Northwestern to offer project management minor

Northwestern College’s business and economics department will add a minor in project management to its academic programs next fall.

The decision to include the new minor was shaped by a growing need in the business world. “No matter what industry or field you are in, there is always a need for project management skills,” says Dr. Jiying (Jenny) Song, assistant professor of business at Northwestern. “Business owners have expressed the desire to hire students with these skills. This program addresses the growing demand for capable project managers, builds students into more effective leaders, and enhances their abilities to work effectively on or with project teams.”

The new minor offering will require two new courses: Advanced Project Management and Risk Management. Students who successfully complete those two courses, along with Project Management, will fulfill the prerequisites to sit for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam.

“Project management is a rapidly growing profession,” says Song. “Because the CAPM recognizes the student’s knowledge of the profession’s global standards, our students will stand out to employers and be poised to move ahead.”

Song also noted that the CAPM will require continuing education, which will maintain the rigor of the certification. Research indicates that employers will need to fill nearly 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027.

Students pursuing Northwestern’s new project management minor will also take courses such as Principles of Management, Business Practicum and Servant Leadership.

The business and economics department currently offers majors in accounting, business administration (with emphases in agricultural business, finance, international business, management or marketing), business education, economics, public relations, and social enterprise. Minors are offered in accounting, business administration, economics, entrepreneurship, leadership studies, public relations, and nonprofit management.

Northwestern's business program will prepare you for more than bottom-line success, as its Christ-centered focus enables you to live out your Christian values in the workplace. With significant hands-on experience and mentorship by faculty experts, Northwestern students stand out on the CPA exam and the international Business Strategy Game and are in high demand by employers.