MBA in Project Management Online and at Campus Locations in California

If you’ve worked anywhere long enough, you’ve probably developed a love-hate relationship with the project management team. Right before clock-out time, they’re in your inbox asking for progress reports. And even though you’ve never once missed a deadline, they’re always sending “gentle reminders” about due dates.

But before you roll your eyes too hard, remember who it was that talked the C-suite out of an unrealistic deadline. Or who hounded your colleague in another department to get their report to you pronto so you could get rolling. Or who renegotiated your department’s budget so you could actually have the resources you need to do your best work.

Project managers are the grease that keeps an organization moving forward. They’re mediators when needed and real bulldogs when it counts.

If you have a bit of that bulldog in you, becoming a project manager is a quick way to become the point person for everything from internal overhauls to consumer product deliverables. In California, that responsibility can come with a pretty cozy salary and the chance to add some remarkable accomplishments to your CV — and it can all start by earning a MBA from one of the many California business schools that offer concentrations in project management.

California Corporations are a Project Manager’s Playground

In general, one of the main benefits of becoming an expert in project management is that you can parle your way into some pretty high-level positions in a wide variety of industries: everything from information technology to agriculture. There is no shortage of MBA concentrations available through business schools in California, but the project management path has some unique advantages to those making their way in this market.

MBAs in Project Management Can Deliver Higher Than Average Salary Potential

A graduate degree is an investment. And in the world of MBAs, MBAs in Project Management can offer more consistency than most in terms of return on investment — even more so if you land a project management position in California.

Just as importantly, you can increase your earning power before you even hit your late-career stride and take on c-suite or director roles. As of May 2023, the BLS says the top-earning project managers in California make $172,220 or more.

That’s not a bad spread for a mid-to-senior-level management position.

Stable Demand and Job Growth with an MBA in Project Management

Many of the roles MBA grads pursue are competitive. But while you’ll need to bring your A game to land a project management position, the demand for project managers in California might just give you a little more breathing room.

By 2033, the BLS expects demand for all types of workers to grow by an average of 4%. Nationally, demand for project managers is expected to increase by a solid 7%. But in the fast-paced economy of California, things are even sunnier.

According to Projections Central (an employment research database sponsored by the US Department of Labor), the project management workforce in California is expected to grow by 9.5% by 2032. That’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 9,500 new job openings per year. With those kinds of odds, your ROI and dream career might be a lot closer than you think.

Project Management MBAs Create Potential for a Variety of Career Opportunities

One of the main reasons behind the demand for project managers is that the world economy is changing faster than ever. Artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and countless other factors are forcing organizations in every sector to innovate or fall behind. Project managers are the ones who push their organizations to keep up the pace.

While that’s true in economies everywhere, it’s especially true in California, a state where multibillion-dollar projects are always in the headlines. 

Take UCSF’s new $4.3 billion medical research and care facility, for example. Who’s coordinating between contractors, clinical leaders, and government and community stakeholders? A highly-skilled project management team. The same is true for consumer tech rollouts, clinical drug research, and even government infrastructure projects — there’s always a PM bringing it all together.

If corporate maneuvering is more your speed, take a look at Chevron’s acquisition of Hess, Salesforce’s acquisition of Slack, Disney’s acquisition of Fox, or any other California-born corporate restructuring effort. CEOs and majority stockholders call the shots, but project managers attend to the finer details. So no matter how you want to make your name and your bag in this much-needed vertical, you’ll find plenty to do with your MBA in the Golden State.

MBA in Project Management Course Content

Mastering the broad project management skillset is a tall order. But fortunately, MBA in Project Management programs are designed to help you do just that.

With classes on organizational leadership and skills like managerial accounting, even a general MBA program can do a lot to prepare you for a career in project-based leadership. However, MBA in Project Management programs also include classes on topics like: