Packaging Science
| Quick Links | |
Thomas Voss, Program Chair
www.rit.edu/~719www/programs/bs/ps.htm
The interdisciplinary packaging science program, leading to a bachelor of science degree, provides educational opportunities for students seeking careers in the multifaceted packaging industry. Graduates are prepared for initial employment in such areas as package development, sales, purchasing, structural design, production, research and marketing.
The program was developed as a result of a close and long-established relationship between the packaging industry and RIT. This multibillion-dollar industry exhibits dynamic growth and provides employment for thousands of men and women with wide-ranging skills and expertise.
Packaging is increasingly related to total marketing concepts; it has even greater dependence on new developments in materials and processes. Therefore, the industry requires management personnel with creativity and a strong background in business, engineering and science.
Program educational objectives
Graduates from the packaging science program will demonstrate:
- a professional work ethic and a commitment to lifelong learning through the clear ability to achieve increasing technical/management responsibility.
- the ability to lead and participate in teams that act as change agents and innovators in the packaging field and related organizations.
- the ability to design effective and efficient new packaging systems, as well as improve the performance of existing packaging systems.
- the ability to communicate at all levels of an organization and articulate the economic and organizational importance of packaging to companies.
Program characteristics
The program is:
- Career-oriented—Graduates are ready to enter the work force in a position of responsibility.
- Interdisciplinary—Students become familiar with the many facets of packaging through courses in several RIT colleges.
- Flexible—Students have ample opportunity to customize their programs with minors, according to interest.
- Representative of industry needs—Curriculum content is developed with the assistance of an industry advisory board, consultants from industry and educational specialists.
- Adaptable to a modified cooperative education plan—Co-op can be scheduled at the student’s convenience, following the development of appropriate skills.
Faculty
Faculty members have outstanding academic credentials and industry experience. They serve in professional and trade associations at the national level, are frequent guest speakers and consult in their fields of expertise.
Industrial Advisory Board
National industry leaders compose the Industrial Advisory Board, through which they contribute professional and technical expertise to undergraduate programs. This strengthens and develops the program to reflect the dynamics and growth of the industry.
Cooperative education
The packaging science program requires each student to complete six months, or two quarters, of cooperative education, in addition to the program’s course work, to meet graduation requirements.
Transfer admission
Transferring into the program with advanced standing is particularly advantageous, since RIT has had many years of experience in assimilating graduates of two-year colleges into its programs and moving them directly into a chosen career field. Students with an appropriate two-year degree may normally expect to complete the course requirements for the BS degree in two years. In addition, six months of cooperative education experience is necessary to meet graduation requirements. Transfer students with less than two years of college or with an unconventional educational background can be accommodated. The amount of transfer credit is determined by evaluating individual student transcripts.
| Packaging science, BS degree, typical course sequence | ||
| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
| First Year | New Student Seminar I 0607-200 | 1 |
| Principles of Packaging 0607-201 | 3 | |
| Engineering Design Graphics 0607-301 | 4 | |
| Packaging Materials II 0607-312 | 4 | |
| College Algebra and Trigonometry 1016-204§ | 4 | |
| Elementary Calculus I, II 1016-214, 215‡ | 6 | |
| College Chemistry 1011-208 | 4 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry of Materials, Lab 1011-273, 277 | 4 | |
| Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Lab 1011-213, 207 | 4 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics 0511-211 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| First-Year Enrichment 1105-051, 052 | 2 | |
| Second Year | Packaging Materials I 0607-311 | 4 |
| Rigid Containers 0607-321 | 4 | |
| Flexible Containers 0607-322 | 4 | |
| Computer Applications 0607-341 | 4 | |
| Technical Communication 0607-420 | 3 | |
| Principles of Printing 2082-371 | 4 | |
| Principles of Marketing 0105-363 | 4 | |
| Introduction to Polymer Technology 1029-301 | 2 | |
| Microbiology in Health Disease 1004-210 or 1016-320 | 4 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics 0511-402 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Electives | 2 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Cooperative Education 0607-499 | Co-op | |
| Third Year | Career Seminar 0607-401 | 1 |
| Packaging Production Systems 0607-431 | 4 | |
| Packaging for Distribution 0607-432 | 4 | |
| Packaging for Marketing 0607-433 | 4 | |
| Shock and Vibration 0607-485 | 4 | |
| College Physics I, II 1017-211, 212 | 8 | |
| Math/Science Electives§ | 8 | |
| Effective Speaking 0535-501 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Cooperative Education 0607-499 | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | Packaging Regulations 0607-462 | 4 |
| Professional (Packaging) Electives | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Electives | 16 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 188 | |
*Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information. †Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. §Students are required to choose two out of the following three courses to fulfill the math/science electives requirement: College Physics III (1017-213), Data Analysis II (1016-320) or Microbiology (1004-210). |
||