FAQ

General

  • What are the prerequisites to be accepted into the MSPM Program? 
    Yes, you can take up to 9 credits (3 courses) before you apply to the MSPM Program. However, you must submit a UAA application as a non-degree seeking student before registering for classes.
    Degree and non-degree application instructions.
  • What are the prerequisites to be accepted into the MSPM Program? 
    To be accepted into the program, local and international students are required to have the following:
    • Undergraduate Degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
      *Note- for students with a GPA below 3.0, conditional acceptance into the program is possible, with full acceptance upon successfully completing the first 3 courses in the program with a 3.0 or better GPA.
    • Two years professional working experience.
      *Note- this requirement may be waived if the student is fully engaged in employment at the time of application.
    • Completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of ‘B’ or better.
      *Note- ESM 620 (Statistics for ESM) is highly recommended for fulfillment of this requirement.
    • GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.
  • How long does it typically take to complete the degree?
    The expected duration of study varies widely depending on many factors specific to each student, but generally varies between 2-year (full-time student) to 3-4 years (part-time student). The maximum UAA allotted duration for completing a graduate degree is 7-years.
  • What makes the MSPM Program different than other graduate programs?
    The MSPM Program is a unique and innovative program framed entirely around project management. We are highly focused on the needs of our students and have a strong connection to the professional community in Alaska and throughout the Pacific Rim. The MSPM Program is self-supporting and highly technological, and therefore does not receive financial assistance from UAA. This is the reason for what is known as MSPM Super Tuition or the MSPM Program Fee.
  • I have a full-time job. Are evening & weekend classes available?
    Yes, our program is focused on accommodating the working professional and therefore all the classes are offered Monday through Friday evenings from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
  • What if I travel frequently on business and have to miss class?
    All class lectures are video-taped and available for viewing via the web approximately one hour after the class lecture ends. Class videos are also available for check-out at our office.
  • Who is the MSPM Program for and why is a degree in Project Management valuable ?
    While the MSPM program is a part of the College of Engineering, applications of project management can be found in all areas. Project management is an up and coming field around the world, but especially in the State of Alaska where the success of our major industries hinge upon effective and efficient management of projects.
  • What type of jobs will an MSPM degree prepare me for?
    Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and go on to careers in a diverse range of industries.
  • Is the MSPM Program Accredited?
    Yes, the MSPM Program has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NCCU) since 2003. Additionally, the program received accreditation from the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Global Accreditation Center (GAC) in 2007-2014 and 2014-2021. Click here to learn more about GAC accreditation.
  • How many courses must I take to graduate with a Master of Science Degree?
    The MSPM Program requires completion of 15-credit of core courses, 12-credit of electives, and two 3-credit research project for graduation for a total of 33 credits. For students who already have an existing master’s degree, please contact our administrative team to discuss options of whether courses from a previously attained master's degree can be petitioned into the the MSPM degree.
  • As an admitted MSPM student, what forms must I submit during the course of the MSPM program in order to meet graduation requirements?
    All MSPM degree candidates must submit a final Graduate Studies Plan to administrative team.  Once a student has received approval of a proposed PM research project, the student must submit an application for graduation with an approved Graduate Studies Plan (found on Degree Works) in order to graduate. The Office of Graduate Studies' Graduate Student Handbook has more information.
  • I don’t currently live in the Anchorage area. What types of accommodations are available?
    On-campus housing. To find out more visit the UAA Housing Department online at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/housing/.

    Off-campus housing. Listings for off-campus housing may be located via the internet, local newspaper classifieds (Anchorage Daily News) and real estate agencies. For more information about Anchorage contact the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.
  • Is the MSPM Program tailored to a particular industry or does it cater for a broad audience?
    The MSPM Program targets a broad audience as can be gleaned from the student profile. Typical students come from diverse backgrounds and find a common ground in project management. So in meeting the growing need for project management professionals in more industries, the department began to offer elective courses specifice to industry such as: construction project management,  information technology project management, etc. 
  • What is the recommended sequence I should take my PM classes in? 

    The PM Program requires that students take their core classes in this order:

    Core requirements (21 credits):

    1. PM Overview (6 credits)

    PM A601 Project Management Fundamentals (3)
    PM A602 Application of Project Management Processes (3)

    2. PM Process Series (9 credits)

    PM A603 Project Initiation and Planning (3)
    PM A604 Project Executing, Monitoring and Control (3)
    PM A605 Operational Integration and Project Closure (3)

    3. Capstone Project Demonstration of PM Mastery (6 credits)

    PM A686A Capsone Project: Initiation and Planning (3)
    PM A686B Capstone Project: Executing, Controlling, and Closing (3)

    4. Elective Area (12 credits)
    A few of the offered course electives are listed below:

    PM A612 Advanced Project Time Management
    PM A614 Advanced Project Cost
    PM A616 Advanced Project Quality Management
    PM A623 Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
    PM A624 Advanced Project Risk Management
    PM A632 Advanced Project Controls
    PM A652 Project Definition and Research Methods
    PM A653 PM Application Tools
    PM A694E Systems Engineering Fundamentals
    PM A694V Organizational Project Maturity and Improvement

    There is no suggested order for which elective course should be taken, but some of the courses may have prerequisites.

