August 1984

Master of Science In Project Management Its Rationale And Content

Terry L. Kinnear William D. Kane, Jr. Western Carolina University Kathy G. Lovedahl The Ashley Company

Introduction
With the help and sponsorship of the Project Management I n s t i t u t e , Western Carolina University's (WCU) School of Business is designing and implementing the first U.S. nationally-accredited Master of Science in Project Management Degree. Located in extreme southwestern North Carolina, the WCU business faculty has become very active over the past several years with the Project Management Institute and its developing professional activities. As a result, a growing and mutually-supportive relationship has developed between the two organizations, culminating in this major step toward development of the project management field as a profession. The purpose of this degree program is to educate individuals for the management of complex projects; in other words, to develop better performing project managers. This article reviews the rationale for a graduate level project management degree program in a school of business. It also reports some of the events leading to the program's development and implementation at Western Carolina University, and describes the proposed program for the first nationally-accredited, U.S. Master of Science in Project Management Degree.

Rationale
The management of many complex projects is related to, but is still distinct from, the detailed

technical nature of the project. The Master of Science in Project Management Degree Program at Western Carolina University is designed to educate persons for managing projects, not for performance of the technical tasks required to complete the work. The Program is to provide management knowledge needed by technically oriented practitioners who are already associated with project oriented work. Thus, the typical student is expected to be an individual with some type of technical undergraduate specialty and working experience in a project related environment. Students are also expected to be individuals who have been selected by their organizations to advance into project management activities. Applicants with different qualifications, of course, will also be considered for entry to the program. Some have asked why the degree should be placed in a business school as opposed to an engineering school. While it is certainly a fact that many of today's practicing project managers have taken their basic education in an engineering field, it is also true that project management, and indeed the Project Management Institute itself, is rapidly growing beyond the engineering specialities. The impact of project management is being recognized to an ever increasing extent in Pharmaceuticals, retailing, marketing, banking, motion pictures, and social programs, to name only a few of the more obvious fields. Many managers of projects from these fields

page 32

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

August 1984

could not qualify for, and would be less than interested in, graduate work at any engineering school. In any event, it is clear that a project manager's responsibilities far exceed the completion of technical duties. The effective project manager must understand organizational processes and be capable of practicing management skills within the broader contexts of business practices, government rules and controls, and industrial procedures. Accounting, finance, marketing, contracting, and legal knowledge of business and government organizations, in general, and of the project in particular, are critical to the project manager's ability to function well within the project's environment. It is most appropriate, therefore, that formal project management education be administered through a school of business or management. Many of our currently practicing project managers may find that there are educational prerequisites to meet before entering such a at the graduate level. The prerequisites, however, center around the specific areas of knowledge needed by these practioners to effectively manage project activities.

Degree Program Development

Western Carolina University's School of Business has studied, researched, and evaluated the scope and direction of existing and future project management educational needs. The School of Business is uniquely qualified to offer a graduate degree program, with at least five members of the faculty having both the relevant academic backgrounds and the practical project management experience necessary to provide quality instruction appropriate to the project manager. Western Carolina University Proposal Western Carolina University presented a detailed proposal for a graduate program in project management to the Project Management Institute's Board of Directors in October, 1983, and was selected from among the nationally accredited1 business schools in the United States to develop the first nationallyaccredited Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) Degree Program in the U.S. The Project Management Institute's (PMI's) endorsement,
'Accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the only recognized national accrediting body for business programs in the United States.

