Mechanical engineer Daniel Hingston has a job many musicians would envy. He works for Martin Guitar, building and testing products at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Martin instruments are known for their impeccable tone and craftsmanship, and Daniel says spending each day making them sing is a pretty sweet gig. “Part of my job is to play guitars and check them out for sound quality, electronics, things of that sort,” he said. “I love what I do.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Daniel didn’t think he needed a master’s for success in the field. As his career progressed, he realized how important business expertise and management skills are for advancement, and that a graduate program could make him more competitive for leadership opportunities.
He considered an MBA to fill those gaps in his knowledge, but discovered the online Master of Science in Engineering Management program at Arkansas State University was a better fit for his goals. Daniel says the convenient format and accelerated courses are perfect for students who work full time.
“I actually traveled quite a bit for my job, and the fact that I could balance all that while still getting through the program in about 14 months was a testament to how well the online program was set up at Arkansas State,” he confirmed. “It gave me the flexibility I needed.”
He was also impressed by program director Dr. Alexsandr Sokolov, who provided resources and guidance that made him feel comfortable earning an engineering management degree online. “I knew that there was a level of care in this program at Arkansas State that there wasn’t in other programs that I had looked at,” Daniel said.
He found the rest of the online MSEM faculty just as supportive. “Every professor that I had throughout the program had worked in the field as an engineer,” he said. “[They] wanted to make sure that students knew what was going on, comprehended the material and then also knew how to apply it in industry.”
While Daniel had some management experience handling budgets and cost quotes on engineering projects, courses in accounting, finance and economics gave him critical knowledge he was missing. “I feel a lot more confident going forward in making the right decisions from a financial standpoint in any company that I work for,” he said.
He also enjoyed interacting with peers during lively discussion board conversations, and on assignments such as case studies, presentations and group projects. “The ability to collaborate with other students throughout this program was fantastic.” he shared.
Daniel graduated with his master’s degree in engineering management in August 2024. He believes the leadership and communication skillset he gained at A-State is highly valuable, and essential for pursuing his long-term career goals.
“The return on investment is very good on this program,” he noted. “It sets you up for a future that doesn’t have any limitations.”
Advance Your Career With an A-State Online Engineering Management Degree
Prepare for leadership roles in a range of high-paying industries—as well as management opportunities in construction, technology, manufacturing and government—with the online Master of Science in Engineering Management from Arkansas State University.
The program features accelerated courses, affordable tuition and a flexible degree plan you can tailor to your goals. Whether you’re interested in adding business skills to your technical expertise or pursuing licensure in a state that requires 30 additional hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s, our engineering management master’s degree can help you succeed.
Learn how to lead technical and cross-functional teams as you expand your communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Study statistical models and quality control techniques to improve your business operations. Discover how rigorous economic analysis and effective project management benefits engineers at every stage, from design to production.
MSEM core coursework and electives cover essential knowledge relevant to engineering leadership, including:
- Accounting and financial forecasting
- Functional, value and cost analysis
- Material handling and automation
- Technology, facilities and supply chain management
- Human resources
- Law and professional ethics
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
A-State also offers an engineering management graduate certificate online for professionals new to the field or seeking to upskill in specific areas. You don’t need a background or degree in engineering to apply. Personalize your learning experience by picking four courses aligned with your interests.
Certificate credits earned will also transfer to the online master’s degree in engineering management at A-State if you decide to pursue the degree.