  • What is the average salary for those graduating from your Project Management Program?
    Based on the salary survey provided to us by the Project Management Institute from their 2015 survey, those who receive a Master’s degree annually receive $109,687 (mean).

    Below is a list of annual salaries for industries that majority of our graduates come from or transition into after completion of our program:
    • Business Services: $100,591
    • Construction: $102,391
    • Engineering: $116,990
    • Government Services: $113,781
    • Information Technology: $112,291
    • Resource Management: $127,382
    • Telecommunications: $93,866
    (All salaries are based on the mean of all respondents in the PMI Salary Survey)
  • How much do Project Management Graduate Classes cost?

    The MSPM Program is self-supporting with unique technological requirements.  The Program does not at this time receive financial support from UAA general funds. Students taking MSPM Classes will be charged current UAA graduate level tuition (either resident or non-resident) plus the MSPM Program Fee per credit hour, often referred to as “Super Tuition”.  Project Management Courses are typically offered as 3 credit hour courses.  Depending on the number of courses a student takes during a semester, establishing full or part-time status, there are miscellaneous UAA fees ranging from $50-$350* that may apply.

    *rough estimate

    Please see the MSPM Program Tuition Rates page for more cost information.

  • What is MSPM Super Tuition/the MSPM Program Fee?
    The MSPM Program is self-supporting with unique technological requirements.  The Program does not at this time receive full financial support from UAA general funds. The terms MSPM Super Tuition or MSPM Program Fee are used to reflect the additional cost associated with this self-supporting program under UAA. They both refer to the same cost. The Program Fee is charged in addition to regular tuition and fees. MSPM course costs are largely comprised of the currently published UAA Graduate Tuition Rate (applied per credit hour), plus the MSPM Program Fee (Super Tuition) which is equal to the current, resident-graduate tuition rate and is also assigned per credit hour. The remainder of the costs are from general UAA published attendance fees.

 Application for Admission

  • How far in advance must I apply?

    Always allow enough time for your application to be processed before the beginning of the semester. The semester dates at UAA are available in an online schedule at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/records/catalogs/schedules.cfm. International students should allow up to four months between the time you first send your application to UAA and the beginning of the semester. As an example, for international students, if you want to register for the fall semester beginning in August, submit your application in April.

    As a general guideline, we recommend all required admission documents are submitted to UAA and our department one month prior to the beginning of the semester to allow sufficient time for review and processing.

  • How do I apply for the MSPM Program?

    Instructions on how to apply at the University of Alaska Anchorage can be found online at UAA Application webpage. International students must fill out a paper-based application by selecting this option from the UAA website, http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/printed_application_forms.cfm.

    Once you have verified that the application deadline for the semester you are seeking admission in has not passed, you can fill out your applications online. Always allow 24 hours after your application to obtain a student ID number. This student ID number will be used in most of your correspondence with the UAA.

    International students can find more information regarding international admission requirements at https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/international-student-services/


    Non-degree seeking students can also apply for admission from the UAA admissions website, http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/apply_for_admission.cfm.

    If the semester application deadline has passed, please continue to apply for the next available semester and simply complete a non-degree seeking application for the current semester for which you would like to take courses.

  • What must I submit with my application?
    Please refer to our application checklist (UAA New Student Checklist) to be sure to have included all the relevant material for your application to be processed. Remember that you need to satisfy both the UAA requirements and the department requirements for admission. Submit to UAA Admissions:
    • UAA Application
    • Transcripts showing successful completion of a relevant undergraduate degree and completion of statistics course submitted directly to Engineering, Science, and Project Management Department at espm@uaa.alaska.edu
    • 3 letters of recommendation (Please do not use MSPM faculty)
    • Statement of Purpose (2-pages discussing your background, career goals, expected timeline for program study and any additional pertinent information)
    • If your GPA is below the graduate school standard of a 3.0 GPA, please continue to apply for the degree program and include a brief (no more than 1 page) explanation regarding below 3.0 GPA.
    Click here for guide.
  • How can I check the status of my application?
    You can check the status of your application at UA Online at https://uaonline.alaska.edu/. Click “Login to Secured Area” and follow the instructions to access your secure UAA account. You can then check the status of your application as well as register for classes and obtain schedules for the classes you are registered in.

    You may also call or e-mail the department at (907) 786-1924 or e-mail espm@uaa.alaska.edu for a status update.

 Distance Students

International Students