Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

In this course, you will work through four modules of material. Each module is broken down into smaller lessons. These lessons will give you a fundamental understanding of the project planning process. You will examine project foundations, scope management, stakeholders, and schedules.

 Throughout the course, you will find readings, videos, and a variety of interactive elements. These include knowledge checks, flashcards, AI simulations, and more. Engaging with these activities reinforces new learning. It also complements the knowledge you bring to this area of study. 

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

  • The student aligns project goals with organizational strategy by developing a comprehensive project charter.
  • The student defines and organizes project scope by establishing clear boundaries, structuring work breakdowns, and outlining documentation workflows.
  • The student constructs a project schedule and stakeholder engagement plan to support project execution and alignment.

Assessment

You will demonstrate competency through one performance-based assessment. The assessment provides an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the competencies in this course.

 You must achieve a ranking of Competent on the assessment to pass the course. You may attempt the assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Student Experience Team. 

1 performance assessment
3 Competency Units

Course Outline

ModuleUpon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Intro to Project Management
  • Define what a project is and distinguish it from operational work.
  • Explain the triple constraint and its implications for managing a project.
  • Describe the typical phases of a project life cycle.
  • Explain how projects support organizational strategy.
  • Describe how strategic alignment influences project success.
Defining & Planning a Project
  • Translate organizational vision into project-specific goals.
  • Identify and evaluate key assumptions and constraints in project planning.
  • Describe the purpose and structure of a project charter, identifying key components such as goals, scope, and authority.
  • Construct a basic Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and differentiate it from an activity list or task checklist.
  • Use WBS to organize project scope into manageable parts.
Managing Scope & Stakeholders
  • Define and write a clear scope statement.
  • Differentiate between in-scope and out-of-scope project elements, noting sources of scope creep and how to manage them.
  • Identify project stakeholders and their roles.
  • Prioritize stakeholders based on interest and influence.
  • Apply strategies for effective stakeholder communication and engagement.
Time Management
  • Estimate task durations using appropriate techniques.
  • Explain how time risks impact project timelines and how to address them.
  • Define project milestones and map them to key deliverables.
  • Identify time bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
  • Use prioritization and delegation to optimize team effort, implementing strategies to streamline task execution.

Key Contacts

Certificate Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.