Core Curriculum

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.

Students in each concentration have ONE required elective:

Packaging Science concentration students take either Medical Packaging or Food Packaging electives
Packaging Value Chain Management will take the Packaging Value Chain elective

Students in either concentration can take the other’s required elective as one of their options.

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)

Concentration Areas

Students will need to select a concentration area in either Packaging Science or Packaging Value Chain management upon reaching junior standing and receiving their admission into the Packaging program.

Each concentration area requires 9 credits outside of packaging coursework, with all classes at least at the 200 level, and at least one course at the 300 level or above. These courses MAY NOT be double counted to meet other requirements of the packaging program, but MAY be used to also complete requirements for a minor (as allowed by the department offering the minor).

Note: some classes may have prerequisites not listed here, so discuss with your advisor.

Packaging Science Courses

BMB 200: Introduction to Biochemistry (4)
CE 221: Statics (3)
Principles of Food Science (3)
FSC 325: Food Processing: Unit Operations (3)
FSC 342: Food Safety and HACCPP (3)
FSC 401: Food Chemistry (3)
FSC 421: Food Laws and Regulations (3)
FSC 440: Food Microbiology (3)
MMG 201: Fundamentals of Microbiology (3)
MMG 301: Introductory Microbiology (3)
MMG 302: Introductory Lab for Allied Health Microbiology (1)
STT 464: Statistics for Biologists (3)
STT 465: Bayesian Statistical Methods (3)
Other coursework as approved by the department

Packaging Value Chain Courses

EC 301: Intermediate Microeconomics
EC 302: Intermediate Macroeconomics
EC 360: Private Enterprise and Public Policy
FI 320: Introduction to Finance
GBL 323: Introduction to Business Law
MGT 325: Management Skills and Processes
MKT 327: Introduction to Marketing
SCM 304: Introduction to Supply Chain Management
FIM/ABM 222: Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales
FIM 335: Food Marketing Management
FIM 220: Food Product Marketing (has a prerequisite of ABM/FIM 100)
ABM 225: Commodity Marketing I
ABM 425: Commodity Marketing II (prerequisites of STT 200, 201, or 315 and ABM 225)
Other coursework as approved by department