Every student’s path to finding the right major looks different. UNT at Frisco senior David Youssef started his college years in an Electrical Engineering program before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. UNT at Frisco senior Sienna Sprague finished high school early with an associate degree already in hand, and she was looking for a program that interested her at a school close to home.

Both roads led to UNT at Frisco’s Applied Project Design and Analysis program.

What is the Applied Project Design and Analysis program?

The program emphasises hands-on learning, giving students opportunities to practice skills they will use professionally.

“A lot of our program is very hands-on, so we get direct experience doing presentations in front of executive leaders and sponsors,” Sprague said. “Our other courses feed into our workshops, so we get to directly apply what we're learning to the project that we're currently working on.”

These semester-long projects begin with kickoff meetings, where students present what their projects will cover to sponsors, and at the end of the semester, they present the final project to company executives.

Two women pose smiling in front of an Altair Global branded backdrop.
Sienna Sprague (right)

One example is a presentation they did for Altair Global in the fall of 2025: a company they would end up interning for the next summer.

It was an environmental, social and governance project, where they researched ways the company could expand its ESG initiatives. They presented their final project to Altair Global’s CEO Chad Sterling and other company leaders.

The project was facilitated by Dr. Trapper Pace, a UNT at Frisco professor who also works at Altair Global.

“Dr. Trapper’s classes were probably the most valuable because they gave us a lot of real-world experience,” Youssef said. “After learning about his company, we had an idea of what it was, but when we actually did the project for Altair Global, we did a deep dive into who they are, and that's what really piqued my interest. I saw the care that they have and the company culture, so I knew it was a place I would like to work.”

Man with lanyard and crossed arms stands on a football field in front of a glass building.
David Youssef

A site visit further reinforced the connection.

“During our project, we visited Altair’s headquarters. They gave us a tour, so we were able to look around, speak to any team members that we saw and, instead of just hearing about it, we got a glimpse of what it would be like to work there,” Sprague said.

Those experiences led them to eventually land internships at Altair Global.

What did they learn during their internships?

Youssef worked in the Operations department for the company’s central region, helping with backlogged work and looking for ways to optimize processes. Sprague worked in the Client Partner Experience department, supporting team members who worked directly with clients and gaining exposure to customer projects and visits.

They also collaborated with four other interns on a project for Altair Global’s Learning and Development department. The group supplemented the company’s learning content library and created resources tailored to different departments before presenting their work.

For both students, the internship offered a broader view of how a global company operates.

Talking with team members in different regions showed Sprague how perspectives and trends can vary across the world. For Youssef, working in operations highlighted the importance of understanding different cultures before interacting with customers.

Over the summer, both also participated in the inaugural class of the Frisco Talent Experience program, which was set up by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. The event brought interns from across the Frisco area together to connect with one another and local industry leaders.

Two people with name tags smiling beside a Frisco Talent Experience banner from the Frisco Chamber.

How did these experiences shape their goals?

The internship gave both students a clearer idea of what they want from their careers.

Youssef plans to pursue project management and hopes to reach a senior project management role within five to 10 years. Just as importantly, the experience showed him the value of finding a workplace culture where employees can thrive.

“I’m looking forward to being in a position where I can hold my head up high and say, ‘I’m proud of what I’m doing,’” he said.

Sprague said the experience helped her explore the different roles available within an organization as she considers her own future.

“In five to 10 years, I hope that I'm in a job that's secure and that I'm happy in,” Sprague said. “I want to know that I'm doing something that's impacting others for the good, and knowing that I have a purpose in my organization.”

Two people posing and smiling in front of an Altair Global branded backdrop.

As their December graduation approaches, the students are carrying more than a degree into their next chapter. Their experience at UNT at Frisco has given them opportunities to build professional skills, work alongside industry partners and begin defining what they want their careers to look like in the future.

Those interested in learning more can find resources here:

Four women with lanyards pose in front of a Slack display at a conference event.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UNT at Frisco Applied Project Design and Analysis program?

The Applied Project Design and Analysis program at UNT at Frisco is an undergraduate degree focused on project-based learning. It bridges academic instruction with industry preparation by pairing students with corporate partners to solve real-world challenges.

How do students gain real-world experience in this degree?

Students participate in semester-long, client-sponsored projects that begin with kickoff presentations and end with final pitches to executive leadership, which can lead to students landing internships.

What kind of careers can students land after the program?

Students can land careers in operations, client support, sales, production and project management, administrative support, and more.

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The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.