AI Powered Product Management Professional Program (In collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies)

AI-Powered Product Management Professional Program

In collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies

• Premier Product Management Certification by UC San Diego
• Gain hands-on experience with 20+ essential PM tools, including Generative AI tools
• 20 weeks length program 
• Live classroom (5-8hrs / Week weekend classes)
• Ask us for the next cohort and schedule details!

Advance your career as a product manager with the Product Management Professional Program, offered in partnership with UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Benefit from a university-approved curriculum, expert-led instruction, hands-on projects, and masterclasses. AVC handles course development, delivery, registration, and career services to provide a complete and effective learning experience.

Key Features

• Course and material are in English
• in collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies
• Beginner to advanced level
• 20 weeks of live classroom by industry experts (5-8 hours/week weekend classes) 
• 150+ hours of live classes and mentor-led project support
• 300+ hours of study time and practice recommended
• 1 year platform access & class recordings
• Complete 5+ projects, 20+ assignments, 10+ case studies, and 5+ product teardown sessions.
• 20+ Tools such as Figma, Jira, Mixpanel, Postman, and accelerate PM tasks using Generative AI tools.
• Build a winning product portfolio to showcase your PM skills and potential
• Earn a Certificate of Completion and access masterclasses from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
• Get certified with Microsoft Learn and CompTIA Security+ training included.

Engaging Learning Experience

• Peer Interaction
  Enjoy a true classroom-like environment by connecting with fellow learners and engaging with mentors in real time through Slack.
• Flexible Learning
  Never fall behind—access recorded sessions anytime to catch up and stay aligned with your cohort.
• Mentorship Sessions
  Receive expert support from mentors to resolve doubts, get project guidance, and enhance your learning journey.
• Dedicated Support
  Benefit from a Cohort Manager who provides personalized assistance and ensures you stay on track toward success.

About the University of California San Diego Division of Extended Studies

Founded in 1966, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies empowers lifelong learning and skill development through certificate programs, continuing education, and community initiatives. Partnering with businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders, it delivers high-quality programs both on campus and online to help individuals and organizations thrive.

What added value does UC San Diego contribute to the program?

The program curriculum is designed and reviewed with the assistance of the university, which gives the program quality legitimacy and a co-branded certificate of completion. Please be aware that the live classes are not held by actual University faculty staff but by many experienced Industry experts who are suitable for each topic.

Learning Objective

• Gain a thorough understanding of product management principles, processes, and methodologies.
• Develop essential PM skills, including ideation, analysis, strategy creation, and product planning.
• Acquire proficiency in key tools and technologies such as Figma, Miro, Jira, Confluence, Google Analytics, Postman, MySQL, Power BI, and more.
• Learn to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineers, designers, and stakeholders, to drive product success.
• Make data-driven decisions using analytics, metrics, and customer feedback to enhance product performance and user satisfaction.
• Build strong business acumen by understanding finance, operations, budgeting, and market segmentation to align product strategies with organizational goals.
• Apply Generative AI-powered practices to improve productivity, creativity, and future-proof your PM career.
• Master the use of GenAI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Draw.io, Trello, and Aha to transform product management processes.
• Participate in product teardown sessions to analyze products, uncover competitive advantages, adopt user-centric approaches, and gain market insights.
• Understand the AI product lifecycle and learn best practices in AI-driven product management.

20+ Skills Covered:

• Product Thinking
• User and Market Research
• User Personas and Segmentation
• User Journey Mapping
• Business Analysis Frameworks
• Prioritization Techniques
• Roadmap Creation
• MVP Development
• Stakeholder Management
• PRD Creation
• UX/UI Design Thinking Principles
• AI Product Management
• Technology Essentials for PMs
• Agile and Lean Methodologies
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• KPI and OKR Analysis
• A/B Testing
• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Financial Management for PMs
• Guesstimation Techniques

Target Audience:

• Technology professionals
• Project managers
• Sales and marketing professionals
• Aspiring or current product managers

Prerequisites:

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
• Preferred: 2+ years of professional work experience
• Motivation and willingness to advance your career

