Project Management Courses at Howard Community College: A Comprehensive Guide

Howard Community College (HCC) offers various pathways for students to gain knowledge and skills in project management, whether for academic credit, professional development, or career advancement. This article explores the project management courses available, including options for earning transferable college credits, utilizing prior learning recognition, and preparing for industry certifications.

Earning Transferable College Credits in Project Management

Students at Howard Community College have several avenues to earn transferable college credits in project management. One option is through UPI Study's Project Management course, which offers an affordable and flexible way to complete general education or major requirements online.

UPI Study's Project Management Course:

Credit Potential: This course allows students to earn 3-4 transferable college credits.
Accreditation: The course is accredited by NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service), ensuring its quality and transferability.
Cost-Effective: Completing the course through UPI Study can be significantly cheaper, costing $250 compared to $900-$1,200 or more for on-campus credits.
Flexibility: The course is 100% online and self-paced, allowing students to start anytime and finish at their own speed.
Transferability: Credits earned can be applied towards degree requirements at Howard Community College or transferred to over 2,100 universities across the United States.
Credit/No Credit Option: The course can be taken as a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) course, providing credit towards the degree upon passing without affecting the GPA. This encourages exploration of the subject without academic risk.

Howard Community College accepts courses recommended for college credit by ACE (American Council on Education) & NCCRS. UPI Study’s ACE-approved courses are evaluated by the American Council on Education, the same organization behind AP and IB credit recommendations. UPI Study courses carry NCCRS credit recommendations through the National College Credit Recommendation Service, a NYSED-affiliated evaluation body. Students at Howard Community College may transfer these courses for college credit toward their degree.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Project Management

Howard Community College recognizes that students may acquire knowledge and skills outside the traditional classroom setting. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), also known as Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), is a process that evaluates and recognizes these skills and knowledge, allowing students to gain credit or advanced standing without retaking courses they've already mastered.

Understanding RPL/CPL:

RPL assesses knowledge and skills gained from work, volunteer activities, or self-directed learning.
It helps students demonstrate that they meet academic standards for the Project Management course based on prior experience.
RPL is different from credit transfer, which involves transferring academic credits from another institution. RPL focuses on recognizing a person’s competence based on real-life experience.

Benefits of RPL/CPL:

Provides an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and gain recognition for knowledge acquired outside traditional education pathways.
Offers an efficient and personalized way to demonstrate proficiency and earn credit toward their degree.
Allows students to fast-track their academic progress by leveraging prior experience.

Project Management Course Details and Learning Outcomes

The Project Management course, whether taken through UPI Study or a similar platform, is designed to equip students with practical skills and knowledge applicable to various industries.

Course Objectives:

The course aims to increase the knowledge and skills of students who are managing or working towards managing projects in a way that will be coherent, thoughtful, timely, and in alignment with an organization's objectives.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Develop an in-depth understanding of project management, emphasizing its strategic role in modern organizations and innovative applications.
Analyze and apply advanced project management skills in complex scenarios, using real-world case studies for illustration.
Explore the strategic functions and organizational impact of a project management office, emphasizing its role in project adaptability and success.
Synthesize the comprehensive advantages of effective project management, linking them to organizational strategy and project-specific outcomes.
Construct and evaluate comprehensive project plans for complex scenarios, integrating advanced planning tools and ethical decision-making.
Identify and analyze five basic process groups and nine knowledge areas that are typical in most projects.
Identify the components of a project life cycle.
Compare and contrast principles of project management.
Select and use appropriate project structure charts, diagrams, and scheduling techniques and software, as well as other decision analysis tools.
Evaluate outcomes of a project based on established objectives and overall project plan.
Assess one's skills as a project leader, including competencies, roles, and responsibilities.
Analyze and use all resources needed to perform project tasks and communicate in a collaborative way.
Develop a system for managing a project while utilizing the Microsoft Project software application.

Major Course Topics:

Fundamentals of project management
Project initiation
Project planning strategies
Project cost planning and budgeting
Tools for project planning and management
Crafting project proposals
Establishing vendor contracts
Project execution
Monitoring and controlling projects
Project closure
The dynamics of project teams
Project management organizations and certification

Project Management Certification Preparatory Courses

For students interested in pursuing professional certifications in project management, Howard Community College offers preparatory courses for certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional), CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management), and PMI-ACP (PMI Agile Certified Practitioner).

Certification Prep Courses:

These are online instructor-led courses designed to equip students with the knowledge and strategies needed to pass their respective certification exams.
The courses cover key concepts outlined in the syllabus, with a strong focus on exam preparation, practical applications, and industry best practices.

Important Notes:

The tuition for the PMP, CAPM, and PMI-ACP boot camps does not include the cost of the exam voucher.
No refunds are provided 7 days before the start date.

Construction Academy and Project Management Skills

Howard Community College's Construction Academy integrates project management skills into its curriculum. Students explore various construction trade areas and use project management skills to design and construct buildings.

Construction Academy Highlights:

Students explore carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and management aspects of construction.
They use project management skills to learn about design and construction of various types of buildings.
Students build a scale model house and other creative projects.
Students are prepared to earn National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER) Core and Carpentry I certification.
Students who successfully complete the Construction Academy program sequence may be eligible for credits at Howard Community College.

Read also: What is Project-Based Learning?

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