Academic Programs Catalog

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. 1. One of the following courses (3 credits):
   1. PKG 805 Advanced Packaging Dynamics (3)
   2. PKG 815 Permeability Shelf Life (3)
2. 2. Both of the following courses (7 credits):
   1. PKG 810 Packaging Professional Seminar (3)
   2. PKG 825 Polymeric Packaging Materials (4)
3. 3. An additional 3 credits of 800-level Packaging courses excluding PKG 890.
4. 4. Complete 24 to 36 credits in PKG 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
5. 5. Pass both a written and an oral comprehensive examination.
6. 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. 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. 1. Complete all of the following core courses (20 credits):
   1. PKG 470 Packaging Sustainability (3)
   2. PKG 801 Packaging Materials (4)
   3. PKG 803 Packaging Distribution and Dynamics (2)
   4. PKG 804 Packaging Processes (2)
   5. PKG 810 Packaging Professional Seminar (3)
   6. PKG 875 Stability and Recyclability of Packaging Materials (3)
   7. PKG 891 Selected Topics (3)
      1. Section: Global Sustainability Trends and Regulations Capstone
   8. The capstone must be completed during the last 10 credits of the program.
2. 2. Complete a minimum of 10 credits from one of the following concentrations:
   1. Business
   2. ACC 870 Principles of Financial and Managerial Accounting (3)
   3. CAS 835 Branding and Image Communication (3)
   4. MGT 873 Strategic Decision Making (2)
   5. SCM 801 Introduction to Global Business and Supply Chain (2)
   6. Supply Chain Management 
   7. PKG 465 Packaging Value Chain (3)
   8. SCM 801 Introduction to Global Business and Supply Chain (2)
   9. SCM 803 Introduction to Supply Chain Analytics (3)
   10. SCM 805 Basic Elements of Strategic Sourcing (2)
   11. SCM 806 Basic Elements of Logistics and Warehousing (2)
   12. SCM 807 Basic Elements of Operations Management (2)
   13. Sustainable Solutions 
   14. AFRE 891 Topics in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (1 to 3)
   15. CSUS 465 Environmental and Natural Resource Law (3)
   16. CSUS 890 Independent Study in Community Sustainability (1 to 6)
   17. CSUS 891 Selected Topics in Community Sustainability (1 to 9)
   18. PKG 465 Packaging Value Chain (3)
   19. PKG 480 Packaging Laws and Regulations (3)
   20. PKG 880 Life Cycle Assessment: Background, Principles, Calculations, and Applications (3)
   21. Packaging Design 
   22. FSC 810 International Food Laws and Regulations (3)
   23. FSC 811 U.S. Food Laws and Regulations (3)
   24. PKG 411 Packaging Development Technology (3)
   25. PKG 430 Packaging for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (3)
   26. PKG 421 Virtual Design and Prototyping (3)
   27. PKG 444 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for Packaging (3)
   28. PKG 450 Automotive and Industrial Packaging (3)
   29. PKG 452 Medical Packaging (4)
   30. PKG 456 Packaging and Shelf Life of Perishable Food (3)
   31. PKG 480 Packaging Laws and Regulations (3)
   32. PKG 805 Advanced Packaging Dynamics (3)
   33. PKG 814 Packaging for Food Safety (3)
   34. PKG 815 Permeability and Shelf Life (3)
   35. PKG 825 Polymeric Packaging Materials (4)
   36. PKG 840 Anti-Counterfeit Strategy and Product Protection (3)
   37. PKG 891 Selected Topics (1 to 3) 
   38. VM 834 Current Issues in Food Safety (1 to 3)
3. 3. Complete the responsible conduct of research training.
4. 4. Completion of a final examination or evaluation.