however, only represented the beginning of the development of such a degree program. Prior to offering the program, WCU (one of sixteen state supported higher education institutions in North Carolina) must receive degree granting approval from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Market Research Study A three phase market research study was conducted jointly by PMI and WCU during JanuaryMay, 1984, through Western Carolina University. The overall purpose of the research effort was to obtain and provide a clear, quantitative expression of the need, interest, and support for the proposed MSPM. Phase I objectives-were (1) to document the sampled organizations' use of project management in the conduct of their business, (2) to document the need for specialized education and training of persons in the project management field, and (3) to document support and endorsement for the proposed degree program. More than fifty letters stressing the need, interest, and support for graduate level project management education have been received from such diverse and well known organizations as Arthur D. Little International, Inc., Batelle Memorial Institute, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Grumman Aerospace Corporation, McNeil Pharmaceutical, and Metier Management Systems, Inc. For example, Dr. Timothy C. Stockert, Manager of Organization Development and Training at Carolina Power & Light Company (CP & L), expressed CP & L's position: "As our experience with the training and education of project managers becomes more extensive, the need for career development through obtaining educational credibility has become evident. Many of our engineers . . . desire development at a higher level than is typically provided internally at CP & L or available through vendors throughout the country." This and other such responses suggest sufficient support to encourage the development of a project management degree program at the graduate level. The objectives of Phase II were (1) to document a level of need, demand and support for specialized, post-graduate education in the area of project management as perceived by practitioners in the project management profession, and (2) to develop a profile of prospective students including the dimensions of education, experience, special needs, and

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

page 33

August 1984

Table I Practioner's Survey Responses

Post-graduate project management education (such as proposed MSPM program) will be useful in improving a project manager's working proficiency. Post-graduate project management education will be useful to a project manager's career advancement. My employer recognizes postgraduate degree education as beneficial to an employee's career. My employer supports an employee's attendance at postgraduate degree programs.

Disagree

Agree

Don't Know

5%

7%

29%

25%

28%

6%

3%

2%

13%

20%

33%

25%

3%

3%

7%

12%

20%

19%

31%

8%

5%

7%

10%

14%

22%

37%

5%

problems, as perceived by those most familiar with potential MSPM students. PMI Chapter members were asked to respond to a survey distributed at their chapter meetings and, while responses are still being received, the early results are encouraging. Responses to statements pertaining to the perceived usefulness and need for graduate level project management education are summarized in Table I. The results suggest substantial support for the MSPM from the sample of project management professionals, with over 70% of the respondents indicating some level of agreement with each question stated. The practicing project managers were also asked to respond to statements measuring their perceptions regarding potential MSPM students' characteristics and needs. A summary of findings is presented in Table II. This distinctive student profile provides the information needed to target the MSPM program publicity toward prospective students. It also identifies the perceived hindrances to establishing the degree as a full-time, resident program. The key difficulties clearly reflect concerns with career interruption, finances, and temporary relocation issues.

Table II Prospective Student Profile

82% possess at least a four year undergraduate degree as required for entrance into the graduate school. 18% will require substantial prerequisite work, from a full fouryear degree to one or two years completion of degree work. 79% possess an undergraduate degree in a technical field. This group will require varying amounts of the 30 hours of prerequisite undergraduate courses usually found in business curriculum. Prospective students would come from a wide variety of project management related positions, from presidents on down, but with the majority coming from interfacing support groups, from which promotions into project management positions are usually made. Prospective students, on the average, possess 6 years experience in project management and 9 years in their specialty field. The proposed three to five years of project-related experience as an entrance requirement should not be a great hindrance. 69% will need financial assistance. 26% will not receive financial support from their employers, and will need assistance from other sources. More than 80% of the prospective students have not received advanced project management education or training. At least six months lead time will be needed for these prospects to apply and make preparations prior to attendance.

page 34

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

August 1984

The Phase III objective was to furnish evidence indicating support at the international level for an MSPM Degree Program. It is not appropriate to draw significant generalizations at this time because of the low rate of response to the survey due to the time required to obtain answers through international mails. However, initial indications through personal contacts and early responses to the survey indicate very high interest in the new degree program from a wide selection of countries throughout the free world. In fact, requests for applications to the program have already been received from a number of internationally based students. Overall, the data from the market research study suggests the validity of two conclusions. First, the majority of the respondents favor the establishment of the degree program; second, extensive and actual support will be required from the project management business community to encourage and allow the attendance of appropriate students in such a full-time educational program. Board of Advisors The Board of Directors of the Project Management Institute, in association with Western Carolina University, identified and appointed members to a Project Management Advisory Board. The members of this Board were selected from the membership of the Project Management Institute, are considered experts in their respective fields, and are senior representatives of the variety of professions and organizations in the project management arena. The specific members and composition of the Board are discussed in the editor's column at the beginning of this issue of the Project Management Journal. The functions of the Advisory Board are to work with WCU to finalize the planning process for the proposed degree program, to facilitate the implementation process, to assure the Degree remains pragmatic in nature (i.e., with a business, not academic orientation), and to oversee the program's continued operation. The Advisory Board met April 8-10, 1984, on the WCU campus to review, analyze, and evaluate all aspects of the proposed degree program. The outcomes of this three day meeting included the identification of specific objectives for the degree program and delineation of the subject areas to be addressed in the MSPM curriculum. Working within the framework of the 1983 Project Management Journal Special Summer Issue, "Ethics, Standards,

