We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Mudessar Afraz

MS Project Professional: Beginner to Expert

Welcome to the MS Project Professional Training course. Whether you’re new to project management or looking to enhance your skills, this course is designed to take you from a beginner to an expert in Microsoft Project 2019. We’ve structured this course with a simple, step-by-step approach to help you easily build a complete project, even if you’re just starting.

Read more

MS Project Professional: Beginner to Expert

Welcome to the MS Project Professional Training course. Whether you’re new to project management or looking to enhance your skills, this course is designed to take you from a beginner to an expert in Microsoft Project 2019. We’ve structured this course with a simple, step-by-step approach to help you easily build a complete project, even if you’re just starting.

This training also includes an in-depth guide on how to create a full project using Bill of Quantities (B.O.Q.) and how to effectively use both MS Project and MS Excel for scheduling. Don’t worry if you're a beginner with Excel—Excel training for beginners is also included in the course to ensure you’re fully equipped to manage your projects successfully.

What You'll Learn in This Course:

  • MS Project 2019 fundamentals and advanced features

  • Critical Path Method (CPM) for effective project scheduling

  • Setting up project calendars and understanding project timelines

  • How to create a Work Breakdown Structure (W.B.S.), activities, and milestones

  • Creating, assigning, and managing project resources

  • How to baseline, update, and monitor project progress

  • Generating reports and visualizing data with MS Project

  • Material Procurement tracking and managing overtime

  • Creating S-Curves (Financial and Physical) with MS Project and Excel

  • Earned Value Analysis (EVA) to track project performance

  • Building custom fields and custom tables for personalized project management

  • Importing and exporting project data between MS Project and Excel

  • How to create a complete project schedule using MS Project and Excel

  • Understanding B.O.Q. and translating it into project tasks

  • Creating Cost Loading Sheets and manpower calculations in Excel

  • Shop Drawing Logs, Material Submittal Details, and Procurement Tracking Charts in Excel

  • Reviewing and updating project time schedules

  • Step-by-step guidance for importing data from Excel to MS Project

Bonus: Excel Training for Beginners

Since Excel plays a crucial role in this course, we've included a beginner-friendly Excel training module covering basic formulas, functions, and essential skills you'll need to effectively manage your projects alongside MS Project.

Why This Course is Perfect for You:

  • Step-by-step approach makes it easy for anyone to follow, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced project manager.

  • You’ll gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience with both MS Project and Excel, two essential tools for effective project management.

  • By the end of the course, you’ll be able to plan, schedule, and manage projects with confidence, including creating detailed schedules, managing resources, tracking costs, and generating reports.

  • Earn 11 PDUs to boost your professional credentials and advance your career in project management.

Enroll now and start mastering MS Project 2019 and Excel for complete project management success.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Master ms project 2019 learn how to use ms project 2019 from the ground up, covering both basic and advanced features.
  • Critical path method (cpm) understand the critical path method for determining project timelines and identifying key tasks that impact project completion.
  • Project calendar setup learn how to set up and customize calendars for project scheduling and resource management.
  • Creating work breakdown structure (w.b.s.) & activities understand how to create a w.b.s., break down project deliverables into manageable activities, and assig
  • Milestones and task relationships learn how to set milestones, define task relationships, and link activities with different types of relationships.
  • Resource management master the skills to create and assign resources (human, equipment, and material) to project tasks for effective project execution.
  • Baselines and project updates learn how to establish project baselines and update project progress, comparing planned vs actual performance.
  • Report generation discover how to generate key reports in ms project, including project status, resource allocation, and cost analysis.
  • Material procurement management learn how to track procurement activities and materials needed for the project.
  • Adding overtime & resource allocation understand how to adjust resource allocation, including adding overtime to meet project deadlines.
  • Create financial and physical s-curves learn to generate s-curves using ms project and ms excel to track project progress and financial performance.
  • Earned value analysis (eva) understand how to use earned value management to measure project performance in terms of time and cost.
  • Custom fields and tables learn how to create custom fields and tables to tailor ms project for specific project needs.
  • Import and export data master the skills to import/export data between ms project and excel for seamless integration of project data.
  • Complete project schedule learn how to create a detailed project schedule from scratch using both ms project and excel, ensuring accuracy in timeline management
  • Bill of quantities (b.o.q.) understanding learn how to understand and implement b.o.q. into your project schedule and resource management.
  • Cost loading sheets create and manage cost-loading sheets to allocate and track project costs effectively.
  • Shop drawing and material submittals learn how to add detailed shop drawings, material submittals, and approval processes into your project schedule.
  • Procurement tracking understand how to create and track procurement activities and manage suppliers effectively.
  • Excel skills for project management gain essential excel skills, from basic functions to advanced formulas, specifically tailored for project management tasks.
  • Time schedule review and adjustments learn how to review and adjust time schedules to ensure timely project delivery.
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Getting Started
User Interface Of MS Project
How to Open And Close The Project
Critical Path Method (C.P.M)
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers Bill of Quantities (B.O.Q.) and its integration with MS Project, which is essential for cost estimation and resource management in construction projects
Explores S-Curves (Financial and Physical) using MS Project and Excel, which are valuable tools for tracking project progress and financial performance
Includes training on creating Cost Loading Sheets and manpower calculations in Excel, which are crucial for effective project budgeting and resource allocation
Teaches Earned Value Analysis (EVA) to track project performance, which is a standard technique for monitoring project costs and schedules
Focuses on MS Project 2019, so learners should be aware that newer versions of the software exist with potentially different features and interfaces
Requires learners to use MS Project and MS Excel, and while Excel training is provided, learners will need access to both software programs

