Programme structure
MSc/PgCert Project Management Practice
You will study 5 modules:
Module 1: Managing Projects (30 credits)
The first module consolidates your existing project management skills and gives you an introduction to the core principles of project management, including quality, time, cost, benefits and risks. It also provides an opportunity for reflection upon the dynamics and effectiveness of working in groups. You will define and analyse your individual learning styles and strengths and learn how to utilise these in a business environment.
Topics include:
- Project organisations and structures
- Process and life-cycles
- Planning, monitoring and controlling
- Risk and opportunity management
Module 2: Leading Projects (30 credits)
This module covers the role of effective leadership in delivering successful project outcomes. You will study project leadership within the context of existing theories, and focus on how these theories are applied in actual situations. You will continue to build on your strengths, analysis, work and learn to correlate theoretical insights with practice and critically analyse your own leadership performance.
Topics include:
- Leadership analysis
- Project leader responsibilities and project life-cycle
- Focusing on people
- Skills: negotiation, decision-making, motivation, problem-solving, delegation, conflict management, change, building networks and trust, influencing
- Project teams
(Modules 1 and 2 studied independently comprise the PgCert Project Management Practice)
Module 3: Managing Professional Development (30 credits)
This module focuses on you as an individual manager and the improvement of your capabilities and skills through continuous professional development and lifelong learning. You will synthesise your strengths, interests and issues into an individual learning plan, and identify a new area for personal development, and the key resources required.
Topics include:
- Success in projects
- Adaptability and agile project management
- Performance measurement
- Improving capability
- Ethics and professionalism
- Lifelong learning
Module 4: Project Enquiry (30 credits)
This module will enable you to develop reflective practitioner skills and explore perspectives, viewpoints, contexts and boundaries, establishing your own learning position and critical stance. The learning activities will help you to refine your own research methods, materials and understanding of perspective, in preparation for your dissertation.
Topics include:
- Research methods
- The worker-researcher
- Research approaches in project management
- Developing your research proposal
Module 5: Dissertation (60 credits)
In the final module you will produce a substantial dissertation which focuses around an area of interest or a business need within your work practice.
You will:
- Develop individual knowledge and skills in a range of business functions
- Apply knowledge to a practical area at work
- Research a real problem or area of interest in your everyday practice
- Develop solutions to real-life problems