Learning Path

1. Induction Session
2. Introduction to Product Management
3. Workshop: The Art of 'Why' and Building Product Sense
4. Insight to Impact - Defining a Problem & Delivering an MVP
5. Workshop: Importance of Prioritization
6. Build a Product - From PRD to Execution
7. Workshop: The Art of Writing a Product Requirement Document (PRD)
8. Technology Essentials 
9. AI Product Management
10. Workshop: Explore Technology Essentials for PMs
11. Launch a Product: Metrics, Go-to-Market & Financial Strategy
12. Workshop: Driving Product Success with Metrics
13. Become a Product Manager - Career Guidance
14. Workshop: Mastering Product Management Interviews
15. Product Management Capstone Project

Electives

• Masterclass by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
• UX/UI in Product Design
• Growth and Product Marketing
• Advanced Topics in Product Management
• PowerBI

COURSE CONTENT DETAILS

• Module 0: Program Induction

Launch your career in product management with this foundational course. Begin your professional journey in product management with essential skills and insights. Start building your product management expertise with this introductory course.

• Module 1: Introduction to Product Management

In this introductory course, you’ll explore the daily responsibilities of a product manager. Learn how to ideate and develop products, analyze product failures, and design a product development lifecycle using Apple’s iPod as a case study. Gain skills in classifying organizations and evaluating them with the 5C+P Analysis framework.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand what product management is and the key responsibilities of a PM
• Explore pathways to become a product manager
• Learn why product management is a highly sought-after career
• Discover the essential skills and mindset needed to excel as a PM

• Explore the 6D process of product management
• Study various PM roles such as B2C PM, Tech/API PM, Platform PM, B2B PM, Marketplace PM, and Data PM through real-world case studies

• Learn product thinking and the importance of asking “why”
• Develop strong product sense
• Get introduced to the Product Triad: collaboration between PM, design, and engineering

• Workshop: The Art of 'Why' and Building Product Sense

This module helps you unlock product mastery by mastering the art of asking “Why.” Learn from industry experts through interactive workshops that offer real-world insights. Participate to enhance your networking opportunities and advance your career prospects.

• Module 2: Insight to Impact: Defining a Problem & Delivering an MVP

This module teaches core product management skills, including user research, market analysis, customer personas, user journeys, and idea evaluation using frameworks such as TAM-SAM-SOM and JTBD. Learn prioritization techniques like RICE and Kano, and gain hands-on experience creating roadmaps, MVPs, and prioritized backlogs using tools like Jira and Aha.

Key Learning Objectives

User and Market Research

• Master the 5-step product development process
• Define problem spaces aligned with business goals
• Build detailed customer personas and segments
• Map user journeys using empathy-driven tools
• Generate ideas from diverse sources and align insights with strategy
• Apply learnings through real-world case studies

Business Analysis

• Evaluate industries using frameworks like BCG, 3C, Porter’s 5 Forces, and PESTEL
• Assess product ideas for feasibility and strategic fit
• Analyze customer willingness to pay
• Conduct TAM-SAM-SOM analysis
• Apply Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) methodology for customer insights
• Utilize the Value Chain framework to create value

Prioritization

• Understand why prioritization is critical in product management
• Learn and apply frameworks such as RICE, Kano, MoSCoW, and Decision Matrices
• Create prioritized backlogs using Jira and build roadmaps with theme-based releases
• Plan releases, estimate efforts, and develop MVPs using Aha
• Apply prioritization techniques to everyday product decisions

Course-End Project 1

• Identify customer requirements and market opportunities for Colgate to enter the electric toothbrush segment
  
  

• Workshop: Importance of Prioritization

Master the art of prioritization to maximize impact in product management. Learn from industry experts through interactive workshops featuring real-world insights. Participate to expand your professional network and enhance your career prospects.

• Module 3: Build a Product: From PRD to Execution

This module equips you with essential product management skills, including PRD creation, collaboration within the Product Triad, SDLC understanding, and user research techniques. Gain technical expertise in APIs, cloud platforms, and databases, while mastering Agile and Lean methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban. Learn stakeholder management through business development, leadership, and marketing strategies, reinforced with real-world insights.

Key Learning Objectives

Product Requirements Document (PRD) Creation

• Understand the importance of product documentation
• Learn best practices and key traits for effective documentation
• Explore PRD structure, including User Stories and Acceptance Criteria
• Examine writing styles such as Amazon’s PR-FAQs and PPTs

Product Development and Execution / Product Triad

• Understand the software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Explore roles within the Product Triad: Product, Design, and Engineering
• Learn different collaboration approaches: bad, good, and great
• Incorporate UI & UX elements in PRD documentation
• Get an overview of the 5 steps of design thinking
• Apply accountability without authority through case study examples

Design: UX Research & UI

• Understand UX research and design functions
• Conduct qualitative research: group discussions, exploratory (generative) research
• Conduct quantitative research: surveys and web analytics

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Identify key stakeholders: business, leadership, marketing, and support
• Learn strategies to build trust and alignment
• Use storytelling to influence stakeholders
• Tailor communication for different audiences
• Study examples from five real-world scenarios

Course-End Project 2

Design a user-centric, data-driven music app for Netflix that delivers an innovative and personalized audio experience, applying the product management skills and frameworks learned throughout the course.