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Practical ms project & excel training

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation and practical guidance for mastering Microsoft Project, particularly for those new to the software or project management. Students widely praise the clear, step-by-step instruction and the focus on hands-on application through building complete project schedules. The inclusion of beginner Excel training and its integration with MS Project is highlighted as a valuable bonus. While many find it excellent for getting started and becoming proficient, some reviews suggest that the course may not fully reach an 'expert' level for seasoned professionals, potentially serving more as a comprehensive beginner-to-intermediate guide.
The included Excel training is seen as a helpful addition.
"The bonus Excel training was a great surprise and very useful for the integrated tasks."
"Using Excel alongside Project is essential, and this course explained that integration well."
"The Excel part was brief but covered just what was needed for the project exercises."
"Appreciated the Excel lessons as they tied directly into using the data with MS Project."
Covers a wide range of features and topics.
"The course covers a wide array of topics from WBS and resources to S-curves and EVA."
"Very comprehensive course covering most of the essential features of MS Project."
"I liked that it covered less common areas like BOQ and material procurement."
"Detailed explanations on various functions like custom fields and reporting were helpful."
Focus on hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios.
"Loved the practical application parts of the course. Building a full project schedule was incredibly useful."
"The hands-on exercises and case studies are extremely helpful for understanding how to apply the concepts."
"It covers real-world application like BOQ integration which is very practical for the industry."
"I appreciate the focus on applying what we learn directly in MS Project."
Many find this course excellent for starting with MS Project.
"As a complete beginner, I found this course the perfect starting point for learning MS Project."
"This course takes you from zero to functional quickly. Great for beginners."
"It starts with the absolute basics and builds up logically, which is ideal for new users."
"Highly recommend for anyone just starting out with Microsoft Project."
Reviews highlight the instructor's clear teaching style.
"The instructor explained the concepts in a clear, easy-to-understand manner."
"Very clear instructions and helpful explanations, making complex topics approachable."
"The content was delivered very clearly and logically. I found it easy to follow along."
"Excellent course, clear explanations, straight to the point and practical."
Some feel it doesn't fully cater to expert level users.
"While great for beginners, I wouldn't say it takes you truly to an 'expert' level."
"It's a very solid beginner to intermediate course, but perhaps not deep enough for advanced users."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex project scenarios or advanced resource leveling."
"The 'expert' title might be a slight overstatement, but it's still very valuable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in MS Project Professional: Beginner to Expert with these activities:
Review Critical Path Method (CPM) Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of CPM, a fundamental concept for effective project scheduling in MS Project.
Browse courses on Critical Path Method
Show steps
  • Review the definition of critical path.
  • Identify the steps to determine the critical path.
  • Practice calculating critical path on sample projects.
Review 'Microsoft Project 2019 Step by Step'
Enhance your practical skills with a step-by-step guide to MS Project 2019.
Show steps
  • Work through the exercises on resource management.
  • Practice creating and customizing reports.
Review 'Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling'
Gain a broader understanding of project management principles to complement your MS Project skills.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on project planning and scheduling.
  • Summarize key concepts and relate them to MS Project features.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Creating WBS and Assigning Resources
Solidify your skills in creating Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and assigning resources within MS Project.
Show steps
  • Create WBS for three different sample projects.
  • Assign resources to each task in the WBS.
  • Analyze resource allocation and identify potential overallocation.
Create a Project Dashboard in MS Project
Develop a custom project dashboard to visualize key project metrics and track progress effectively.
Show steps
  • Identify key project metrics to include in the dashboard.
  • Create custom fields and tables to capture the required data.
  • Design the dashboard layout and add relevant charts and graphs.
  • Test the dashboard with sample project data.
Create a Video Tutorial on a Specific MS Project Feature
Deepen your understanding by teaching others about a specific feature of MS Project.
Show steps
  • Choose a feature of MS Project to focus on.
  • Plan the content and structure of the tutorial.
  • Record a video demonstrating the feature.
  • Edit the video and add annotations.
Manage a Real-World Project Using MS Project
Apply your MS Project skills to manage a real-world project from start to finish.
Show steps
  • Identify a project to manage.
  • Create a detailed project plan in MS Project.
  • Track progress and update the project plan regularly.
  • Generate reports and analyze project performance.

