Packaging

Program Overview

The mission of the Masters of Sciences within the School of Packaging at Michigan State University is to educate packaging professionals and to create innovative solutions that enhance or maintain product quality, increase packing efficiency and reduce waste. In doing so, we contribute to the economic development and quality of life of citizens within the State of Michigan and across the world through highly relevant educational experiences and cutting-edge research. More than half of all packaging graduates employed in the U.S. come from Michigan State. Throughout more than six decades of dynamic development, the MSU School of Packaging has built significant research expertise and earned national and international recognition in physical distribution and protective packaging. The School of Packaging was the first to develop a graduate Master's degree program in Packaging Science and still today is the only one offering a Ph.D. in Packaging Science.

Program Outcomes

Through the core required courses, Master of Science (MS) in packaging students will gain in-depth knowledge in three major packaging areas: plastics packaging, distribution dynamics, and permeability and shelf-life. Electives offer the ability to further explore specific areas of interest, either in packaging-specific offerings or through coursework in related areas. Michigan State University online students will gain experience in applying mathematics, science and technology to packaging-related problems, assessing the suitability of packaging materials and designs for specific applications, and in critically evaluating new knowledge presented in the scientific literature.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the MSU School of Packaging are sought after by employers in the United States and internationally. Few graduate students leave the packaging MS online program without at least one job offer in hand. Graduates with advanced graduate degrees are more likely to go into education, research, or management positions than those with bachelor's degrees, and less likely to go into production positions. A wide variety of types of companies employ graduates with advanced degrees.

Course Information

Core

PKG 805 - Advanced Packaging Dynamics (3 Credits)
PKG 815 - Permeability and Shelf Life (3 Credits)

Elective

PKG 825 - Polymeric Packaging Materials (4 Credits)

Course work 400-level (15 Credits)
Course work 800-900 level (21 Credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

• A bachelor's degree in packaging or related field
• 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
• Completed coursework
  One year of college physics, one year of college chemistry, including introductory organic chemistry, one semester of calculus. 3.0 (B) grade point average in last two years of undergraduate program.
• Résumé
• Taken the GRE
• A written personal statement
• 3 letters of recommendation. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
• Official transcripts from all previous schools

To apply to this program:

• Complete a university graduate application
• GRE scores are requested but may be waived

For full consideration, the application for admission, application fee, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, and other required documents must be received by the school at least two months prior to the anticipated first semester of enrollment.