College of Agriculture & Natural Resources School of Packaging

The Master of Science degree in Packaging provides a broad education with specialized training in one of the areas of study listed below:

• Product and/or package damage in the physical distribution environment
• Barrier characteristics of packaging systems and materials
• Quality preservation and storage stability of packaged products
• Mechanical properties of packaging materials and systems
• Distribution packaging
• Packaging systems development and optimization
• Medical/pharmaceutical packaging
• Human factors in packaging
• Environmental impacts of packaging
• Recycling
• Automatic identification
• Packaging in business and marketing

MS Curriculum

Core Courses

The formal program for the MS degree consists of a minimum of 30 acceptable course credits. More than half of the program credits must be at the 800 level or higher.

Program Options

Thesis Option
Students must complete PKG 810 (previously PKG 860), PKG 825, and either PKG 805 or PKG 815. Thesis credits (PKG 899) must equal at least 6 but not more than 8. For the balance of requirements, go to the School of Packaging Graduate Handbook.

Non-Thesis Option
A final examination is required. Students must complete PKG 810, PKG 825, 815 and 805, along with at least 3 additional credits of 800-level packaging courses, excluding PKG 890 and 899. For the balance of requirements, go to the School of Packaging Graduate Handbook.

Collateral Courses

Students who do not have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in packaging must enroll in core undergraduate packaging courses (or alternatively PKG 801, 803 & 804), in addition to completing the regular MS requirements. Collateral courses do not count towards the 30 required program credits. The students major advisor will work with the student to determine the courses.

Request More Information - Degree Program Inquiry

Applying to the Packaging MS On-Campus Program

We are very pleased that you are interested in graduate study in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Our department is committed to providing excellent graduate education.

Students who do not hold a previous degree in Packaging will only be considered for the Fall Semester. Students who do hold a Packaging degree may apply for Fall or Spring Semester.

Application materials must be submitted by February 15^th for the following Fall Semester.  Submission of application on time is required for full consideration.  International students are encouraged to apply and submit requirements as early as possible.

Application Materials:

1. Application
   Apply to our program and pay the application fee via MSU Admissions.
2. Official Transcripts
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Official GRE Graduate Record of Examination (Optional)
   The School of Packaging does not require GRE scores for the MS Online Program.
5. International Applicants must also provide English Language Test Scores and Financial Support
6. Complete any Application Supplemental Questions
7. Academic/Personal Statements

Prospective Students

• Application and Admissions Excerpt
• Packaging Graduate Admissions Information

MS PLAN A: DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

MS Plan A: Thesis is a residential program only.

MS Plan A: Thesis Coursework/Residential
MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Coursework/Residential
MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Coursework/Online

All students must meet the University and College requirements as stated in the current
Academic Programs publication. Such regulations appear in the section on University Graduate
Degree Programs and in the section devoted to the regulations of the College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, as well as in the section for the School of Packaging. Each student is
responsible for understanding these regulations. Some of these, along with the School of
Packaging requirements, are outlined below.

Residency and Time Limits

Residency requirements and time limits shall be as published in the current issue of the
Academic Programs catalog. A minimum of 6 credits in the degree program must be earned
in residence on the East Lansing campus or at approved Michigan State University
instructional sites, but many programs require more. Requests for waivers of this
requirement must be submitted by the department or school responsible for the degree
program to the appropriate college and then to the Dean of the Graduate School.
Unless otherwise specified, the time limit for the completion of the requirements for the MS Plan
A: Thesis degree is 5 calendar years from the date of matriculation into the degree program.

English Language Proficiency

International students admitted provisionally due to English Language deficiencies must
correct that deficiency within two consecutive semesters. Such students will be required to
take courses at the English Language Center and will be restricted in the number (if any) of
academic courses they will be allowed to take.

Students admitted provisionally for other reasons will be required to meet the conditions
specified in the student’s admission letter.

Specializations

Michigan State University offers the opportunity for students to formally specialize in a
multidisciplinary area, primarily through completion of a set of courses, in addition to
meeting the requirements for the degree in the student’s major. Completion of a
specialization is noted on the student’s transcript. A complete list of graduate specializations
is available through the Office of the Registrar.

Statistics

All graduate students must demonstrate an understanding of statistics. This requirement can
be met by an appropriate course as part of the MS program, or by having taken a basic
statistics course as an undergraduate.