Career center

Learners who complete MS Project Professional: Beginner to Expert will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course directly aligns with the core responsibilities of a project manager, as it provides comprehensive training in Microsoft Project. Learning to use MS Project helps with scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking. The course covers the Critical Path Method, Work Breakdown Structure creation, and Earned Value Analysis, all essential tools for any project manager. Furthermore, the included Excel training enhances analytical and reporting capabilities, ensuring effective project oversight. The course's focus on applying Bill of Quantities and creating detailed schedules makes it particularly useful.
Construction Manager
A Construction Manager oversees construction projects from start to finish, managing budgets, schedules, and resources. This course helps construction managers with scheduling and resource management using MS Project. Mastering MS Project helps construction managers create detailed project schedules, manage resources effectively, and track costs accurately. The course's emphasis on Bill of Quantities and procurement tracking is particularly relevant, as are the modules on creating cost-loading sheets and manpower calculations in Excel. Learning to generate S-curves will help construction managers monitor project progress and financial performance, while the earned value analysis tools covered in the course support performance measurement.
Scheduler
A Scheduler develops, maintains, and analyzes project schedules, ensuring projects are completed on time. Schedulers benefit from the MS Project Professional training in this course. The course covers CPM, calendar setup, WBS creation, and task relationships, all vital for effective scheduling. The training on baselining, project updates, and report generation equips schedulers with the tools for monitoring progress and communicating project status. Furthermore, the course's detailed coverage of importing and exporting data between MS Project and Excel enhances data management skills, which are crucial for the scheduler. The segments on reviewing and adjusting time schedules are advantageous.
Program Manager
A Program Manager oversees multiple related projects, aligning them with organizational goals and managing resources across projects. One of the most important aspects of the Program Manager role is planning, and this course provides the tools to do so effectively. The training in MS Project provides a solid foundation for managing complex programs, with modules on resource allocation, project scheduling, and progress tracking. The ability to generate reports and visualize data, as taught in the course, is essential for communicating program status to stakeholders. The knowledge of Earned Value Analysis helps measure program performance, and the detailed Excel training supports data analysis and reporting requirements.
Project Coordinator
A Project Coordinator assists project managers by organizing tasks, managing documentation, and ensuring smooth project operations. This course in MS Project Professional is crucial for project coordinators, as it helps them understand project workflows and scheduling processes. The course helps project coordinators manage project documentation, track progress, and support project managers in various tasks. Skills such as creating WBS, managing resources, and updating project timelines are directly applicable to their daily activities. Furthermore, the Excel training helps project coordinators manage and analyze project data effectively, contributing to the overall efficiency of project execution.
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst analyzes business processes, identifies areas for improvement, and recommends solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. This course enhances a Business Analyst's understanding of project management methodologies and tools. Business analysts can use the skills learned in this course to analyze project data, identify bottlenecks, and propose solutions to improve project performance. The training on generating reports and visualizing data provides valuable insights for decision-making. Furthermore, the Excel training helps business analysts perform data analysis and create insightful reports, aiding in process optimization and strategic planning.
Cost Controller
A Cost Controller is responsible for monitoring and controlling project costs, ensuring projects remain within budget. For a cost controller, this course on MS Project Professional provides valuable skills for managing project finances. You can learn to track project costs, create budgets, and monitor financial performance using MS Project and Excel. The emphasis on creating cost-loading sheets and generating S-curves helps with financial forecasting and variance analysis. The earned value analysis training is particularly relevant for measuring project performance against planned costs, and the insights gained help cost controllers make informed decisions to maintain project profitability.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst collects, processes, and analyzes data to provide insights and support decision-making. This course may be helpful to a Data Analyst, as the learning and application of MS Project and its interaction with Excel helps a data analyst gain experience with project management software. The detailed training on importing and exporting data between MS Project and Excel enhances data management skills, which are crucial for the data analyst. The Excel training helps data analysts perform data analysis and create insightful reports, aiding in data-driven decision-making across various projects.
