Undergraduate Degree

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.