Education Abroad

On approval of the Guidance Committee, one 3-4 credit overseas study program may be
used as part of the MS program. The policy of the School of Packaging is that a second of
such a program may not be used as part of the 30 required MS credits.

Policy Changes

When policies are changed, students who have been admitted before the change in policy
have the right to choose to comply with the new policy or to complete the requirements
following the policy that was in place when they were admitted.

GradPlan

The University requires electronic submission and approval for all MS Plan A: Thesis student
program planning and reporting, as well as thesis submission. It is the responsibility of the
student to initiate the filing of the program plan at https://grad.msu.edu/gradplan. After
consulting with the Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee, the student is to complete their
program electronically in the GradPlan.

GradPlan must be completed by no later than the end of the student’s third semester
(excluding Summer). It identifies the Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee, in addition to
the course plan the student is required to complete (excluding collateral courses), and whether
any LLE and Shared Program credits will be included in the program. Once the student submits
the plan through Campus Solutions (SIS) for approval, electronic circulation is routed for
approvals. Individuals who need to approve are notified by email.

Modifications to the program, including the composition of the Guidance Committee, require
approval of the student, Faculty Advisor, committee members, the School Director and the
Dean, through submission of an official modification to the program using GradPlan. If the
student should choose to enroll in courses not in the course plan, they should be aware that the
course may not count toward graduate program requirements. Courses may not be added to or
subtracted from a previously approved course plan after a final grade has been awarded. All
courses taken before completion of the initial GradPlan are considered part of the student’s
academic course plan. A hold will be put on the academic account of any student who is
delinquent in completing GradPlan.

Faculty Advisor

Each student will select and be accepted by a Faculty Advisor from the regular faculty of the
School of Packaging, to serve as the student’s advisor and guide their thesis work. Dr. Amy
Radford-Popp, Graduate Program Director will serve as the student’s advisor for all MS Plan
A: Thesis students until a Faculty Advisor is chosen. The Faculty Advisor must be chosen
before completion of 13 program credits.

Guidance Committee

The Guidance Committee must be completed in GradPlan by no later than the end of
the student’s third semester (excluding Summer). Students will obtain approval and
assistance from their Faculty Advisor in forming the committee. It is strongly recommended
that students prepare a thesis proposal for review by committee members prior to beginning
their research or shortly thereafter. This is especially valuable as a document to submit to
prospective committee members, and as a starting point for outlining the precise research
work to be accomplished for the degree.

The Guidance Committee must consist of at least three regular faculty members:

• Two must be School of Packaging faculty (including the Faculty Advisor)
• One must be from another department within MSU, or from outside the MSU
  community with special approval. Faculty with joint appointments can be considered
  outside members if their appointment is less than 50% in the School.
  Michigan State University policy provides that the Faculty Advisor (chair of the Guidance
  Committee) and faculty members of Guidance Committees be regular Michigan State
  University faculty, except as noted in what follows.
• Regular faculty are defined as tenure system faculty.
• Non-tenure-system faculty may serve as Faculty Advisors and as members of Guidance
  Committees with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.
• Emeritus faculty may serve as members of Guidance Committees and may continue to
  serve as Faculty Advisors with the approval of the School Director.
• While University policy allows specialists to serve as members or chairs of Guidance
  Committees with the approval of the Graduate School, the School of Packaging does not
  generally approve such service, except as an additional member of the committee,
  beyond the minimum required number.
• In general, no more than 1 non-regular faculty member may serve on a Master’s
  committee.

In accordance with University, College, and School policies. GSRR, section 2.4.2, the
student may make changes in the membership of the Guidance Committee with the School
Director. Similarly, the School Director may make changes in the committee, as needed,
with the concurrence of the student. In the event that a change in the composition of the
Guidance Committee is needed, this change is initiated by submission of a revised
GradPlan.

The graduate student is responsible for learning and adhering to University, College, and
School rules pertaining to graduate study and research, including those outlined in
Academic Programs, Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Student Rights and
Responsibilities at Michigan State University.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Student

Meet University, College, and School requirements for degree completion, and
forming a Guidance Committee that meets University requirements and those
outlined in this Graduate Handbook. The student is responsible for reviewing the
School of Packaging Graduate Handbook annually in order to ensure they are
meeting all responsibilities.

