Graduating with a master’s degree in project management is a big achievement and there’s a lot to consider before you get to the finish line. If you’re wondering, “Is a project management degree worth it?” then maybe some perspective from a recent graduate will help.
Meagan Tuttle earned her Master of Science in Project Management in 2025. She shares why she chose the online M.S. in Project Management program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, how her experience in the program helped her career, and what you can look forward to when you enroll. Meagan is also employed by a company that partners with Saint Mary’s University.
Q&A With an M.S. in Project Management Graduate
Why did you pick the M.S. in Project Management degree? What specifically stood out about Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota?
“Ultimately, I picked the MSPM degree because it is a growing field that interested me and my future goals. My employer has a great tuition benefit that I wanted to take advantage of, and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota was one of the few schools that offered this particular degree in a format that worked for my lifestyle. Additionally, everyone that I knew who attended Saint Mary’s had good things to say about the school.”
How do you anticipate utilizing your project management degree in the workforce?
“I am hopeful to be able to find a project management role within my company, to shift into a more specialized role that fits my skillset.”
Were you able to use skills from your program immediately on the job?
“I learned a lot from the program. While I do not work directly in project management yet, these skills are still useful to my everyday work. The program taught me a lot about what actually works in leadership and what doesn’t. Agile project management skills emphasized the importance of flexibility, collaboration, adaptability, and continuous feedback and improvement.”
What is a typical day like for you as an online graduate student?
“My schedule typically included watching the class recordings Monday or Tuesday night and then working on assignments after work Tuesday through Friday. I preferred trying to get my schoolwork done during the week so that I could take a brain break on the weekends. In early classes, I was able to wrap up school work in a couple of afternoons. However, as I progressed in the program the time commitment increased. I had to learn a lot of time management skills.”
How has your experience been working with the faculty?
“Some professors were great: hands on, responsive, and taught in ways that matched my learning style. I found it helpful to advocate for myself and my learning needs, and to remind myself that [courses were] just 8 weeks and there are a lot of resources out there to enhance my learning.”
As an online graduate student, what is the biggest misconception you have found in terms of online education?
“There is a general assumption that online learning does not require a lot of effort. I found the opposite to be true for this program. This program is very self-guided. If you don’t put the effort in, your grade will reflect that.”
Want to become a successful project manager?
Advance your career by pursuing an online M.S. in Project Management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
What advice would you give to incoming M.S. in Project Management students?
“Stay on top of your assignments. At the beginning of each week, look at your assignments, watch the class meetings to gain a better understanding of them, and then set a schedule and deadline for yourself. If you have a discussion post and two assignments due, break down a day-by-day schedule for your week to complete each assignment on time.”
What types of support and tools at Saint Mary’s University have you found most helpful? Were there specific software or applications that stood out?
“Peer support was the biggest help to me. I always tried to find at least one buddy to help me get through each class. It’s helpful when facing tough assignments to have someone you can ask, ‘did you understand this requirement?’ I also appreciated the MSPM program’s use of Microsoft Project. While it was challenging at first to understand, getting hands-on experience with industry software provided valuable insight into what daily life as a project manager might be like.”
Communication is an important aspect of project management. What strategies have you been taught that you will utilize in the workplace?
“The Agile project management class really emphasized the importance of frequent face-to-face communication and working in a remote environment, I understand the importance of that. This is something I keep in mind daily in the workplace. Sometimes it’s easier to hop on a call and get face-to-face to ensure everyone’s on the same page, instead of sending an email or Teams message.”
What has been the most challenging aspect of the M.S. in Project Management program and did you overcome it?
“Sometimes I wished the courses were not as self-guided. At points there were concepts that I struggled to understand because my learning style didn’t always match the learning style of the particular course. In those instances, I found it really helpful to lean on peers and professors. I think the most important thing to remember is to advocate for yourself. If you need extra help, ask for it.”
Did you have any favorite M.S. in Project Management courses? What did you like about them?
“I found the Agile Projects class to be the most interesting. Agile project management is a newer field than the Traditional/Waterfall approach of project management. There’s a lot to learn there, and professor Dave Honkanen was very knowledgeable and did a great job of bringing his real-world experience to the class meetings to give realistic insight into an Agile project and what to expect from it.”
If some students are unsure about enrolling in Saint Mary’s Project Management program, what would be your advice?
“Do your research, speak to alumni. Try the first class. At the end of the day, you ended up at this crossroad for a reason, you might as well give it a shot because a master’s degree will help you stand out in your career path.”