Estimator
An Estimator prepares cost estimates for construction projects, providing crucial data for project planning and budgeting. This course may be helpful to an estimator to hone their cost-estimation and project-planning skills. The estimator could use the skills they learn to create detailed project schedules and allocate resources. The emphasis on Bill of Quantities and cost-loading sheets provides valuable insights into project costs. The Excel training supports data analysis and cost modeling, which helps estimators create accurate and competitive bids for construction projects.
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager identifies, assesses, and mitigates potential risks that could impact project outcomes. The Risk Manager may find this course helpful, as the Risk Manager will learn additional methods of determining possible problems. By understanding project schedules and resource constraints, the Risk Manager can better identify potential risks. The training on project baselines and updates helps monitor project progress and detect deviations that could lead to problems. The ability to generate reports and visualize data provides valuable insights for communicating risk assessments and mitigation strategies to stakeholders.
Operations Analyst
An Operations Analyst optimizes business processes and workflows to improve efficiency and productivity. An Operations Analyst may find this course helpful as it can provide valuable insights into project management methodologies and tools. By understanding how projects are planned, scheduled, and executed, operations analysts can identify opportunities for streamlining operations and improving resource allocation. The training on generating reports and visualizing data provides valuable insights for monitoring operational performance. Furthermore, the Excel training helps operations analysts perform data analysis and create insightful reports, aiding in process optimization and strategic planning.
Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst provides financial analysis and insights to support decision-making, including budgeting, forecasting, and investment analysis. The Financial Analyst may find this course helpful as it can provide valuable insight into the financial aspects of project management. The emphasis on cost-loading sheets, S-curves, and earned value analysis helps the analyst to measure project financial performance. The Excel training supports data analysis and financial modeling, which enables financial analysts to provide accurate and insightful financial reports to support project decision-making.
Human Resources Generalist
A Human Resources Generalist manages various HR functions, including recruitment, employee relations, and performance management. This course may be useful in helping the HR Generalist understand the time scales and planning that goes into allocating resources. The Excel training may be of particularly high value for managing employee data.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates technical documentation, such as user manuals, training guides, and technical reports. This training may be useful to a Technical Writer as it can help the Technical Writer broaden the kinds of technical documents that they are prepared to write. For example, they can focus on project management.
Office Administrator
An Office Administrator manages office operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient work environment. This course may be useful in helping the Office Administrator to optimize office projects, such as relocation or renovations.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in MS Project Professional: Beginner to Expert.
This comprehensive project management textbook provides a strong theoretical foundation for the practical skills learned in the course. It covers planning, scheduling, and controlling projects, offering a broader perspective on project management principles. While the course focuses on MS Project, this book provides the underlying knowledge necessary for effective project management, making it a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding.
Provides a hands-on, step-by-step guide to using Microsoft Project 2019. It aligns perfectly with the course's beginner-to-expert approach, offering practical exercises and real-world examples. It serves as an excellent companion for learners who prefer a structured, textbook-style learning experience, reinforcing the concepts taught in the course.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser