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Introduction to Project Management

This short course helps you bring structure, clarity, and consistency to the way work gets planned and delivered—whether you are managing a formal project or coordinating work as part of a team. You will learn practical approaches for defining goals, organizing tasks, managing timelines, and aligning stakeholders so work moves forward with less friction and fewer surprises.

You will also build a strong foundation in modern project management, gaining a working understanding of core principles, delivery approaches, and professional standards aligned with the latest PMI framework. The course introduces the language, structure, and expectations used in professional project environments, helping you build confidence as you prepare for larger responsibilities or future career pathways.

Portrait of happy young Asian businesswoman in business suit looking at camera and smiling, Confident project analyst standing and posing with arms crossed outside of office building.
  • Start Date March 16
  • Time On demand
  • Duration 8 Hours
  • Format
    Self-Paced Online
  • Program Type Open-Enrollment/Public
  • Certificate Type Short Course
  • CEUS 0.8
  • PDUS 8
  • Program Number 4890326
  • Fees $500
  • See full course info
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This short course helps you bring structure, clarity, and consistency to the way work gets planned and delivered—whether you are managing a formal project or coordinating work as part of a team. You will learn practical approaches for defining goals, organizing tasks, managing timelines, and aligning stakeholders so work moves forward with less friction and fewer surprises.

You will also build a strong foundation in modern project management, gaining a working understanding of core principles, delivery approaches, and professional standards aligned with the latest PMI framework. The course introduces the language, structure, and expectations used in professional project environments, helping you build confidence as you prepare for larger responsibilities or future career pathways.

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Introduction to Project Management

Program Experience

You will experience a clear, structured entry point into project management designed specifically for new and emerging project managers, with no prior formal training required. You will progress through concise, on-demand video lessons supported by short assignments that reinforce essential concepts and professional terminology used in real project environments.

The course balances theory with application, helping you understand not only what project management frameworks are, but how they are applied in predictive, agile, and hybrid contexts. Content is presented in plain language, with practical examples that reflect the realities faced by team members, coordinators, and early-career project professionals.

This course also serves as an ideal primer before enrolling in Caltech’s comprehensive Project Management Certificate Program, giving you the foundational knowledge needed to transition smoothly into more advanced, applied coursework.

Instruction is delivered in English, with subtitles available in English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

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Course Info

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As you move through the course, you will build a set of practical capabilities that support both day-to-day work and longer-term career goals. You will be able to:

  • Understand the shift to a principles-based, performance-driven project management framework
  • Navigate the PMI certification pathway, including application requirements and exam structure
  • Apply core project management principles to guide team behavior and decision-making
  • Execute projects across the five focus areas: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing
  • Select and adapt processes for predictive, agile, or hybrid delivery environments
  • Develop a structured study plan for future PMI professional certification exams

The course is organized as a guided progression, introducing core concepts first and then building toward practical application.

Session 1. The PMP Certification Roadmap

  • PMP application process and experience documentation
  • Exam Content Outline (ECO) and 180-question exam structure
  • Building a personalized 30-60-90 day study plan

Session 2. Principles of Project Management

  • Value-driven delivery and holistic project thinking
  • Accountability, leadership, and team empowerment
  • Quality, sustainability, and integrated outcomes

Session 3. Strategic Context: Projects, Programs, and Portfolios

  • Differentiating projects, programs, and portfolios
  • How projects deliver organizational value
  • The evolving role of the modern project manager

Session 4. Project Life Cycles and Delivery Approaches

  • Predictive, iterative, incremental, and agile models
  • Selecting delivery approaches based on complexity
  • Implementing hybrid approaches

Session 5. Initiating the Project

  • Business cases and project charters
  • Stakeholder identification and analysis
  • Governance and high-level requirements

Session 6. Planning for Performance

  • Planning across seven performance domains
  • Tailoring nonprescriptive processes
  • Establishing baselines and defining success

Session 7. Executing the Work

  • Team coordination and communication
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Value delivery and servant leadership

Session 8. Monitoring and Controlling

  • Performance measurement and variance analysis
  • Change management and control
  • Health, safety, and regulatory considerations

Session 9. Closing the Project or Phase

  • Deliverable validation and transition to operations
  • Administrative closure
  • Lessons learned and retrospectives

Session 10. Advanced Concepts

  • AI and data analytics in project management
  • The role of the Project Management Office (PMO)
  • Final exam readiness and framework integration

This course is designed for:

  • New or aspiring project managers
  • Project coordinators and team members supporting projects
  • Professionals seeking a structured introduction to project management
  • Individuals considering future PMP/CAPM certification or advanced project management study

No prior formal project management training is required.

Course Duration Live Online (via Zoom)

Introduction to Project Management

 8 Hours

March 16, 2026 release; completes 
April 26, 2026

Is this course suitable if I have no formal project management experience?
Yes. This course is designed specifically for beginners and assumes no prior project management certification or formal training.

Does this course prepare me for the PMP/CAPM exam?
The course introduces the PMI frameworks, terminology, and exam structure, and helps learners build a study plan. It is intended as a foundation, not a standalone exam prep course.

Is this a good first step before a full project management certificate?
Yes. This course is an ideal primer before enrolling in Caltech’s comprehensive Project Management Certificate Program, helping learners enter advanced coursework with confidence.

How is the course delivered?
The course is fully on-demand, consisting of short video lessons and applied assignments. Learners progress at their own pace within the six-week access window.

Are subtitles available?
Yes. Subtitles are available in English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

Is this course aligned with PMI standards?
Yes. The curriculum aligns with standards and frameworks published by the Project Management Institute and reflects current PMP exam structures.