA. Here are a few, but by no means all of the subjects you might find yourself studying in your project management MBA work.
Labor law
Commercial law
Building codes
Calculus
Budget management
Blueprint reading
Career Opportunities
Project managers can be found in a variety of industries and fields and are not just limited to commonly associated construction or industrial sectors. While these are certainly areas in which project managers may be found, there may also be career opportunities in areas such as healthcare, government, hospitality, the corporate environment, and a variety of organizations from large corporations to smaller businesses.
With the recent recession affecting many of the industries in which project managers are commonly found, there may be a fear among some that jobs will be scarce. While this aspect of the project management career is not to be ignored, it may make having an MBA in the field even more important to help increase the chances of obtaining a job during this critical time in the US economy.
Pay Outlook
As with almost any industry or career path, you may have to expect to work your way up within the project management field. There is often a variety of career paths you may travel that can affect your salary range. Pay will also often depend upon the type of company with which you are working as well as they type and number of projects to which you are assigned.
Here are some related pay averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2008 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for those who may be considering an MBA in project management.
