Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Mark Johnsen
Master's (MSM) with a concentration in Business Management
Master's (MSM) with a concentration in Project Management
After 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Mark Johnsen earned a Bachelor of Science in technical occupational education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Since Mark had finished his Bachelor's degree almost 10 years prior to enrolling with Colorado Tech Online and had never taken a course online, he was not sure what to expect. "I was rather apprehensive at first, but the Admissions Advisors were very helpful, honest and professional. All my questions were addressed in a timely manner. I was elated when I learned I was accepted, but when it came time to start my class I still wasn't sure what to expect. As it turned out, Colorado Tech Online became a pleasant, enlightening experience for me."
Despite his military experience and educational credentials, Mark still felt a need to continue his education in order to achieve his career goals. "I am currently working in an administrative capacity, splitting my time between a small company and a work-study program with the Air Force Reserves. My ultimate career goal is to attain a management position with a larger company. Since my time to work my way up the career ladder is limited, I want to get a jump on the competition. I feel that the Master's degree I have earned through Colorado Tech Online will help me attain my career goals more quickly."
Mark recently completed the Master of Science in Management degree program with a concentration in Business Management and by completing two more courses he completed a second concentration in Project Management. Mark's initial apprehension quickly turned to enthusiasm once he became familiar with the Virtual Campus at Colorado Tech Online. "The flexibility and convenience of online learning works very well for me. The Virtual Campus is extremely efficient and user-friendly. Having all the departments of the university at my fingertips saves me a lot of time that I may otherwise spend walking between buildings and waiting in line on a ground campus. That extra time enables me to spend more time focusing on my course work and made it easy to adjust to the online learning environment."
The interaction with his peers and instructors seemed to impress Mark the most. "The personal interaction that I experience with my classmates and instructors, however, is incredible! Instructors make themselves available through live chats, instant messaging, email and some even provide their cell phone numbers. All of the faculty that I have encountered have been first rate and have made my learning experience a very pleasant one. I worked closely with a wide diversity of students in locations throughout the world from various age levels, various professional backgrounds and various ethnic backgrounds. With the recent trends in globalization, the learning environment with Colorado Tech Online's Virtual Campus is a great way to learn how to work in a virtual team setting. My hat is off to the entire university!"
Mark has shown he is a great team player in other ways as well, such as participating in the student mentor program with Colorado Tech Online. "Helping other students through the mentor program is just as inspirational for me as it is for others. I have had some new students express awe that I am in a Master's degree program. That may be somewhat flattering, but I always tell them, 'get organized and hang in there – because if you do not give up, you can be where I am before you know it. Earning a degree through Colorado Tech Online can make you more marketable and can make your career more rewarding. It is definitely worth your time and effort.'"
Although Mark has not yet had a chance to test the job market since he earned his Master's degree, thanks to the Master's degree he earned and some assistance from the career services department at Colorado Tech Online, he feels very well-prepared. "My degree is a great complement to my 20-plus years of administrative and technical experience because it shows I have the knowledge as well as the skills to make the climb into management. The career services department at Colorado Tech Online was very helpful when it came time for me to create a new résumé. An advisor in career services gave me many useful interviewing tips and helped me tailor my résumé to the management positions I am seeking. With my updated résumé and the Master's degree I have earned, I feel more confident than ever that my next job search will result in the achievement of my career goals."
Back to Student/Alumni Profiles Home