Are you a natural problem solver? Do you aspire to be a team leader and company hero by leading key organizational projects? Then a career as a project manager may be for you! Project management is all about teamwork, so being flexible, understanding, and patient can lead you towards success in the profession. Are you interested in starting a career as a project manager in the USA? Read on to learn how you can!

What Do Project Managers Do?

A project manager carries out organizational changes to meet specific objectives. They typically lead strategic projects through the initiation, planning, execution, and completion phases. Project managers are often called upon to provide expertise to an organization when there is a change in organizational direction, a new technology implementation, or layoffs and acquisitions are occurring.

As a project manager, you may be tasked with:

• Understanding and documenting requirements
• Creating and organizing plans
• Forming and managing a team to complete the requirements listed
• Creating and managing the budget, timeline, and scope of a project to make sure the tasks are completed as promised
• Reporting to stakeholders

What Degree is Required to Be a Project Manager?

There is no specific degree required to become a project manager. Most employers prefer that a candidate have a bachelor’s degree and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. To receive your PMP certification with a bachelor’s degree, you must have 36 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training before taking the exam.

If you wish to pursue a project management position in a specific industry, such as computer technology, art, advertising, or design, you may want to earn a degree that is relevant to that industry to gain a better understanding of the discipline. There are Project Management degree programs that provide a foundation for a career as a project manager. If you choose to major in Project Management, the courses you take will teach you skills like:

• Managing projects
• Defining project goals
• Coordinating organizational tasks
• Assessing profitability

What U.S. College or University Should I Attend to Become a Project Manager?

With more than 4,700 degree-granting institutions in the United States, there is sure to be at least one that is perfect for you! It would be best to consider choosing a school located in the kind of place you want to study that will give you the maximum exposure to the profession. The location of the college or university can also impact the internships, work experience, and job placement opportunities available to you during your enrollment and post-graduation.

For aspiring project management professionals, there are an increasing number of opportunities in expanding, high-density, urban areas. If you choose to major in Project Management and are interested in a program that ensures the highest standard of excellence, ensure the program has accreditation through the Project Management Institute (PMI), the professional organization for project management.