Foundations of Successful Project Management

Project management is a high-value skill that is in demand across all industries. This course is designed for anyone interested in learning the foundational skills of project management. This may include current project coordinators, business analysts, or anyone who finds themselves overseeing special assignments in their daily work. Through pre-recorded lectures and interactive, instructor-led webinar sessions, this course lays the foundation for creating a project plan, work breakdown structure (WBS), schedule, budget and communication plan. Learners will also practice resource management, identifying and managing risk, and understanding the project quality and procurement processes. Course curriculum is based on the project lifecycles, standards and methodologies developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). At the end of this course, students will understand the core fundamentals of project management from project initiation to project scope.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop plans to initiate and manage a project
• Describe and plan a project scope and collect project requirements
• Identify organizational structures and define the project lifecycle
• Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) to organize the team's work into manageable sections
• Manage constraints of the project scope, budget and schedule to ensure smooth management of the project and expected outcomes

Skills You Will Gain

• Project management plan development
• Project scope development and requirement gathering
• Work break down structure (WBS)
• Risk and resource management
• Analytical thinking and problem solving

Course Format and Pacing

This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—such as video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are accessible throughout the week. While students may have some flexibility in managing their time, the course follows a structured, week-by-week schedule with regular due dates. Most students can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.

For information on how to apply for the PMP Certification Examination and to report your PDU's go to www.pmi.org.