and Accreditation," the Advisory Board provided valuable input to the development of specific academic courses. The Board specifically identified the degree program's goal: to broaden the specialized individual. More specifically, the objectives of the program are to provide a student with: 1. a knowledge of the concepts, tools and techniques of business and project management; 2. an understanding of the project and business environments; 3. the confidence to understand, articulate, and perform project management activities; and 4. the ability to integrate all aspects of business and project activities. A highlight of the Board's meeting was their interest in and commitment to a Visiting Executive Lecture Program feature of the degree program. Plans call for at least one project management executive to visit WCU each month and present his industry's approach to project management and a detailed review of his particular major project. Wholehearted endorsement of the MSPM was expressed by the Advisory Board to WCU's Chancellor H.F. Robinson at the conclusion of the meeting. The Board will reconvene in September, 1984, on the WCU campus. Program Authorization A "Request for Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program Track" leading to a new degree was submitted to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors by the WCU School of Business in May, 1984. The University of North Carolina administration is currently in the process of evaluating the proposal. This action communicated the full endorsement of the Project Management Institute to Western Carolina University's quest for degree granting authority. The proposal forwarded to the North Carolina Board of Governors fully described curricular content. A description of the proposed degree program is presented below.

Degree Program Content

The MSPM is a full time, on campus program that requires 33 semester hours of courses, all at the graduate level. It includes 18 semester hours of core business courses and 15 semester hours of specialized project management courses. The program incorporates accreditation standards and guidelines of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

page 36

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

August 1984

Prior to full, unconditional admission to the MSPM program, the applicant must take the national standard Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), administered and controlled by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, and achieve a satisfactory formula score. He or she must satisfy all course prerequisites to the program. The candidate must have letters of recommendation pertinent to the field of project management, and international students must attain a satisfactory score on the "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL). These conditions are expanded upon in the following discussion.
Admission Criteria

Prior to full admission to the MSPM program, several criteria must be met. First, the candidate must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and obtain a score high enough such that: (1) (Four year undergraduate Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale X 200) + (GMAT score) = 950 or above, or (2) (Junior and senior year Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale X 200) + (GMAT score) = 1000 or above.

This admissions formula derives from the standards of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and also pertains to students seeking entry into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at WCU. Second, in addition to the formula score the candidate must have completed a number of prerequisite courses, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, such that he or she will enter the Program's core courses properly prepared. The core courses are based upon the student having at least a minimum undergraduate foundation of knowledge and skills in business oriented courses, so it is imperative that the student satisfy course prerequisites. The prerequisites may be satisfied at the undergraduate level or in specially designed, accelerated graduate courses, as shown in Table III. The BA 500 courses are in modular form so that a student can take only the modules he or she needs. For example, if a student has an undergraduate course in Principles of Management but lacks Marketing Principles and Business Law, he or she could waive the management module of BA 515 and take only the marketing and law modules, a total of 4 credit hours of work.

Table III

Prerequisite Requirements
Undergraduate requirements Course Accounting Principles Economics (micro/macro) Financial Management Statistics (business applications) Computer Information Systems Management Principles Marketing Principles Business Law Total undergraduate hours Semester hours
6 6 3
3 3

May be satisfied at the graduate level at WCU Course' BA 500, Accounting BA 505, Economics and Public Policy BA 510, Computer Information Systems and Statistics BA 515, Management, Marketing, and Law Total graduate hours Semester hours 3