• Workshop: The Art of Writing a Product Requirement Document (PRD)

Learn how to craft PRDs that clearly define success and foster effective collaboration. Gain insights from industry experts through interactive workshops featuring real-world examples. Participate to expand your professional network and enhance your career prospects.

• Module 4: Technology Essentials for Product Managers

Product managers need a strong grasp of core technologies such as Agile methodologies, APIs, and system architecture to collaborate effectively with technical teams. This technical foundation allows PMs to bridge business and engineering, ensuring the successful delivery of products.

Key Learning Objectives

Development Essentials

• Understand APIs and tools like Postman
• Gain an overview of cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure
• Learn system design thinking principles and core system architecture
• Understand the role and selection of databases, including RDBMS (MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB)
• Explore unstructured data and scenarios where NoSQL is preferred

Agile & Lean Methodologies

• Learn challenges of the Waterfall model and principles of Agile
• Understand the Agile manifesto and 12 guiding principles
• Introduction to Scrum: artifacts (product backlog, sprint backlog, burndown charts) and rituals, including sprint retrospectives
• Learn Kanban practices and benefits
• Understand Lean methodology, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement (Kaizen)

• Module 5: Learn AI Product Management

Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, and product managers play a key role in driving this change. This module equips you with the skills to leverage AI for creating innovative, user-centric, high-impact products, bridging the gap between complex technologies and strategic product management.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand AI, ML, DL, and their real-world applications
• Learn how ML models are trained and applied
• Explore the AI product lifecycle: design, development, and deployment
• Study the evolution of AI, including Generative AI and transformer models
• Understand LLMs, pre-training, fine-tuning, and prompting techniques
• Learn the PM’s role in building and integrating GenAI products
• Compare API-based integration versus custom model deployment
• Gain hands-on experience in selecting AI models for business use

Course-End Project 3

• Enhance Microsoft Teams using developer-friendly Graph APIs. Prioritize features, ensure scalability, and foster innovation to strengthen Teams as a productivity hub.

• Workshop: Explore Technology Essentials for PMs

Master essential technology concepts to confidently navigate the tech landscape as a product manager. Learn from industry experts through interactive workshops featuring real-world insights. Participate to expand your professional network and advance your career prospects.

• Module 6: Launch a Product: Metrics, Go-to-Market & Financial Strategy

This module covers key data and business fundamentals, including KPIs, data-driven decision making (DDDM), and frameworks such as AARRR, HEART, and OKRs. Learn go-to-market strategies, audience analysis, GTM checklists, and risk management. Explore A/B testing, experimentation, and post-launch analysis, while gaining financial fundamentals including cost management, ROI calculations, and P&L insights.

Data and Business Fundamentals

• Learn KPIs and success metrics and embrace a metrics-driven approach
• Introduction to Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM) and identifying key KPIs
• Explore North Star Metrics (NSM) and frameworks like AARRR, HEART, and OKRs
• Gain practical skills in Excel for decision-making

Launch Planning & Readiness

• Understand the importance of experiments in product launches
• Identify target audiences (Buyer vs. User)
• Build go-to-market checklists, risk assessments, and rollout plans

A/B Testing and Experimentation

• Learn product experimentation techniques, including A/B/C testing
• Understand why and how to conduct experiments to drive decisions using KPIs
• Collect feedback and perform post-launch analysis using statistical methods (p-value, Six Sigma, outliers)

Financial Basics for PMs

• Understand financial management fundamentals and product costs (fixed vs. variable)
• Manage budgets, calculate ROI, and analyze P&L statements

Course-End Project 4

Act as a product manager for Walmart Instant to drive cross-functional alignment, monitor KPIs, and deliver a seamless 15-minute grocery delivery experience for urban customers.

• Workshop: Driving Product Success with Metrics

Learn how to leverage metrics to define success and make data-driven product decisions. Gain insights from industry experts through interactive workshops featuring real-world examples. Participate to expand your professional network and enhance your career prospects.