• Form a Guidance Committee that supports the thesis research as well as career and
  professional development needs.
• Explore career options and pursue professional development opportunities in support
  of them.
• Follow applicable disciplinary and scholarly codes of ethics in course work and in
  thesis research. Honesty and integrity in collecting and maintaining data must be
  practiced without compromise.
• Maintain high standards of professional behavior and scholarly integrity. Failure to do
  so can lead to an allegation of misconduct in research and creative activities.
  Penalties can be severe, including dismissal of students found guilty of plagiarism or
  data falsification. For additional information see https://rio.msu.edu/ and
  https://grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity.
• In particular, there have been a number of cases of scientific misconduct due
  apparently to unintentional plagiarism. In order to help avoid such instances, MSU
  provides “iThenticate” antiplagiarism software available on the Desire2Learn site.
  More information is available at https://tech.msu.edu/service-
  catalog/teaching/tools/ithenticate/. Students may request an account which allows
  them to submit drafts of research articles and grant proposals to be scanned for
  missed citations and other mistakes that could be characterized as plagiarism,
  before they are submitted.
• Must obtain applicable regulatory approval for research in the early stages of thesis
  work. In particular:
  • Safety training through Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) must be completed
    before any laboratory work is begun.
  • Any research involving human subjects or materials of human origin must be
    approved by HRPP, the Human Research Protection Program, before any such
    research is initiated. This includes collection of data through surveys. If a student
    fails to obtain the appropriate prior approval, the thesis containing such work will
    not be accepted, and the student will not graduate.
• Research involving vertebrate animals must be approved by Institutional Animal
  Care & Use Committee (IACUC).

Graduate students are obligated to keep their Faculty Advisor and Guidance
Committee apprised on a regular basis of their progress towards completion of the
thesis.

MS Plan A: Thesis Course Requirements

A total of 30 credits is required for the MS Plan A: Thesis degree. The student’s course plan must be approved by the student’s Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee. The student must:

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistics.
• Complete 15 credits in Packaging courses at the 400-level or above.
• Ensure that half of the 30 credits required for the degree are at the 800-level or
  above.

Coursework

All course work must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must be enrolled
in the University during the semesters in which final oral examinations are completed.
Exceptions may be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School for MS final oral
examinations conducted during Summer session, provided the student was enrolled the
previous spring semester or the following Fall semester.

MS Plan A: Thesis students defending (thesis or oral exam): need to be enrolled the
semester they defend in at least 1 credit. Unless it is Summer, in that case, they need to be
enrolled in at least 1 credit in the previous spring or 1 credit the following Fall semester.

Full-time Status

• In order to be considered full-time for academic purposes, students must carry the minimum
  number of credits per semester or Summer session as defined below:
• Masters without assistantship: 9 credits minimum per semester
• Masters with assistantship: 6 credits minimum per semester
• All graduate assistants are classified as full-time students during the semester(s) of their
  appointments as long as they are enrolled for the minimum required credits for the
  assistantship.

International Students Online Course Regulations

https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/immigration1/visa-and-immigration-overview

• U.S. Immigration Regulations require that only one online or distance learning class per
  semester can be used to count toward the minimum number of credits needed for full-
  time enrollment as an F-1 student.
• If the total number of credits of all the in-person classes and one of the online classes
  are more than the required full-time credits, it is possible to enroll in as many online
  classes as the student wishes.

Annual Progress Report

Each student is to submit to their Faculty Advisor, by March 31, an Annual Progress Report
on their activities and accomplishments for the preceding period.

Apply for Graduation

https://packaging.msu.edu/graduate-degrees/forms
In order to be certified to graduate, students must apply for graduation during the semester
they anticipate graduating. The applicable form is available online, through the student’s
portal at student.msu.edu. If the student does not graduate during the intended semester, a
new application must be submitted for the new semester of intended graduation.

Final Oral Examination in Defense of the Thesis

The thesis defense consists of a presentation of the thesis research to the Guidance
Committee and the students and faculty of the School in an open seminar, followed by a
question/answer session about the research.

Written Document

Graduate students are strongly encouraged to prepare one or more submissions for
publication, as appropriate, based on their thesis work. Graduate students are also
encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to present their work to professional
audiences, such as at meetings of professional societies. MS Plan A: Thesis students
are strongly encouraged to have at least 1 article submitted to a refereed journal prior to
scheduling their thesis defense.

• The MS thesis must be based on the student’s original research and make a
  significant contribution to knowledge. The research is to be under the direction of and
  acceptable to the Guidance Committee.
• The student is expected to take a major role in planning, as well as carrying out, the
  research program.
• A master’s thesis represents the student’s original effort but constitutes a less
  significant body of work than a dissertation, and usually involves a greater degree of
  direction by the Faculty Advisor and the Guidance Committee.
• Provide a “final” copy of thesis, approved by Faculty Advisor, to the Guidance
  Committee, in format specified by Graduate School at least 2 weeks prior to defense.

Oral Examination

• The final oral examination must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
• All faculty and graduate students of the School will be notified of the exam date, time,
  and location as soon as the exam is scheduled.
• The first part of the oral examination is a seminar presentation detailing the thesis
  research or the project work. Graduate students are required, and faculty
  encouraged, to attend these presentations. Members of the public may also attend.
• The second part of the oral examination is an examination of the candidate by the
  student’s Guidance Committee and is followed by a defense of the thesis.

Thesis Defense

• Following the final oral examination, the Guidance Committee and the student will
  meet, which will include additional questions, discussion of necessary revisions in
  the document, etc.
•  The student will then be briefly excused for discussion and a vote by the Guidance
  Committee.
• The student’s performance on the final oral examination and thesis defense must be
  approved by a majority vote of the Guidance Committee.
• Students will be informed immediately whether they have passed or failed the final
  oral examination and thesis defense.
• When the MS final oral examination and thesis defense are completed, the Faculty
  Advisor and members of the Guidance Committee will sign the appropriate form,
  indicating the results.
• Students must be registered in the semester in which the final oral examination is
  taken.
  

   

Submitting the Thesis

• The student must submit an acceptable MS thesis. These must be submitted
  electronically via ProQuest after final approval by the Faculty Advisor and the Guidance
  Committee. Instructions for electronic submission of theses are available from The
  Graduate School.
  Electronic Theses and Dissertation Submissions (ETD)
  https://grad.msu.edu/etd

Submission Deadline

• Each semester has a deadline for the initial submission of theses and dissertations
  to ProQuest. The deadline is generally two weeks prior to the final deadline. Plan
  your defense accordingly.
• The document submitted to ProQuest is expected to be a final version, meaning it
  has been successfully defended, Guidance Committee corrections have been made,
  and there are no more content changes.
• The Graduate School will not accept documents for review for the current semester
  after 5:00PM ET on the submission deadline date.

Final Deadline

• Each semester has a final deadline where documents have been accepted and
  delivered for publishing, all required paperwork has been turned in, all milestones
  have been completed and all degree audits have been completed.
• Your document must be accepted and delivered to the publisher, ProQuest, by
  5:00PM ET on the final deadline date.
  Supplemental Material
• If supplemental material is to be submitted in addition to the main body of a thesis,
  these supplemental materials will not be reviewed by the Graduate School for
  formatting requirements, but they must be acceptable by ProQuest and comply with
  ProQuest’s criteria and storage limits. All supplemental materials need the approval
  of the thesis committee chair on the ETD approval form.
• Additional Information
  • It is common to use previously published articles where the student was the primary
  author in a thesis. This should first be discussed with the student’s Guidance
  Committee.
• It should be noted that submission of the thesis is not the same as approval.
• There is an interactive review process, and final approval can take anywhere from a
  few hours to weeks, depending upon the extent of the necessary revisions and the
  diligence of the student in completing the changes.
• The review by the Graduate School focuses on requirements for proper formatting
  and completion of all required forms. It is not a content review of the thesis.
• tudents must provide an electronic copy of their final approved thesis to their
  Faculty Advisor. Students must also provide copies of all data and other relevant
  materials to their Faculty Advisor.
  

   

Requests for Hold/Embargo on Publication of Documents Submitted to ProQuest

Sometimes students may wish to put a hold/embargo on the online publishing of their
thesis for a brief period of time in order to obtain a patent or submit the work for
publication. A request for an embargo of up to 2 years may be made using this online
form.

For questions regarding embargoes, please contact the Graduate School at
msuetds.approval@grd.msu.edu or at (517) 353-3220.

