College of Agriculture & Natural Resources School of Packaging

All packaging majors must complete a core curriculum consisting of 11 packaging courses which accounts for 35 of the 120 credits required for the degree, and includes more than 100 hours of practical laboratory experience.

Overall Curriculum Details

Core courses include studies in the following areas:

• Technical principles for packaging
• Packaging career preparation and skills
• Materials (glass, plastic, paper and metals in packaging)
• Computer applications
• Packaging processes & systems
• Distribution dynamics
• Design and prototyping
• Life Cycle Analysis & Environmental impacts
• Economic Factors of Packaging

Packaging Electives

Nine credits in Packaging electives are required and earned through coursework or participation in the internship or overseas study programs.

Other elective credits include:

• Radio Frequency Identification
• Virtual Design and Prototyping
• Packaging Sustainability
• Packaging for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)
• Packaging laws and regulations
• Packaging and Perishables
• Medical Packaging
• Food Packaging
• Packaging Value Chain
• Hazardous Materials Packaging

Required Business Coursework

All students will need to complete either Introduction to Marketing or Introduction to Supply Chain Management (MKT 327 or SCM 304).

Science and Math Requirements

As a technical program with a heavy science focus, the School of Packaging has rigorous science and math requirements.

All students must complete:

• General Chemistry 1, General Chemistry 1 lab, and Survey of Organic Chemistry
• Physics I and II (meets MSU ISP requirements)
• Calculus I and II
• Statistics
• Microbiology or Food Safety (meets MSU ISB requirements)