Program Overview

MS Degree: On-Campus

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.
• 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.

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 student's major advisor will work with the student to determine the courses.

Graduate Degrees

• MS Degree: Online
• MS Degree: On-Campus
• MS PKG Leadership for Professionals
• PhD Degree Program
• Shared Programs
• Application Requirements
• Forms
• Funding Opportunities
• Graduate Student Handbooks
• Professional Development
• Online Certificates