An embargo is a hold on publication of an author’s thesis or dissertation for a specified
length of time. The options for length of embargo authorized by Michigan State
University are 1 year or 2 years. When an embargo has been approved by your Faculty
Advisor and college Associate Dean, the Graduate School will notify ProQuest and the
MSU library. ProQuest will release the document for publication once the embargo
period has expired.

Creating an Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

At the time of submission to ProQuest, authors now have the opportunity to create an
ORCID that provides researchers with a unique identifier for linking their research
outputs and activities. An ORCID:

• Improves recognition of research contributions
• Reduces form-filling (enter data once, re-use it often)
• Works with many institutions, funders, and publishers
• Is a requirement of many journal manuscript submission systems and grant
  application forms.

To learn more about ORCID go to: https://vimeo.com/237730655

Previously submitted theses/dissertations are available for review through the MSU
Library.

MS PLAN B: DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Both MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Residential and Online programs are available.

• MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Coursework/Residential
• MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Coursework/Online

Terms of Use

• Residential: Students in the MS Plan B: Non-Thesis program who take courses in both
  in-person and online modalities.
• Online: Designates students in the MS Plan B: Non-Thesis program who take courses in
  the online modality only.

*Indicates information for Residential students only.

All students must meet the University and College requirements as stated in the current
Academic Programs publication. Such regulations appear in the section on University
Graduate Degree Programs and in the section devoted to the regulations of the College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as in the section for the School of Packaging.
Each student is responsible for understanding these regulations. Some of these, along with
the School of Packaging requirements, are outlined below.

Residency*

Residency requirements and time limits shall be as published in the current issue of the
Academic Programs catalog. A minimum of 6 credits in the degree program must be earned
in residence on the East Lansing campus or at approved Michigan State University
instructional sites, but many programs require more. Requests for waivers of this
requirement must be submitted by the department or school responsible for the degree
program to the appropriate college and then to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Time Limits

Unless otherwise specified, the time limit for the completion of the requirements for the MS
Plan B: Non-Thesis degree is 5 calendar years from the date of matriculation into the degree
program.

English Language Proficiency

International students admitted provisionally due to English Language deficiencies must
correct that deficiency within two consecutive semesters. Such students will be required to
take courses at the English Language Center and will be restricted in the number (if any) of
academic courses they will be allowed to take.

Students admitted provisionally for other reasons will be required to meet the conditions
specified in the student’s admission letter.

Statistics

All graduate students must demonstrate an understanding of statistics. This requirement can
be met by an appropriate course as part of the MS program, or by having taken a basic
statistics course as an undergraduate.

Education Abroad

On approval of the Guidance Committee, one 3-4 credit overseas study program may be
used as part of the MS program. The policy of the School of Packaging is that a second of
such a program may not be used as part of the 30 required MS credits.

Policy Changes

When policies are changed, students who have been admitted before the change in policy
have the right to choose to comply with the new policy or to complete the requirements
following the policy that was in place when they were admitted.

GradPlan

https://grad.msu.edu/gradplan

The University requires electronic submission and approval for all MS Plan B: Non-Thesis
student program planning and reporting. Students must also submit a Capstone Paper to the
School of Packaging. After consulting with the Faculty Advisor, it is the student’s responsibility
to complete their program electronically in GradPlan.

GradPlan must be completed by no later than the end of the student’s third semester
(excluding Summer). It identifies the Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee, in addition to
the course plan the student is required to complete (excluding collateral courses), and whether
any LLE and Shared Program credits have been approved for the program. Once the student
submits the plan through Campus Solutions (SIS) for approval, electronic circulation is routed
for approvals. Individuals who need to approve are notified by email.

Modifications to the program require approval of the student, Faculty Advisor, committee
members, the School Director and the Dean, through submission of an official modification to
the program using GradPlan. If the student should choose to enroll in courses not in the course
plan, they should be aware that the course may not count toward graduate program
requirements. Courses may not be added to or subtracted from a previously approved course
plan after a final grade has been awarded. All courses taken before completion of the initial
GradPlan are considered part of the student’s academic course plan. A hold will be put on the
academic account of any student who is delinquent in completing GradPlan.

Faculty Advisor

For students in the MS Plan B: Non-Thesis program, the Graduate Program Director serves
as the student’s Faculty Advisor for the length of their program.

