Contributed by Penn
State World Campus
As an air force captain, a husband, and the father of a
toddler, Neil Barnas realized that the best way he could pursue his goal of a
master's degree in systems engineering would be to find a top-notch program
online. "Systems engineering is a hot topic in the Air Force," Neil
said, "and it's a discipline that has always made a lot of sense to
me."
After looking at several programs, Neil chose the Penn State
World Campus Master
of Engineering in Systems Engineering program because he was impressed by
Penn State's reputation for excellence: "I wanted a quality education that
would make a difference in my career."
The duration of the program was an added benefit. "Many
of my friends and co-workers have spent 3, 4, or 5 years completing their
master's degrees," Neil said. "The Penn State World Campus 2-year
schedule is more rigorous, but it has helped me to retain the material,
allowing me to leverage it more effectively throughout the program."
Neil also had the distinction of being one of the first 27
working professionals from around the United States to complete the Penn State
World Campus Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering program, which
focuses on a holistic approach to managing complex engineering projects. Having
recently taken on an assignment as an acquisition professional, Neil said that
his newly acquired knowledge will benefit the air force.
Earning his master's degree was well worth the investment of
time and effort, according to Neil: "The Penn State Systems Engineering
Master's Program was the perfect avenue to fulfill my own interests and to help
the USAF improve its acquisition processes."
Neil's advice for other service members is to continue their
education and training, either by choosing an online degree program, as he did,
or by selecting an on-campus program. "It's important to keep
learning," he said. "I wanted a quality education that would make a
difference in my career. And Penn State really sets itself apart in that
regard."
Learn
more about all of the Master of Engineering Degrees offered online by Penn
State World
Campus.
Editor's note: This is a sponsored blog post from Penn State.
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