UD PCS Project Management Certificate program starts Sept. 9
The University of Delaware’s Project Management Certificate is a 10-week live-online course that builds essential project management skills. Taught by industry expert Ryan Crawford, the program emphasizes real-world application and prepares participants for industry-recognized certifications such as the PMP and CAPM while developing skills that translate directly to the workplace.
Promotions into management are rarely based on technical expertise alone. Employers seek professionals who can inspire others, align teams and deliver results. Project management provides a practical way to develop and demonstrate those abilities while gaining experience leading initiatives, coordinating teams and supporting success.
Successful project managers bring together people with different priorities, expertise and perspectives and align them around a common goal. By earning trust, building consensus and maintaining connection across teams, they demonstrate leadership in action while helping projects move forward.
According to Crawford, “Leading a project is an excellent opportunity to sharpen your skills in leading through influence. Even with formal authority, you should lead through influence first. It’s a great role to develop that skill.”
Leading through influence is not about being popular. It is about earning credibility, building trust and helping others understand how their contributions support a larger goal. Project management provides a natural opportunity to develop those skills. Whether coordinating work across departments, aligning stakeholders around competing priorities or keeping teams focused on outcomes, project managers learn how to gain commitment without relying on a title. In the process, they build communication, collaboration and decision-making skills essential to effective leadership.
Whether implementing new technology, launching a product, improving a process or managing organizational change, success depends on people working together effectively. For professionals who want greater responsibility, project management experience sends a clear message: they have the skills to lead.
Learn more and register for the Project Management Certificate: https://www.pcs.udel.edu/project-management. The deadline to register for the fall 2026 course is Sept. 2, 2026, 4:30 p.m.
