SDSU Contract Management Certificate Courses Start August 4

The Professional Certificate in Contract Management/Advanced Contract Management program through SDSU’s College of Extended Studies will begin its fall semester courses August 4 with Financial Management of Government Contracts. The program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the key concepts associated with the pursuit and management of contracts.

Some of San Diego’s largest employers require their contracts personnel to complete the program to avoid costly blunders, as illustrated by such cases as:

 A U.S. Navy contract for an on-deck phone left out a critical detail – the phone needed to be waterproof. No one caught it; not the Navy, not the contractor. Retrofitting the phone on every ship of the series cost millions of dollars.

 A nonprofit agency solicited a sculptor to create a work of art. When they attempted to take the sculpture on tour, the artist sued. Absent an assignment (transfer of rights) in the contract, the artist owned the intellectual property.

“Regardless of your experience level in contract management, this curriculum is an outstanding learning experience,” said Tim Dernbach, business development, contracts and estimating manager for Propulsion Controls Engineering. “It provides a broad spectrum of courses which prepares you well for a position in contract management. It also provides the opportunity to network with and learn from contracts professionals in a variety of industries to prepare you for the challenges ahead.”

This program is offered in cooperation with the San Diego Chapter of the National Contract Management Association. The advisory board, made up of industry experts, has updated topics of interest to both federal and commercial practitioners. More than one course may be taken at a time.

“Each class thoroughly covered various important topics in the defense contracting industry and I learned many useful things that I would not have learned in my daily work,” said Camille P. Asaro, contract administrator, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “By the end of the program, I was quickly advancing in my job due to the enhanced knowledge. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in this career path.”

For more information, visit neverstoplearning.net/contract, email jshamiyeh@mail.sdsu.edu, or call (619) 594-5489.