The Program/Product Management & Consulting (PPMC) specialization prepares you to lead strategic initiatives and manage cross-functional work across organizations of all sizes and sectors. It is designed for current and aspiring program managers, product managers and consultants and can be paired with other specializations to build a focused expertise in a specific area. 

Availability: Online and residential; daytime and evening classes

Skills you will develop

• Transform organizations through systematic problem-solving and change management by engaging stakeholders to align on new techniques and initiatives.
• Apply industry methods and techniques to analyze and design enterprise systems to organize, plan, control and implement projects while developing product and project value propositions and success metrics.
• Lead product management teams throughout the product lifecycle while facilitating cross-organizational integration and strategic alignment.

“The projects and assignments in the PPMC track are designed to simulate real-world Program/Product Management & Consulting scenarios. This type of immersive learning with direct feedback from experts in the field was an extremely rewarding experience that really provides students with tangible and actionable insights they can take directly to the organizations they are working for.”

— Kenny Garrison, ‘22

Elective courses in the PPMC specialization

This specialization consists of three courses that will help you hone your skills across a range of consulting practices, and program, product and project management practices. These skills will serve you at boutique consulting firms and enterprise-level organizations. 

Learn more about the core, elective and Capstone/practicum courses in the MSIM curriculum.   

• IMT 583 Project Management for Information Systems (formerly IMT 587; 4 credits)
  Develops competencies in planning, executing and delivering information management projects. Covers project initiation, scope management, scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication. Explores waterfall and agile methodologies, project management tools, and AI-augmented project practices.
• IMT 584 Product Management for Information Systems (4 credits)
  Develops strategic competencies in product discovery, definition and launch of information-intensive products and services. Covers customer research, competitive analysis, product roadmaps, MVP development, and go-to-market planning. Emphasizes AI product considerations, data product strategy, and leveraging information for competitive advantage.
• IMT 585 Program Management & Consulting (4 credits)
  Provides an overview of skills, practices and concepts foundational to a career in information management consulting. Topics include consulting concepts, methodologies, approaches to consultative analysis and problem solving, effective technical and interpersonal consulting behaviors, and program management in a consulting environment. 

Current students should review their handbook to learn about how previously taken PPMC courses fit into the updated model.

Career outcomes

Students who pursue a specialization in Program/Product Management & Consulting often find roles including business process analyst, information consultant, information management specialist, product manager, project manager, professional services consultant and technical program manager.