The Project Management certificate meets the educational hours required by the Project Management Institute (PMI©) to sit for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) exam. This certificate is designed for aspiring or new professionals entering the field who desire to begin or enhance a career in project management. The CAPM equips students with the knowledge and skills to manage projects in the real world. The four courses included in the certificate cover the commensurate exam topics that are essential to prepare each student to sit for the exam. The CAPM exam is offered by PMI and is a premiere certification and foundational step towards pursuing higher-level certifications including PMI’s gold standard in project management, the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification.

Admission to Samford University is required for enrollment in the Project Management Certificate program. View admission requirements. To enroll, applicants should choose the Undergraduate Application and within the form, select that they are seeking a certificate.

The certificate contains the following four courses which are taken in sequence beginning each fall semester and concluding in the spring semester. As credit-bearing coursework, students may utilize all 12 credit hours towards a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership or Liberal Studies.

Tuition and Fees for the certificate are charged at the undergraduate program rate.

ECPM 300 – Fundamentals of Project Management (3 credits)

Offers an overview of generally accepted project management concepts to provide students with a foundation of project-related terms, processes, dynamics, and outcomes. Course topics will correspond with industry standards and prepare students for the projectized environments prevalent in today’s complex, virtual, and global organizations.

ECPM 350 - Agile Project Management (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of agile project management also known as adaptive project management. The course focuses on the principles, values, and practices of agile methodologies, which emphasize adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development. The course covers popular agile frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban and Lean which teach students how to efficiently manage projects in dynamic and rapidly changing environments. Students learn to prioritize customer satisfaction, respond to changing requirements, and deliver incremental value in short time frames. Agile project management emphasizes team collaboration, self-organization, and continuous improvement. Practical exercises, simulations, and case studies are used to help students understand how to apply agile principles in real-world project scenarios. Prereq: ECPM 300

ECPM 400 – Leadership in Project Management (3 credits)

This course defines leadership in the context of project management. Students will gain an understanding of key leadership theories and practices that are applicable to project professionals, focusing on how to effectively motivate and manage project teams, navigate the various types of organizations, and promote a culture of collaboration and innovation. Topics will explore the various facets of leadership that are linked to project management. The course will cover the ways in which executing successful business changes require more than an ability or capacity to lead but demands evidence-based approaches that enable followers to take actions. As a result of this course, students will learn how to exert applicable leadership styles to influence team members to complete tasks, perform activities and achieve goals successfully. Prereqs: ECPM 300 and ECPM 350

ECPM 450 – Contemporary Practices in Project Management (3 credits)

This course is the capstone for developing project management fundamentals, adaptive project management techniques, and project management leadership skills. The course focuses on current, commensurate exam topics that are essential to prepare each student to sit for the CAPM exam and will include the opportunity for students to complete practice CAPM assessments. However, taking the official CAPM exam is not a requirement for receiving the Samford University Project Management certificate of completion. Prereqs: ECPM 300, ECPM 350, and ECPM 400