Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Fred Geiger
MSM with a concentration in Project Management
Just the Degree He Needed
Systems Engineer Fred Geiger had looked at a few MBA degree programs, but never felt right about their curricula; they just didn't tie in that well with what he did at work. "I work on projects, so project management is the right fit," he says. Fred, like many people, didn't know there were Master's degrees with Project Management concentrations. But then an acquaintance at work found, and enrolled in, the MSM degree program at Colorado Tech Online. Fred did some of his own research into Colorado Tech Online and its MSM Project Management concentration. The more Fred learned, the more he thought, "this is it."
Fred enrolled in his degree program through Colorado Tech Online last January. He will graduate with his MSM with a concentration in Project Management at the end of March. With eight courses under his belt and only two more to go, Fred's only complaint is that he didn't start the degree program sooner.
"In my search for a university, I was looking for a school that would provide both an applicable curriculum and a quality education. I have found both in Colorado Tech Online's MSM Project Management program."
Fred says the curriculum is well-rounded within the discipline and he couldn't ask for better instructors. "The instructors give you your money's worth." Fred says instructor Russell Mickler's chats were so informative, "you really had to type fast." Another student compared Instructor Mickler's chat sessions to drinking out of a fire hose. "He really does just pour it on." About Instructor Joel Ginsburg, Fred says, "I truly believe that the reason Joel teaches is that he is on a mission to impart all of his knowledge to his students. He is outstanding."
"It is interesting that some of the tougher instructors are the ones I have liked the best. They made me perform, expected a lot out of me and made me rise to the occasion." Fred says he was initially a little concerned he would be getting less of an education by going to school online, but those thoughts quickly disappeared. "I can now say that I've put in the time and effort and am learning as much as a student in any other Master's degree program."
While Fred is getting this degree for his own benefit and not for a specific promotion or pay raise at work – he's been with Lockheed Martin for 27 years – being as enthusiastic about project management as he is, it is important to him that what he is learning is real-world practical and applicable. Fred says he has expanded his own leadership style to include specifics learned in his very first class (which was Instructor Gunzelman's Leadership course). Unfortunately, he didn't get to take IT Management in time to help him and his group when they assumed responsibility for an IT system implementation. "Having taken that course, though, there are things I know now that would have had me do things differently than I did. At least I'll know for next time."
Fred's superiors have noticed the changes. "My bosses have noted in my evaluations that they see the positive results in how graduate school has affected me."
"This whole experience has been phenomenal. To have a curriculum and instructors like this is more than I could have hoped for."
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