Program Officer Education Requirements
Program Officer Education Requirements And Degrees
There are several education requirements to become a program officer. Program officers usually study business, political science or psychology. 57% of program officers hold a bachelor's degree and 24% hold a master's degree. We found these by analyzing 4,381 program officer resumes to investigate the topic of program officer education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a program officer are George Washington University, The and American University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a program officer. Students have a great path to earning their program officer qualifications at the following schools:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Northwestern University
- Pennsylvania State University
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for program officers - Hunter College of the City University of New York is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Mount Saint Mary's University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in program officer education paths.
We prepared a list of a program officer certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that program officers must have to succeed are Project Management (2005) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
We assessed our data to determine the typical level of education for program officers. The most common degree for program officers is bachelor's degree. In fact, 57% of program officers earn that degree. A close second is master's degree with 24% and rounding it off is associate degree with 4%.
- Bachelors degree, 57%
- Masters degree, 24%
- Associate degree, 4%
- Doctorate degree, 3%
- Other Degrees, 12%
According to our resume data, most program officers, 16% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for a program officer include political science and psychology majors.
- Business, 16%
- Political Science, 11%
- Psychology, 7%
- International Relations, 7%
- Other Majors, 59%
Here are the most common colleges for a program officer career in the US based on their resumes. Program officers often get their degree in George Washington University, The, American University, and New York University.
Program officers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $109,946 annually. With a Masters degree, program officers earn a median annual income of $87,219 compared to $75,569 for program officers with an Bachelors degree.
Education   | Salary |
|---|---|
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $68,248 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,569 |
| Master's Degree | $87,219 |
| Doctorate Degree | $109,946 |
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Most Common Certifications For Program Officer
There are certain things that come along with being certified. In addition to earning a credential that proves you know what you're doing, you might also receive some extra benefits or a salary raise from your company. Sometimes it pays to do the extra work. If you're interested in making more money as a program officer, you might consider earning these certifications:
- Project Management (2005)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
Our Project Management 2005 test measures your knowledge of how to manage projects to ensure that objectives are completed on time and within budget. The test is based on Project Management Institute's (PMI's), Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Third Edition methodology. Designed for all professionals, this test covers the following topics: Project Costs, Project Framework, Project Human Resources and Communications, Project Integration, Project Processes, Project Procurement, Project Quality, Project Risk, Project Schedule, Project Scope.
Our Project Management 2005 test measures your knowledge of how to manage projects to ensure that objectives are completed on time and within budget. The test is based on Project Management Institute's (PMI's), Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Third Edition methodology. Designed for all professionals, this test covers the following topics: Project Costs, Project Framework, Project Human Resources and Communications, Project Integration, Project Processes, Project Procurement, Project Quality, Project Risk, Project Schedule, Project Scope.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.
The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
Entry Level Jobs For Becoming A Program Officer
Top Online Courses For Program Officers
Sometimes things are just better when you get to stay in your pajamas all day. That includes school. We found top courses for program officers from Udemy, Coursera, EDX, and ed2go that will help you advance in your career. Here are essential skills you need to be a program officer:
- Project management
- Public health
- Powerpoint
Learn the fundamentals of computer programming with the new C# programming language...
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Deepen your understanding of the Java programming language, and start writing programs that are more sophisticated and professional...
Learn to program in C++, even if you have no prior programming experience!...
Take your first steps toward a career as a computer programmer as you master basic programming concepts and get hands-on practice in writing applications containing GUIs, sound, and graphics...
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Learn the fundamentals of computer programming in Python with topics that include basic decisions and loops, advanced data structures, object-oriented programming, and graphical user interfaces...
Learn about Java topics with clear, step-by-step instructions developed by an experienced Java programmer...
This is a course designed for individuals looking to learn about the Technical Program Management (TPM) discipline...
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Top 10 Colleges For Program Officers
In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for program officers. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
3. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
5. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
9. University of North Texas
Denton, TX • Private
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Top 10 Affordable Colleges For Program Officers
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for program officers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
10. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Top 10 Hardest Colleges To Get Into For Program Officers
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Top 10 Easier To Apply Colleges For Program Officers
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
3. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
7. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
8. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
10. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private