• Module 7: Become a Product Manager: Career Guidance

This module guides you in crafting compelling resumes and LinkedIn profiles, tailoring your approach to secure interview shortlists, and confidently navigating interviews. Mastering these essentials will help you stand out in the competitive product management landscape.

Important PM Concepts

• Differentiate between products and services
• Apply the 5 Whys framework and Fishbone technique for root cause analysis (RCA)
• Understand nuances of the B2B product manager role

Preparing for Shortlist

• Craft effective resumes with proper structure and key highlights
• Optimize LinkedIn profiles, including summaries and experience sections
• Apply strategically with personalized pitches and value-add approaches
• Learn techniques to secure interview shortlists

Preparing for Interview

• Master behavioral questions using STAR and SBI techniques
• Solve product case studies, including product design challenges
• Apply guesstimation approaches using top-down and bottom-up methods

• Workshop: Mastering Product Management Interviews

Build confidence and excel in product management interviews by learning from industry experts through interactive workshops featuring real-world insights. Participate to expand your professional network and enhance your career prospects.

• Product Management Capstone Project

In this capstone, learners apply core product management skills to a real-world scenario. Identify user needs, create low-fidelity mockups, and define a roadmap for app development and launch. Track key KPIs, prioritize North Star Metrics, craft a go-to-market strategy, and project a first-year P&L. Emphasize creativity, data-driven decision-making, and clear communication to demonstrate practical mastery of product management principles.

Project 1: Helping Colgate Enter the Electric Toothbrush Market

Define user needs, create detailed personas, and propose an MVP to launch an innovative and differentiated product by June 2025, leveraging Colgate’s brand strengths.

Project 2: Building the Netflix Music App

Develop PRDs, user stories, and acceptance criteria, collaborate across cross-functional teams, and ensure seamless integration. Use data-driven insights to deliver a user-centric and engaging audio experience.

Project 3: Enhancing Microsoft Teams

Define the product backlog, prioritize features, and collaborate with engineering to implement scalable, secure Graph APIs, driving innovation and enhancing Teams as a productivity hub.

Project 4: Launching Walmart Instant

Align stakeholders, track KPIs, develop a data-driven go-to-market strategy, perform financial analysis, and refine plans to ensure a successful 15-minute grocery delivery launch.

Project 5: Design & Develop an ‘Engagement Classes App’ for Kids

Launch an app offering one-hour gamified online classes for kids, combining fun and learning for busy parents.

Project 6: Design & Develop a ‘Piano Learning’ App

Redesign the Piano Learning app to improve usability and engagement for learners of all levels, identify pain points, and create a roadmap for a seamless learning experience.

Project 7: Design & Develop a Next-Gen Formula 1 App

Design and develop a next-gen F1 app aimed at increasing global engagement and enhancing both offline and online user interaction.

Elective Courses:

• Elective1: Masterclass by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies

Learn to deconstruct a product, understand its inner workings, uncover the thought process behind its design, and grasp why it was built the way it was in this product teardown session.

• Elective 2: UX/UI in Product Design

Master the fundamentals of creating intuitive, visually engaging digital experiences. From understanding user behavior to crafting seamless interfaces, this course equips you with essential principles and techniques to design user-centered products that stand out.

• Elective 3: Growth and Product Marketing

Explore data-driven strategies, market positioning, and growth tactics to build and market products that succeed in competitive landscapes. This course is ideal for those seeking to bridge the gap between product development and market success.

• Elective 4: Advanced Topics in Product Management

Explore advanced product management concepts with a focus on leveraging AI-driven tools to drive innovation, optimize workflows, and deliver personalized customer experiences. This course is ideal for professionals aiming to lead transformative AI initiatives within their organizations.

• Elective 5: Power BI

Gain the skills to visualize and analyze product metrics, monitor performance, and extract actionable insights. Learn to build interactive dashboards and reports that empower you to make informed, strategic product decisions with confidence.

Product Teardown Sessions

Product teardown involves a detailed deconstruction of a product to understand its inner workings, uncover the design rationale, and grasp why it was built in a specific way. These sessions help product managers tackle complex business challenges, identify solution gaps, and enhance products for all stakeholders.

