Packaging

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 23.9 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 56.4 k / Year(s) Deadline: May 1, 2025
105 place StudyQA ranking:2596 Duration:4 years

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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. Two concentrations are offered: Packaging Science and Packaging Value Chain Management. The Packaging Science concentration focuses on the technical needs of packaging while the Packaging Value Chain Management concentration focuses on the role of packaging in the value chain and the need to understand economics and business functions. Elective courses provide focused study in specific areas of the packaging industry.

  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 486. 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 (57 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 485 Packaging Development 3
      PKG 486 Packaging Senior Capstone (W) 3
      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
      A course used to fulfill this requirement may not be used to fulfill a requirement in the Packaging
    Science concentration.
    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 303 Introduction to Supply Chain Management 3
      A course used to fulfill this requirement may not be used to fulfill a requirement in the Packaging Value Chain Management concentration.  
    e. One of the following concentrations (18 credits):  
      Packaging Science  
      1. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):  
        PKG 452 Medical Packaging     4
        PKG 455 Food Packaging     3
      2. Completion of 6 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.  
      3. Completion of 9 credits of electives from the following with at least one course at the 300-level or above:  
        BMB 200 Introduction to Biochemistry 4
        CE 221 Statics 3
        FSC 211 Principles of Food Science 3
        FSC 325 Food Processing: Unit Operations 3
        FSC 342 Food Safety and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Program 3
        FSC 401 Food Chemistry 3
        FSC 421 Food Laws and Regulations 3
        FSC 440 Food Microbiology 3
        MMG 201 Fundamental of Microbiology 3
        MMG 301 Introductory Microbiology 3
        MMG 302 Introductory for General and Allied Health Microbiology 1
        STT 464 Statistics for Biologists 3
        STT 465 Bayesian Statistical Methods  3
        Other courses with department approval.  
        Courses used to fulfill a concentration requirement may not be used to fulfill requirement 3. b. above.  
      Packaging Value Chain Management  
      1. The following course (3 credits):  
        PKG 465 Packaging Value Chain 3
      2. Completion of 6 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 requiremement with advisor approval.  
      3. Completion of 9 credits of electives from the following: 3
        EC 301 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
        EC 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
        EC 360 Private Enterprise and Public Policy 3
        FI 320 Introduction to Finance 3
        GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law 3
        MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes 3
        MKT 327 Introduction to Marketing 3
        SCM 303 Introduction to Supply Chain Management  
        Other courses with department approval.  
        Courses used to fulfill a concentration requirement may not be used to fulfill requirement 3. d. above.
  • Complete MSU’s application for admission online, including the required personal statement.
  • Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee (drawn on U.S. funds) using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or an electronic check.
  • Request that all secondary schools, colleges or universities attended and examination boards send original or attested copies of all transcripts, diplomas, mark sheets and certificates directly to Michigan State University in an official, sealed envelope. In addition, where the original documents are not issued in English, an official English translation of each document must be provided.
  • Have the testing agency (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, MSUELT or MELAB accepted) provide proof of English proficiency directly to MSU if your first language is not English. MSU's TOEFL code is 1465. International students are encouraged, though not required, to submit SAT or ACT scores. The SAT code is 1465; the ACT code is 2032.
  • Do not send letters of recommendation, photographs, portfolios or additional personal essays. Doing so will delay processing of your application.
  • In order to obtain the documents needed to file for a student visa (I-20 or DS-2019), admitted students must show adequate proof of financial support. Upon acceptance, admitted students will be required to upload a signed affidavit of support and bank statement with the name of the account holder in English through your admissions account. Please do not send financial documents in paper form at the time of application.

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