Graduate Degree

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.