If the Faculty Advisor should leave the School of Packaging after the GradPlan is
established and approved, the student has the right to continue the approved GradPlan
under the supervision of a new Faculty Advisor. The program may be changed only if it is
the student's wish to do so.

If the Faculty Advisor leaves the University before the student’s degree program is
completed, the student, Faculty Advisor, and School Director shall discuss the situation and
determine whether the Faculty Advisor will continue to serve in that role, or whether a new
Faculty Advisor must be selected. If the Faculty Advisor has left the University on a status
other than retirement, generally a new Faculty Advisor must be selected. In such cases, the
School Director will assist the student in selection of a new Faculty Advisor and ensure that
the student’s right to continue their program is protected.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Advisor

• Faculty advising of all graduate students should be consistent with the Guidelines for
  Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising. The Faculty Advisor:
• Ensures that graduate students receive information about requirements and policies
  of the graduate program (e.g., advising graduate students on developing a program
  plan, including selection of Guidance Committee members, including appropriate
  course plans, creative activity, and on available resources)
• Provides training and oversight in creative activities, research rigor, and in
  professional integrity, academic conduct, and ethical behavior.
• Advises graduate students on realistic prospects for successful completion within an
  appropriate time frame, and on the formation of a guidance committee.
• Encourages the graduate student to stay abreast of the literature and cutting-edge
  developments in the field. Assist with developing professional skills in writing reports
  and papers, making professional presentations, establishing professional networks,
  interviewing, and evaluating manuscripts and papers, and encouraging graduate
  students to stay current in the Packaging industry.
• Provides regular feedback on the progress of graduate students toward degree
  completion (e.g., providing feedback on program activities, course plan, and
  constructive criticism if the progress does not meet expectations, completion of
  annual progress reports).
• Helps the graduate student develop into a successful professional and colleague.
• Facilitates career development and exploration, including advising on appropriate
  job, internship, and career options, as well as on the preparation of application
  materials for appropriate scholarship, and other relevant opportunities.
• Writes letters of reference for appropriate scholarship, award, and job opportunities.
• Provides for advising of graduate students when the Faculty Advisor is on leave or
  extended absence.
• Assists the graduate student in navigating disagreements among the Guidance
  Committee.
  

   

Guidance Committee

The Graduate Program Director and the chair of the School of Packaging Graduate

Committee serve as the Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee for MS Plan B: Non-
Thesis students. The Guidance Committee must be completed in GradPlan by no later
than the end of the student’s third semester (excluding Summer).

The approval of the School Director on the electronic GradPlan constitutes approval of the
membership of the Guidance Committee.

In accordance with University, College, and School policies. GSRR, section 2.4.2, the
student may make changes in the membership of the Guidance Committee with the School
Director. Similarly, the School Director may make changes in the committee, as needed,
with the concurrence of the student. In the event that a change in the composition of the
Guidance Committee is needed, this change is initiated by submission of a revised
GradPlan.

Responsibilities of the Guidance Committee

• Advises graduate students on course plan and academic strategy.
• Provides feedback and guidance concerning progress towards degree at least
  annually.
• Reviews program proposals in a timely, constructive, and critical manner.
• Shares responsibility with the Faculty Advisor for reviewing the student’s progress
  and guiding the student toward completion of course and program requirements.
• Meets periodically as needed during the student’s course of study.
• Provides guidance to help students achieve their career goals.

Graduate Student

The graduate student is responsible for learning and adhering to University, College, and
School rules pertaining to graduate study and research, including those outlined in
Academic Programs, Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Student Rights and
Responsibilities at Michigan State University.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Student

• Meet University, College, and School requirements for degree completion, and
  forming a Guidance Committee that meets University requirements.
• The student is responsible for reviewing this School of Packaging Graduate
  Handbook annually in order to ensure they are meeting all responsibilities.
• Explore options in support of career and professional development needs and
  opportunities.
• Follow applicable disciplinary and scholarly codes of ethics and academic integrity.
• Maintain high standards of professional behavior and scholarly integrity. Failure to do
  so can lead to an allegation of misconduct in program activities. Penalties can be
  severe, including dismissal of students found guilty of plagiarism or data falsification.
  
  For additional information see https://rio.msu.edu/ and https://grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity.
  
  
• In particular, there have been a number of cases of scientific misconduct due
  apparently to unintentional plagiarism. In order to help avoid such instances, MSU
  provides “iThenticate” antiplagiarism software available on the Desire2Learn site.
  
