Online Graduate Spotlight: Hanna Freeman (MS in Cosmetic Science)

This past spring, UC Online graduate Hanna Freeman walked away with two diplomas, five internships, and a full-time job with Proctor & Gamble (P&G). She made this happen in just five short years at the University of Cincinnati. How did she do it? 

Her dedication and hard work played a massive role, but that isn’t all. UC Online gave her the flexibility to balance two degrees and her career—and come out on top. 

We had the opportunity to speak with Hanna about her UC Online journey, her hands-on experience at P&G, and what drew her to cosmetic science.

Prior to enrolling in UC’s online Master of Science in Cosmetic Science, Hanna was already a Bearcat. She was an on-campus student in UC’s Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, but she knew that she wanted to make more of her experience.

Looking at Hanna's educational trajectory, cosmetic science has always been a natural fit.

“I’ve always been interested in problem solving and figuring out how things work,” she said.

Her love of problem solving led her to engineering, but as she came to better understand her interests and skillsets, she honed in on a potential career in cosmetic science. 

“The cosmetic science industry combined my love for engineering, material science, formulation, and product development that felt very applied and innovative to me,” Hanna reflected. “I was especially fascinated with products that people use and interact with every day, where you can directly see how science impacts how a product performs.”

Throughout her time at UC, she’s combined in-person and online education in a way that’s prepared her well for post-grad success. In large part, this is thanks to the ACCEND program.

“As I was working on my bachelor's in chemical engineering, I learned about the ACCEND program through my academic advisor,” she said.  

ACCEND (Accelerated Engineering Degree) allows UC engineering students to graduate with a bachelor's and a master’s degree in five years—the same amount of time it takes to complete UC’s engineering program alone. Following this pathway, Hanna completed her undergraduate degree on campus while simultaneously earning her graduate degree online through the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

“I thought this was a great opportunity to maximize my time and add on a few credit hours per semester to give myself an advantage upon graduating,” she said. “I knew that at the end of my college career, I would have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and five co-op experiences, which made me stand out from other candidates for a job offer and helped secure a position for myself the summer before I graduated.”

Just as cosmetic science was a natural next step for Hanna, she described enrolling in UC’s cosmetic science program as a natural choice. The ACCEND pathway was a major draw, along with UC offering one of only several online programs dedicated specifically to cosmetic science.

"The program allowed me to pursue that niche area while continuing my engineering degree and co-op experiences,” she added.  

Co-op, or cooperative education, is a bridge from UC’s in-person programs to real-world experience. Through ACCEND, Hanna had the flexibility to take online graduate courses while gaining professional internship experience at Proctor & Gamble—where she later received a job offer. Her learning became “immediately relevant” on the job.

“The ability to earn both degrees in an accelerated and financially practical way made the decision crystal clear for me.” 

UC’s online Cosmetic Science program prioritizes both breadth and depth. The curriculum dives into the world of pharmaceutical sciences, covering core areas of study and then branching out into numerous electives depending on each learner’s priorities and interests. Common coursework includes:

• Biostatistics and Research Methods
• Cosmetic Regulations
• Fragrance Science
• Manufacturing Hygiene
• Safety Assessment of Cosmetic & Topical OTC Drug Products
• Skincare and Haircare Science

For Hanna, the program’s specialized coursework allowed her to follow her personal interests in cosmetic formulation and product development. From there, she was able to apply her coursework directly to her work at P&G.

“Each course contributed something different to my education,” Hanna said.  

Formulation-focused courses bolstered her understanding of ingredient functionality and product performance. Other courses, like Skin and Hair Sciences, provided a strong scientific foundation that she now applies to product claims and mechanisms.

“I especially valued projects within courses that involved evaluating formulations and applying transport and delivery calculations, because these directly mirrored challenges that I personally encountered in the industry,” she added. “Professionally, I was able to learn how to connect fundamental science to practical product decisions.” 

A hot-button issue in today’s workforce is the professionalism gap.  

While the conversation typically focuses on Gen Z, it highlights something important to learners of all generations: education may get you through the door, but professionalism is what keeps you there. 

As such, on-the-job experience is crucial to building your professional skillset. For Hanna, balancing two degrees on top of five co-op semesters wasn’t without its challenges. Even so, she’s grateful for how it strengthened her time management skills and her professionalism.  

Additionally, her graduate-level coursework reinforced and de-mystified the technical decisions being made on projects with which she was involved.

“Since I was already learning concepts related to formulation, ingredient interactions, delivery systems, and product performance from my courses,” she said, “I had a strong framework for approaching problems during my co-op assignments, and I felt confident in owning my work and making decisions.”

Her coursework also improved her communication skills and confidence in a professional setting. Gaining graduate-level knowledge empowered her to contribute more meaningfully during her co-op experience.

“I definitely feel like I have an edge because I was exposed early to more advanced technical concepts and industry-specific knowledge that many students do not encounter until much later, if at all. It helped me communicate with scientists and engineers across disciplines because I had both of those perspectives from my educational background.” 

Before she had even graduated, Hanna’s co-op with Proctor & Gamble turned into a job offer. As of July 2026, she’s now working full time as an R&D Associate Scientist in Haircare.

“Receiving the offer before graduation was incredibly rewarding,” Hanna said. “It felt like validation that the hard work invested in engineering, ACCEND, graduate coursework, and co-ops had all paid off. I was so excited to have that opportunity secured while I was still finishing school, and it gave me all the motivation I needed to finish strong.”

According to Hanna, earning her cosmetic science master’s degree online was crucial to this achievement. ACCEND helped demonstrate her initiative and commitment, coupled with the professional boost she gained from her graduate coursework.  

“I wholeheartedly believe that UC Online opened that door for me,” she said. “It made me a stronger candidate and more prepared for the role.”

Now an official UC grad, Hanna is as excited as ever to embark on her cosmetics career in a full-time capacity.  

By taking what she’s learned through her bachelor’s, master’s, and co-ops, she aims to work on products with real-world impact. She thinks it’ll be a rewarding challenge, particularly as the cosmetics industry continues to evolve.

"Being part of that process has always been exciting for me. I am looking forward to seeing projects I work on end up on shelves in stores across the country.” 

For learners committed to a future in cosmetic science, the ACCEND pathway is an unbelievably valuable option. It allowed Hanna to maximize her time at UC and graduate with a top-notch combination of education and experience.

When asked for her advice, Hanna urged potential students to take advantage of the opportunity and reiterated the competitive advantage that UC’s online program provided.

“It’s hard to find programs like this that teach advanced concepts, practical skills, industry-relevant experience, and much, much more that will help you stand out,” she said. “If you have any interest in this field and want to challenge yourself, this is 100% worth it.”

Hanna is one of the many successful graduates of UC’s online Master of Science in Cosmetic Science—like Shamola Jaiyeoba, whose Cosmetic Science capstone was selected for publication, and Rina Dean, who secured her dream job based on her virtual capstone presentation.  

On behalf of UC Online, congratulations to Hanna on her continued success! To hear her full story, you can watch the video below. 

Are your interests similar to Hanna’s? Whether the ACCEND pathway appeals to you or you’re looking to return to school 100% online, UC’s online Master of Science in Cosmetic Science may be the perfect fit for your goals. 

You don’t have to have everything figured out. If you’re just beginning to explore your options, we’re here to help. 

Connect with your Enrollment Services Advisor today for personalized support.