Integrating Professional Scrum Into BYU Marriott School of Business Project Management Class Curricula

Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business (BYU) has elevated its Project Management courses by integrating Scrum into its curriculum, thanks to a collaboration with Scrum.org. Spearheaded by Professors Laura Cutler and Camilla Hodge, this initiative aimed to prepare students for real-world challenges by embedding Scrum principles and the Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) certification into the coursework.

The case study highlights the rationale behind this decision, the innovative implementation across departments, and the transformative outcomes for students. By incorporating practical applications such as simulated professional environments and large-scale projects, students gained hands-on experience with Scrum. The results speak for themselves: high certification success rates, improved career prospects, and the widespread adoption of Scrum across academic projects.

This partnership showcases the value of aligning academic curricula with industry needs, serving as a blueprint for institutions seeking to empower students with in-demand skills and credentials.