3 3 3

30

20

See the Western Carolina University Graduate Catalog for complete course descriptions.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

page 37

August 1984

Course prerequisites are essential to the School of Business's national accreditation. They may be satisfied, however, in a number of ways. The student may come to Western Carolina University and enroll in the appropriate courses, at either the undergraduate level or the 500 level, and when all requirements are satisfied be fully and unconditionally admitted to the MSPM program. The student may have already taken equivalent courses in his or her bachelor level work. These can be transfered subject to evaluation by the WCU Transfer Office and the Graduate School. A student may enroll in night courses while still working full time and use these courses to satisfy any or all of the prerequisite requirements. Prerequisites may also be satisfied by College Level Evaluation Program (CLEP) exams or other recognized challenge exams. The WCU faculty will carefully work with each perspective student to develop the easiest and appropriate means of meeting these prerequisites. The third prerequisite involves letters of recommendation from the applicant's prior, current, or prospective employer. The letters should indicate the employer's planned use of the applicant's education obtained through the MSPM degree program. In particular, the letter should state at least one of the following: 1 That the applicant has been involved in project management and will remain involved upon graduation. That the applicant will move into a position within a project organization upon graduation. That the applicant is or will be involved in a supervisory capacity over project managers or project management personnel.

4. That the applicant will be involved in providing support to project managers or project management organizations upon graduation. The fourth prerequisite is for international students whose native language is not English. They must submit a satisfactory score on the "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL), administered and controlled by The Educational Testing Service (ETS). It is possible, however, for a student to receive a satisfactory score on the TOEFL and still not be fluent enough in the reading and writing of English to perform satisfactory graduate level work. In such cases the student could enroll in English 136 (Basic English for Non-Native Speakers) at WCU, or complete its equivalent at any other school prior to the beginning the MSPM. MSPM Core Courses The Master of Science in Project Management Degree Program has an 18 hour core that is drawn from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Program. The intent of this core is to provide students with a thorough understanding of business management. Projects, even government or not-forprofit projects, may be technically specific but they take place in the context of business. The core courses will facilitate the attainment of the Advisory Board's objective that the student develop the ability to integrate all aspects of business and project activities. The required courses are identified in Table IV. A student may transfer a total of six semester hours from among these courses, subject to evaluation by the WCU Transcript Evaluation Office and the Graduate School, from a graduate institution accredited by AACSB.2

Table IV Graduate Level Core Courses

Course Designation*1 Accounting 651 Economics 607 Finance 601 Marketing 601 Management 605 Management 607 Title Managerial Accounting Managerial Economics Advanced Financial Management Marketing Management Organizational Behavior and Analysis Business Policy Formulation and Action

Graduate Credit

3 3 3

Total semester hours See the Western Carolina University Graduate Catalog for complete course descriptions. Note that these course are restricted to fully admitted graduate students only.
b

3 3 3 18

'Courses offered for transfer credit must have been restricted to graduate students only.

page 38

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

August 1984

Project Management Courses The Master of Science in Project Management Degree Program has 15 hours of specialized courses. The intent of this curriculum section is to provide students with both the breadth and depth of knowledge required in their area of specialization, project management. To educate students, the following courses have been proposed and will be restricted to fully admitted graduate students only.3 Management 670 Project Management Systems (3 credits): Specialized project management theory dealing with definitional issues and life cycle implication from a systems viewpoint. Project life cycle; the national international, and cultural environments of projects; project logistics and support structures; financier/customer/user/contractor/consultant relationships; tools, techniques, and applications for project managers; and future considerations. Management 672 Project Human Resource Management (3 credits): Human resource issues associated with project management, from the viewpoints of a project manager, project team members, and support personnel. Situational approach to leadership, emphasizing the results of various leadership/management styles; negotiation, conflict, and stress management techniques; team building and small group dynamics; job design and task delineations; and career development. Management 674 Project Contracting and Logistics Management (3 credits): Interrelationships in organizations among project management, contracting, and logistics support systems; "Make or buy" decision and organization capacities; legal dimensions of contracts and contract negotiations; Summer Session Fall
June 1 - August 8 Maximum of 12 hours of prerequisites plus CLEP or challenge exams. August 15 - December 15