Benefits:

• Gain an in-depth understanding of products
• Discover competitive advantages
• Learn user-centric approaches
• Drive product innovation
• Gather market intelligence
• Make informed business decisions

Build Your Product Portfolio

A well-crafted product portfolio highlights your ability to ideate, design, and launch impactful solutions. This course helps you create a portfolio that demonstrates your skills, creativity, and readiness for success.

Portfolio Highlights

• Develop end-to-end product roadmaps
• Solve real-world challenges through case studies
• Showcase data-driven decision-making skills
• Demonstrate collaboration across teams and stakeholders
• Present innovative solutions focused on user needs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How is the program delivered?

The course is delivered entirely online through live virtual classes, offering an 80:20 blend of experiential training and theoretical learning. You'll engage in hands-on projects, case studies, and interactive sessions led by industry experts.

How is the class schedule looks like? Is there recordings?

The course typically spans about 20 weeks with an estimated 5–8 hours of weekly weekend live sessions with a variety of schedules. In between courses, there will be a lot of hands-on project to complete. Please email us to get the details of the schedule of the program. If you miss a class, you can always watch the recording.

NOTE:

Attendance cannot be marked by simply watching the session recordings. Attendance is recorded only when a learner joins the live session. Since these are university-affiliated programs, the criteria are more stringent, as they are set by the universities themselves. However recordings will be available . Learners can view the specific certificate criteria for each course directly on their LMS

Can I work full-time while enrolled in this program?

Yes, you can! The program schedule is designed to help busy professionals with full-time work. You can attend live instructor-led sessions which are mostly held on weekends at the designated time according to your schedule and then complete assignments/projects during your free time.

Instructors for the Product Management Course

The instructors are seasoned industry experts with extensive experience as successful product managers. They bring highly transferable skills, diverse backgrounds, and proven expertise, enabling them to deliver the program seamlessly. Their practical knowledge and real-world insights ensure learners gain relevant, actionable skills for a career in product management

How a Product Management Course Differs from a Traditional Degree Program

Unlike traditional degree programs, product management courses—like the one offered in partnership with UC San Diego—offer a focused, specialized curriculum centered on practical, industry-relevant skills. These courses emphasize hands-on learning and real-world applications, enabling participants to transition into the workforce quickly. Materials are designed for flexible, self-paced study and can be revisited as needed, making the program ideal for those seeking a fast-track, immersive learning experience.

What is a Product Management Certification?

A product management certification is an intensive, hands-on training program that equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to excel in product management. In this program, participants engage in interactive workshops, real-world projects, and expert-led sessions. This certification format ensures focused learning and rapid skill development, preparing you to drive product success effectively.

What Does a Product Manager Do?

A product manager guides a product from concept to launch, ensuring it aligns with customer needs and business objectives. They collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, and design, to deliver successful products. AVC’s Product Management Certification offers structured training in market research, product lifecycle, and Agile methodologies, making it ideal for aspiring product managers who want to make data-driven decisions and lead product initiatives effectively.

Key Benefits of Enrolling in a Product Management Certification

A product management certification offers flexibility, accessibility, and interactive learning. Participants can access high-quality content anytime, anywhere, fitting their studies into busy schedules. Online programs encourage active engagement through discussion forums, virtual labs, and live sessions, creating a dynamic learning environment. Additionally, completing this certification can accelerate your product management career and enhance job prospects.

Job Opportunities After a Product Management Certification

Earning a product management certification opens doors to roles across technology, e-commerce, and finance sectors. The program covers essential skills such as market planning and product roadmap development. AVC’s Product Management Professional Program equips you with the expertise top employers seek, preparing you for roles like Product Manager, Product Owner, or Business Analyst. Mastery of market planning helps demonstrate your capability to manage products effectively and drive business impact.

Skills and Qualifications Required for a Product Manager Certification

Product manager certifications are typically open to individuals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. While no formal qualifications are required, earning a certification demonstrates expertise that can enhance career growth and earning potential. Foundational analytical and communication skills are valuable for effective product management training, and strong interpersonal skills are essential for collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

How the Product Management Certification Prepares Students for Real-World Challenges

The Product Management Certification equips students to tackle real-world challenges through hands-on projects, case studies, and simulations. Participants learn to manage the entire product lifecycle—from conception to launch—while addressing authentic industry problems to sharpen their problem-solving and decision-making skills. Designed in collaboration with industry experts, the curriculum incorporates the latest trends, best practices, and emphasizes technical expertise, ensuring students can understand and apply technology effectively. This comprehensive preparation readies aspiring product managers for success in a dynamic and competitive field.