Academic Programs Catalog

The School of Packaging offers a program of instruction leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The program combines basic principles of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and materials science with specialized courses to prepare students for rewarding careers in industry. Career  opportunities are plentiful since some form of packaging is involved in the production and movement to market of nearly every item of consumption in today’s economy. In addition to careers in companies that use packaging, attractive opportunities are also available in the package supply industries. Package supplier industries include companies that print and convert paper and flexible plastic materials as well as manufacturers of such diverse items as bottles, cans, folding cartons, corrugated boxes, drums, wooden containers, pallets, pails, tubes, vials, and jars. Packaging impacts most functions in manufacturing firms so graduates may work in package development, production, quality control, research, sales, purchasing, marketing, testing, distribution, or technical services.

In its flexibility, the program allows students to leverage their personal skills and interests and to make individualized choices. 

Admission as a Junior

Enrollments in the School of Packaging are limited. To be considered for admission to the major, the student must have:

1. Completed at least 56 credits.
2. Completed the following courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course:
   1. Chemistry 141.
   2. Mathematics 133.
   3. Physics 231.

The student's cumulative grade–point average for all courses completed is considered in the admission decision.

For additional information about admissions criteria and procedures, students should contact the School of Packaging.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Packaging

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Packaging major is met by completing Packaging 485. That course is referenced in item 3. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the Packaging major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Packaging may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses:  Chemistry 141,143 and 161; or Food Science 342 or Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 201.  The completion of Chemistry 143 and 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement.  Chemistry 141, 143 and 161; Food Science 342 or Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 201 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 3. below.
   
   The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (58 credits):
   	CEM	141	General Chemistry						4
   	CEM	143	Survey of Organic Chemistry						4
   	CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I						1
   	MTH	132	Calculus I						3
   	MTH	133	Calculus II						4
   	PKG	101	Principles of Packaging						3
   	PKG	102	Introductory Packaging Seminar						2
   	PKG	221	Packaging with Glass and Metal						2
   	PKG	315	Packaging Decision Systems						3
   	PKG	322	Packaging with Paper and Paperboard						4
   	PKG	323	Packaging with Plastics						4
   	PKG	410	Distribution Packaging Dynamics						4
   	PKG	411	Package Development Technology						3
   	PKG	432	Packaging Processes						4
   	PKG	465	Packaging Value Chain						3
   	PKG	485	Packaging Development (W)						4
   	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I						3
   	PHY	232	Introductory Physics II						3
   b.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	FSC	342	Food Safety and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Program						3
   	MMG	201	Fundamentals of Microbiology						3
   c.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	200	Statistical Methods						3
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods						4
   	STT	315	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Business						3
   	STT	351	Probability and Statistics for Engineering						3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	MKT	327	Introduction to Marketing						3
   	SCM	304	Survey of Supply Chain Management						3
   e.	Completion of 9 credits of electives in packaging. Enrollment in a packaging internship completed under PKG 493 (up to 3 credits) and enrollment in a packaging overseas study program completed under PKG 491 (up to 3 credits) may be used towards this requirement with advisor approval.

Emphasis is placed upon a broad education in packaging that includes an area of study referenced above. Student participation in seminars and in the teaching program, where appropriate, is designed to broaden the student's background for future career activities.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Entering graduate students are expected to have a bachelor's degree in packaging or a related undergraduate field. Students lacking the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in packaging may be admitted provisionally and be required to complete collateral courses to make up any deficiencies. These collateral courses will not count toward degree requirements.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in  Packaging

The master’s degree program in packaging is available under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan A or Plan B. The student’s program of study must be approved by either the student’s guidance committee (Plan A) or the student’s major professor (Plan B).

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

The student must:

1. Complete 15 credits in Packaging courses at the 400-level or above. More than half of the 30 credits required for the degree must be at the 800-level or above.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistics.

Additional Requirements for Plan A

1. Packaging 825 and 810.
2. Packaging 805 or 815.
3. An additional 3 credits in 800-900 level Packaging courses excluding Packaging 890, and 899.
4. At least six, but not more than eight, credits of Packaging 899.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

1. Packaging 805, 810, 815, and 825.
2. An additional 6 credits in 800-900 level Packaging courses excluding Packaging 890, and 899.
3. Pass a final Plan B examination. 

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the student must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in packaging, an applicant must submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

To be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in packaging on regular status, a student must have:

1. Completed a master's degree program in packaging, or in a related science or engineering area, for which a thesis was required, or a completed bachelor's degree in packaging or related science or engineering area with significant intensive research experience such as having peer-reviewed journal publications as the main author, or conducting several semesters of research work.  
2. A grade–point average of at least 3.40 for the bachelor's or master's degree program.
3. Acceptable scores on the GRE General Test.

Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who does not meet the above requirements but shows outstanding potential.

Guidance Committee

At least three members of the student's guidance committee must be faculty members in the School of Packaging, and at least one member must be a faculty member from outside the school.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Packaging

The student must:

1.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	PKG	805	Advanced Packaging Dynamics						3
	PKG	815	Permeability Shelf Life						3
2.	Both of the following courses (7 credits):
	PKG	810	Packaging Professional Seminar						3
	PKG	825	Polymeric Packaging Materials						4
3.	An additional 3 credits of 800-level Packaging courses excluding PKG 890.
4.	Complete 24 to 36 credits in PKG 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
5.	Pass both a written and an oral comprehensive examination.
6.	Complete a dissertation in one of the following areas of packaging:  material science applications in packaging, food packaging, healthcare packaging, mass transport applications, or the dynamics and physical distribution aspects or human factors in packaging.
7.	Successfully defend the dissertation.

The Master of Science degree in Packaging Leadership for Professionals is a course-intensive, online program offered by the School of Packaging in partnership with The Eli Broad College of Business and Graduate School of Management and College of Communication Arts and Sciences. The master’s program enables professionals with leadership aspirations to expand their knowledge related to technical aspects of packaging and also strengthen their proficiencies in interdisciplinary fields in which students engage in one of four concentrations: business, supply chain management, sustainable solutions, or packaging design.

Admission

To be eligible for admission to the degree, students must:

1. have an earned bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 cumulative grade-point average from an accredited educational institution comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.
2. have a minimum of three years of professional work experience.
3. submit three reference letters.
4. submit official transcripts from all academic institutions attended.
5. submit a resume or CV.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Packaging Leadership for Professionals

The Master of Science degree program in Packaging Leadership for Professionals is available only under Plan B (without thesis) and available only online. A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan B. The student’s program of study must be approved by the graduate program director.

1.	Complete all of the following core courses (20 credits):
	PKG	470	Packaging Sustainability						3
	PKG	801	Packaging Materials						4
	PKG	803	Packaging Distribution and Dynamics						2
	PKG	804	Packaging Processes						2
	PKG	810	Packaging Professional Seminar						3
	PKG	875	Stability and Recyclability of Packaging Materials						3
	PKG	891	Selected Topics						3
			Section: Global Sustainability Trends and Regulations Capstone
	The capstone must be completed during the last 10 credits of the program.
2.	Complete a minimum of 10 credits from one of the following concentrations:
	Business
	ACC	870	Principles of Financial and Managerial Accounting						3
	CAS	835	Branding and Image Communication						3
	MGT	873	Strategic Decision Making						2
	SCM	801	Introduction to Global Business and Supply Chain						2
	Supply Chain Management
	PKG	465	Packaging Value Chain						3
	SCM	801	Introduction to Global Business and Supply Chain						2
	SCM	803	Introduction to Supply Chain Analytics						3
	SCM	805	Basic Elements of Strategic Sourcing						2
	SCM	806	Basic Elements of Logistics and Warehousing						2
	SCM	807	Basic Elements of Operations Management						2
	Sustainable Solutions
	AFRE	891	Topics in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics						1 to 3
	CSUS	465	Environmental and Natural Resource Law						3
	CSUS	890	Independent Study in Community Sustainability						1 to 6
	CSUS	891	Selected Topics in Community Sustainability						1 to 9
	PKG	465	Packaging Value Chain						3
	PKG	480	Packaging Laws and Regulations						3
	PKG	880	Life Cycle Assessment: Background, Principles, Calculations, and Applications						3
	Packaging Design
	FSC	810	International Food Laws and Regulations						3
	FSC	811	U.S. Food Laws and Regulations						3
	PKG	411	Packaging Development Technology						3
	PKG	430	Packaging for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods						3
	PKG	421	Virtual Design and Prototyping						3
	PKG	444	Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for Packaging						3
	PKG	450	Automotive and Industrial Packaging						3
	PKG	452	Medical Packaging						4
	PKG	456	Packaging and Shelf Life of Perishable Food						3
	PKG	480	Packaging Laws and Regulations						3
	PKG	805	Advanced Packaging Dynamics						3
	PKG	814	Packaging for Food Safety						3
	PKG	815	Permeability and Shelf Life						3
	PKG	825	Polymeric Packaging Materials						4
	PKG	840	Anti-Counterfeit Strategy and Product Protection						3
	PKG	891	Selected Topics						1 to 3
	VM	834	Current Issues in Food Safety						1 to 3
3.	Complete the responsible conduct of research training.
4.	Completion of a final examination or evaluation.