The Cullen College of Engineering’s Master of Science in Technology Project Management (TEPM) program — designed to train its students in “a wide range of disciplines for responsible leadership roles in technology-based and professional workplaces” — is producing qualified talent not just for global industry, but for the benefit of fellow Houston Cougars, too.
Two Cullen staff members — Andres Acosta, a program director in the Undergraduate Programs Office, and Katherine Frazier, Director of Curriculum — have not only begun or completed their master’s degrees in TEPM from Cullen’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, but are already finding unique ways to apply the in-depth, hands-on planning and project management skills they acquired over the course the program.
“I have been involved with academic advising for 30 years. I was able to participate in a case study with the Mechanical Engineering Technology program to apply Project Management techniques to curriculum, and this led to a desire to learn more about Project Management. I wanted to see if Project Management techniques could reveal and help resolve hidden barriers to graduation for undergraduate students,” said Frazier of her initial interest in the program.
“I didn’t just want to get a master’s degree, but to learn and develop professionally,” Acosta agreed. “It was very clear that these were professors from whom I wanted to learn and could develop professionally from the most as mentors and teachers.”
Acosta added that “they are not only teaching the concepts, ideas and framework of managing projects, but offering opportunities to apply [what you learn] in hands-on experience while navigating the challenges of working as part of a team.”
“It was challenging, but I think that’s also one of the strong points of the program: you get real, hands-on application practice of the technical skillset, and you get a chance to apply it; you’re working through a lot of what you would in the real world,” he said.
“Many of the techniques and skills learned in the program are valuable to any profession. So far, I have found my class in Team Leadership with Dr. Ron Hopkins and my class with Dr. Jamison Kovach in Lean Six Sigma to have the most impact,” said Frazier. “I am currently working on my Masters Project which relates to analysis of student undergraduate petitions and analyzing the root causes of student petitions; the goal of the project is creating structural changes which reduce the need for petitions.”
Acosta, who completed the program in December 2025 while working in his current position, also particularly appreciated its flexibility and suitability for professionals who are already in the workforce.
“You have very high-quality faculty who have this real-world experience in different fields, from aerospace and textiles to energy and oil and gas, and it’s very useful, but a concern that some people have about pursuing graduate degrees is flexibility,” he said. “This program is incredibly flexible. Every class that I took started after typical work hours, which is perfect for working professionals, and there’s a lot of flexibility in terms of in-person, hybrid and virtual classes. I think that flexibility is one of the strongest points of the program for anyone who’s looking to make themselves more marketable with a master’s degree.”