production surveillance and expediting; inventory scheduling, storage, and control; transportation and protection of goods; and contract termination. Management 676 Specialized Project Management Techniques (3 credits): Production planning, scheduling, and control techniques optimized for the project manager. Work breakdown structure, program evaluation and review technique, critical path method, resource allocation, Monte Carlo method, and other conceptual and computer oriented planning and control techniques; uncertainty analysis, risk analysis, and cost estimating techniques; reporting structures and information management systems; and other specialized techniques. Management 678 Project Management Organization and Policy (3 credits): Strategic planning and the contribution of projects in achieving organizational purposes; organizing for accomplishing policies and strategies; bureaucratic, project, and matrix structure systems; environmental factors involved in analysis techniques and project efforts; project use analysis and the development of project effectiveness measures. The content of these courses, however, must be considered tentative at this time. The continuing input of the Project Management Advisory Board will be a major factor in developing curriculum content. Time Schedule for MSPM Completion A student who has completely satisfied all prerequisites may complete the program in ten months (see Figure 1). The fully prepared student could begin the program on approximately August 15, have a very intense and busy ten months, and satisfy all requirements for graduation by June 1 of the following year. Those needing some prerequisites could enroll Spring Special Session
January 15 - May 15 May 15 - June 1 Concluding, integrating course. 4'/i hours per day for 10 days. 3 semester hours.

Begin full enrollment in Continue full enrollment MSPM: 15 semester hours. in MSPM: 15 semester hours.

Figure 1
Time Line for Completing the MSPM Program at WCUC
'There is a possibility of a six hour thesis option. If authorized and used, the thesis would focus on those
specialty areas which the thesis option replaced.
C

A11 dates are approximate; they will vary somewhat ac-

dar for the particular year.

cording to the Western Carolina University academic calen-

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE

page 39

August 1984

in summer session prior to full admission to the MSPM and, twelve very active months later, satisfy graduation requirements. Those needing the maximum level of prerequisite preparation, or English language training, could enroll in a spring semester (January 15), continue prerequisite work in summer school, be fully enrolled in the MSPM program in the fall semester, and complete degree requirements by June 1, approximately eighteen months from the beginning. Prospective students at all levels of readiness can introduce their individual cases into the time line and estimate how long it will take to complete the program. Note that the time line estimates are for full-time, on campus students.

Conclusion
Western Carolina University in cooperation with

the Project Management Institute is wholeheartedly and enthusiastically developing the first nationally accredited Master of Science in Project Management Degree Program to be offered in the United States. The intent is to develop a pragmatic program of studies designed to improve the management of technical project activities. The cooperative relationship between the WCU School of Business and the Project Mangement Institute continues to develop and has made this degree program possible, while the contributions provided by PMI's Project Management Advisory Board will insure the pragmatic orientation of the program. Western Carolina University is determined to develop the highest quality "flagship" program possible, and to encourage universities in other regions of the country to expand their offerings in this area.

OFFICIAL PMI LOGO JEWELRY & GIFTS

C. PRISM EMBEDIMENT D. PEWTER BELT BUCKLE

B. TIE BAR
A. LAPEL PIN/ TIE TAC

OFFICIAL PMI JEWELRY & GIFTS can be ordered from Drexel Hill. The New England Chapter developed this project and all are first quality. Be one of the first in your chapter and area to wear this distinctive jewelry or present them as gifts to your chapter speakers, officers, or corporate sponsors. Test marketing has proven they are admired and will sell. The prism embediment logo is made of a base metal and finished in antique pewter. The belt buckle is solid pewter. The tie bar and lapel pin/tie tac are made of a base metal and gold plated. Use the order form below. Allow 5 weeks for delivery. JEWELRY ITEM A. TIE TAC/LAPEL PIN B. TIE BAR C. PRISM EMBEDIMENT D. PEWTER BELT BUCKLE (QUANTITY D D D D UNIT PRICE* $ Q nn
Q SO

ITEM PRICE

74 sn

17.00

'INCLUDES POSTAGE & HANDLING

TOTAL PA residents add 6% tax TOTAL AMOUNT DUE

Sorry, but we are unable to bill. Payment must accompany all orders and be in U.S. dollars. Please make checks payable to Project Management Institute. Ship to: Name

Thank you for your order. Mail order to: Project Management Institute P.O. Box 43 Drexel Hill, PA 19026
page 40

Address City, State, Zip Country

This material has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright owner. Unauthorized reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. For permission to reproduce this material, please contact PMI.