Professional Certificate in Product Management

Learn about the nature, sources and tools of customer insights (e.g., ethnography, customer experience mapping, customer advisory boards, product telemetry and human factors research) and move from insights to action.

Learn how to define and find product opportunities and assess those opportunities using the jobs-to-be-done (JTBD) and real-win-worth it (R-W-W) frameworks.

Learn how to create a discovery hypothesis, measure product-market fit, apply the model-view-presenter (MVP) framework (user stories, epics and themes) and address the Agile requirements document.

Learn the definition and importance of business models, business model taxonomy — freemium, software as a service (SaaS) — and marketplace models, and equip yourself to choose the right business model for your product.

Gain a solid understanding of the economics of a SaaS organization, including key metrics like customer lifetime value (CLV), customer acquisition cost (CAC), monthly recurring revenue (MRR) and MRR expansion and churn. Learn how to conduct financial analyses such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and product profitability, and explore different approaches to product pricing.

Learn the basics of UX design, conceptual design, interaction design, virtual design and the design sprint.

Explore the principles of Agile development, Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.), Scrum/Agile team structures and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe 5.0), and learn about transitioning to Agile.

Link business strategy to product development using roadmaps and product portfolio management and learn how to use roadmapping tools.

Discover the importance of prototyping, learn about rapid prototyping, prototyping classifications (alpha, beta and pilot), prototyping artifacts, wireframing and prototyping best practices.

Get an overview of the product launch and go-to-market strategy (GTM), elements of the GTM strategy, product positioning and messaging and product launch planning.

Receive an overview of internal and external communication, discover the fundamentals of storytelling and learn to give effective product presentations and demos. Additionally, identify the hidden benefits of impactful written communication, learn how to run efficient meetings and deal with difficult situations.

Address the definition and creation of the “whole offer” — the making, buying or allying of decisions. Manage strategic partnerships and strategies for ecosystem development and growth.

Discover how an organization might grow product sales through customer development, market development and demand expansion. Learn how to manage product line extensions, product line pruning and product sunsetting.

Learn how to develop a growth hacker mindset and explore growth hacking skills, strategies, processes and best practices.

Gain an overview of model evaluation metrics and ways of identifying biases to avoid analytical errors.

Learn the definitions and fundamentals of analytics and AI/ML platforms and tools.

Learn how to manage different relationships as a product manager, especially with the engineering team, sales organizations, customers and executive leadership.

Learn about the scalability of products versus services. Discover the development process for services and how it differs from that of products.

In this final module, you will complete and submit the capstone project.

Learn how AI is used in product management, including its role in wireframing tools that assist in design and product portfolio management to help inform strategic decisions.

How much time is required each week?

Each product management course includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.

How will my time be spent?

We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:

• Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty

• Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule

• Reading or engaging with examples of core topics

• Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities

• Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers

• Completing your final project, if required

The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.

What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.

How do I interact with other product management course participants?

Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

Each product management course includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.

What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.

The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.

Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.

How long will I have access to the learning materials?

You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 24 months following the program end date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.

Do I need to be online to access the program content?

Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.

What is the product management course fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

• Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).

• Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.

I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.

How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.

Is there an option to make flexible payments for this product management course?

Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.

How can I obtain a W9 form?

Please connect with us via email for assistance.

Who will be collecting the payment for this product management course?

Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?

Program fees for Emeritus programs with Kellogg Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.

What is the program refund and deferral policy?

For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

What is Climb Credit?

Climb Credit is a new kind of student lender.

Climb believes education is an investment and should be treated that way — we partner with schools offering career-focused education, and then provide accessible and affordable loans to attend these schools.

What is the process to apply for a loan?

Simply type your school's name into the search bar after clicking "Apply now" to find a link to the application page. From there, you'll be able to complete our short online application.

You may also have received a link to apply for a Climb loan from your school’s admissions team, or you can find the link on your school’s website or Climb's website. Apply using your laptop, tablet, or phone.

You'll want to make sure you fill out an application for the specific school and program you'll be attending. We link our loans to each course, so your school will know you've been approved for a loan with us and that we'll be sending your tuition to them.

How long will it take until I get a decision?

On average, 4:01 minutes — and just applying will not impact your credit score. We know that your time is valuable, so we’ve kept our application as short as possible.

Do I need a cosigner?

No. Climb only fund loans for students who are attending the program. The program attendee should always be the primary borrower on the application.

During your application, you will have the option to add a co-borrower. If you have a co-borrower with a better credit score that you, adding them to your loan application can potentially help you get approved and/or receive a lower interest rate offer.

If my application is accepted, am I committed to using the financing?

No. Applying for Climb financing is free and comes and carries no commitment until you accept and finalize the loan. The initial application will not affect your credit score, and you are free to decline your loan offer if you change your mind about financing.

What are the terms of the loan?

To view the equation used to calculate your interest and monthly payments, check out this article HERE!

When does loan payback begin?

Depending on your program, we may offer loans with either an initial interest-only period while in class and for a few months after, a full deferral period while in class and for a few months after, or immediate full repayment.

For loans with an interest-only period or immediate full repayment, your first payment is due one month after your loan is funded.

How long will I be making payments?

Climb's standard loan tenor is 36 months, but you can pay any time before that, as there is no pre-payment penalty. You can repay your 3-year loan in 3 years or in 1 day.

Climb's goal is to make sure that your monthly payments stay low and affordable, which is why we give you the option to choose your term length when you apply.

Master’s students can choose between a 2-year or a 3-year repayment term.

Doctoral students can choose between a 4-year or a 5-year repayment term.

How do I find out how much my monthly payment is?

This amount is mentioned in your loan agreement.

Are there any circumstances that would allow me to put my loan payments on hold?

In order not to fall behind on your Climb loan payments, you can request a deferral of payments on your loan. A deferment will allow you to temporarily reduce your monthly loan payment amount.

Can I pay off my loan early?

Absolutely! You can pre-pay your loan, in whole or in part, at any time with no penalties.