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Project Management and Process Improvement Course Descriptions

Interested in pursuing an advanced degree or certificate in project management and process improvement?  Here are the courses you will be taking in this concentration.

Course Descriptions for Courses in the Project Management and Process Improvement Concentration

MBA6381 Project Management Overview
MBA6382 Project Life Cycle-Initiating, Planning and Executing
MBA6383 Project Life Cycle-Monitoring, Controlling & Closing
MBA6384 Change Management & Leadership
MBA6385 Process Improvement Tools & Techniques
MBA6386 Process Improvement Applications

MBA 6381 Project Management Overview

The purpose of this course is to help students develop their knowledge and skills in project management.  Topics covered in the course are foundational and include the concepts, terms, knowledge areas, and deliverables that support the implementation of projects using the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards. This course also includes an introduction to the tools and techniques that are used during the project life cycle.  

MBA 6382 Project Life Cycle-Initiating, Planning and Executing        

The course presents project management from the perspective of an established objective, a defined life cycle and specific time, cost and performance outcomes. Content focuses on managerial tasks required at various stages of the life cycle's initiating, planning and preliminary executing stages with the corresponding level of effort, knowledge of Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards, and technology-related tools necessary to perform the tasks.

MBA 6383 Project Life Cycle-Monitoring, Controlling & Closing

The course presents project management from the perspective of a defined life cycle and specific time, cost and performance outcomes. Content focuses on managerial tasks related to project execution with ensuing stages of the life cycle's monitoring, controlling and closing stage utilizing the corresponding level of effort, knowledge of Project Management  Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards, and technology-related tools necessary to perform the tasks.

MBA 6384: Change Management & Leadership


This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of leading and managing change in an organization, and it provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in leading and managing change through process improvement initiatives. Topics include change management and leadership theory, managing process improvement, stakeholder and communications planning, project charter, and translating customer requirements into process requirements.

MBA 6385: Process Improvement Tools & Techniques 


This course provides a comprehensive overview of methodologies for identifying and managing process improvement projects. The course will focus on the theory and fundamentals of process improvement and Lean Six Sigma methodologies. Topics include process improvement and quality management theory, principles of Lean Six Sigma, project definition, process measurement, process analysis, process improvement, and process control.


MBA 6386: Process Improvement Applications


In this course, students will apply the tools and techniques that they learned in the previous courses on process improvement to simulated and real world problems, and they will read and discuss a number of articles and cases that provide theoretical and practical context for managers seeking to improve processes in their organizations. Major topics include application of process improvement to organizational strategy, change management, Lean Six Sigma, and kaizen.