  More information is available at https://tech.msu.edu/service-catalog/teaching/tools/ithenticate/.
  
  
• Graduate students are obligated to keep their Faculty Advisor and Guidance Committee
  apprised on a regular basis of their progress towards completion of their program.

School Director

The School Director shares responsibility with the Guidance Committee and the faculty in
fostering the professional and career development of graduate students.
Responsibilities of the School Director

• Monitors the performance of Faculty Advisors and Guidance Committees to ensure
  that graduate students are receiving appropriate mentoring.
• Works towards the fair resolution of conflicts between graduate students and faculty.
  In the event that a change of Faculty Advisor and/or Guidance Committee should
  become necessary, the School Director is responsible for facilitating this change.
• Delegates certain responsibilities such as signatures on GradPlan forms to the
  Graduate Program Director.

MS Plan B: Non-Thesis Course Requirements

A total of 30 credits is required for the MS Plan B: Non-Thesis degree. The student’s course
plan must be approved by the student’s Faculty Advisor. The student must:

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistics.
• Complete 15 credits in Packaging courses at the 400-level or above.
• Ensure that half of the 30 credits required for the degree are at the 800-level or
  above.

Coursework

All course work must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must be enrolled
in the University during the semesters in which the Capstone Paper is submitted.

Full-time Status*

In order to be considered full-time for academic purposes, students must carry the minimum
number of credits per semester (9 credits).

International Students Online Course Regulations*

https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/immigration1/visa-and-immigration-overview

• U.S. Immigration Regulations require that only one online or distance learning class per
  semester can be used to count toward the minimum number of credits needed for full-
  time enrollment as an F-1 student.
• If the total number of credits of all the in-person classes and one of the online classes
  are more than the required full-time credits, it is possible to enroll in as many online
  classes as the student wishes.

Annual Progress Report

Each student is to submit to their Faculty Advisor, by March 31, an Annual Progress Report
on their activities and accomplishments for the preceding period and goals for the following
year.

Apply for Graduation

https://packaging.msu.edu/graduate-degrees/forms

In order to be certified to graduate, students must apply for graduation during the semester
they anticipate graduating. The applicable form is available online, through the student’s
portal at student.msu.edu. If the student does not graduate during the intended semester, a
new application must be submitted for the new semester of intended graduation.

Capstone Paper - MS Plan B: Non-Thesis (Residential and Online)

A final Capstone Paper is required of all MS Plan B: Non-Thesis students during the last
semester of their program. The student must be registered at MSU during the semester in
which the Capstone Paper is administered. This requirement may be waived if the Capstone
is administered during the Summer (and the students was enrolled in the previous Spring, or
will be enrolled in the following Fall semester).

Structure of Paper

The Capstone Paper must be a minimum of 5 pages, with the following guidelines:

• Title Page (not included in 5 pages)
• 12 pt font
• 1” margins on all sides
• Double spaced
• Writing format, no specific requirement

Personal Impact/Introduction

Consider the factors that influenced your decision to choose the MSU School of
Packaging, would you complete this experience again (investing your time and money in
a graduate program)? Why or Why not?

• Why did you select this program?
• Share details about the following aspects of your experience:
  • Professional Achievement Goals
  • Academic Success Milestones
  • Personal Development
• Course Reflection
  • What have you gained in coursework that you have already applied or anticipate applying in your future work or professional career?
  • Be course specific. Provide some details from each of your courses.
• Program Reflection

Students should discuss contributions to their PKG professional knowledge and
leadership ability.

• Learning Objectives
• Program Impact
• Application of Knowledge and Skills

Program Impact for School of Packaging Future Success

Critically analyze your time in packaging with the goal of improvement for future students.

• How would you improve the program for future students?
• What worked? What did not work?
• What information was left out that students will need in order to succeed in the work force?

Overall Conclusions

Remember your insights can help shape the future of the School of Packaging. Your
experience matters! And we want to learn from you.

Submitting the Capstone Paper

• Due by week 12 of the semester.
• A single PDF file sent to the Graduate Program Director by email
  • Title Page (not included in the 5 pages)
  • Capstone Content
  • Updated Resume (not included in 5 pages)
• Students may re-submit the Capstone the same or following semester, if necessary.