For Rayne native Blake Hussey, the 鶹AV’s online M.S. in Engineering & Technology Management had a dual appeal.
“I felt like it'd give me better job options, and I wanted keep researching composite materials,” says Hussey.
In undergrad, Hussey was able to work under Dean Dr. Ahmed Khattab in Industrial Technology’s Lab for Composite Materials. Hussey saw a chance to keep exploring 3D-printed matter by enrolling in the Master of Engineering & Tech Management online.
Hussey honed that interest for his thesis, making a lightweight, interlocking polymer structure with 3D printing and advanced mediums. Hussey then scaled the structure to test its energy performance while gauging its tensile properties.
That material, he says, could be used in aerospace projects.
As well as having the chance to research those mediums further, Hussey says his thesis allowed him to challenge himself.
"It was rewarding for me because I'm not a strong writer,” he says. “Also, I was able to work with students and faculty members from other departments on my research.”
The M.S. in Engineering & Tech Management online degree program is unique in its approach. It blends business electives with courses in design processes, project management, and more to help students thrive across industries.
Hussey says he was able to gain a holistic view of both the design life cycle and its impacts.
“We researched manufacturing processes from the start of the product lifecycle all the way to the end. Cradle to grave,” says Hussey. “We had to see the impact of each process, like carbon emissions and how it affects the planet."
"It was challenging but rewarding.”
As he prepares to cross the stage, Hussey is looking to grow in the industry as a process engineer or project manager.