The Program/Product Management & Consulting (PPMC) specialization equips you with the knowledge and skills to transform your team and drive efficiency and growth through innovative and strategic initiatives.

This specialization prepares current and aspiring program and product managers and consultants to lead organizations of all sizes and sectors in developing and managing strategic and operational information-related initiatives. Students pair this specialization with any of our other specializations to focus their PPMC skills in a specific area.

Availability: Online; 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 UW MSIM curriculum.  

• IMT 587 Product/Project Management (4 credits) Introduces project management principles within information-related business contexts. Provides knowledge that managers need to implement information systems on time and within budget. Concentrates on methods and issues in organizing, planning, and controlling projects and their use of computer-based project management tools.
• IMT 585 Program Management & Consulting Practices (4 credits) Provides 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.
• IMT 541 Enterprise Information Systems Analysis & Design (4 credits) Uses Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC) as a methodology for addressing complex enterprise information systems problems. Through each phase of SDLC, students engage in current and future state analysis and design activities, including project identification, selection and initiation, baseline project planning, feasibility and risk analysis, requirements gathering and structuring, system development, implementation, and maintenance strategies.

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.