Department of Packaging Science
BS in Packaging Science
Overview
The Packaging Science program at RIT is one of the most unique and respected in the country. One of only a handful in the nation to offer the program, the discipline provides students exposure to laboratory experience and real life problem solving. Embedded into the program is the required full-time co-op within a company. RIT is the only institute in the country that requires all Packaging Science students to experience this opportunity. This allows students to develop their professional skills, expand their real world experience, and most importantly broadens their industry contacts. Graduates are rewarded with highly developed skills, extensive materials background and initiative knowledge of their application.
RIT's Packaging Science program was first established in 1972. It is an interdisciplinary degree that leads to either a bachelors or masters of science. RIT's relationship with industry leaders and the skills students obtain in development, sales, and purchasing results in professional careers within this multi-billion dollar industry. This relationship, along with the faculty being packaging professionals, ensures that students acquire the most current technological knowledge base.
Program Characteristics
The program is:
- Career oriented-graduates are ready to enter directly into a position of responsibility.
- Interdisciplinary-students become familiar with the many facets of packaging through courses in several RIT colleges.
- Adaptable to a modified cooperative plan-scheduled at the students' convenience, following development of appropriate skills.
- Representative of industry needs content developed with the assistance of an industry advisory board, consultants from the industry and educational specialists.
Transfer Admissions
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. Some candidates in two-year colleges will find in the packaging science program a career opportunity with outstanding potential. Courses for associate degree holders (AA, AS, AAS) are arranged to meet program requirements and to correct deficiencies resulting from work taken at other institutions not offering the courses required for graduation. With a selective choice of electives, graduates of two-year colleges find it possible to complete the packaging science curriculum in two additional years at RIT.
Types of jobs a person might have in this field
- Packaging Engineer
- Packaging Designer
- Process Engineer, Packaging
- Principal Engineer
- Associate Packaging Engineer
- Structural Designer
- Packaging Technology Manager
- Packaging Development Engineer
- Technical Package Development
- Packaging Technician
- R&D Packaging Technologist
- Product Design Assistant
- Project Manager
- Lab Technician
- Packaging Engineer I
- Corrugated Designer
- Cosmetic Package Engineer
Typical Course Sequence(Semesters) Effective Fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: Writing Seminar | 3 |
| MATH-171 | LAS Perspective 7A: Calculus | 3 |
| CHMG-121 | Chemical Principles and Applications | 3 |
| PACK-101 | Introduction to Packaging | 1 |
| PACK-151 | Packaging Design I | 3 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First-Year Seminar | 3 | |
| MATH-172 | LAS Perspective 7B: Calculus | 3 |
| CHMG-123 | Chemistry of Materials | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 1 | 3 | |
| PACK-152 | Packaging Design II | 3 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| LAS Perspective 2, 3 | 6 | |
| CHMG-201 | Introduction to Organic Polymer Technology | 3 |
| PHYS-111 | LAS Perspective 5: College Physics 1 | 4 |
| PACK-211 | Packaging Metals and Plastics | 3 |
| PACK-212 | Packaging Paper and Glass | 3 |
| STAT-145 | Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
| PHYS-112 | College Physics II | 4 |
| PACK-311 | Containers I | 3 |
| PACK-312 | Containers II | 3 |
| Cooperative Education (summer) | Co-op | |
| Third Year | ||
| LAS Perspective 4 | 3 | |
| MEDG-106 | LAS Perspective 6: Microbiology in Health and Disease | 3 |
| STAT-146 | Introduction to Statistics II | 4 |
| MKTG-230 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| PACK-421 | Packaging for Distribution | 3 |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| PACK-430 | Packaging Regulations | 3 |
| PACK-422 | Dynamics and Protective Packaging | 3 |
| PACK-420 | Technical Communications | 3 |
| Packaging Elective | 3 | |
| Cooperative Education (summer) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| PACK-470 | Food Packaging | 3 |
| PACK-451 | Packaging Development | 3 |
| Packaging Electives | 6 | |
| PACK-481 | Packaging for Marketing and End Use | 3 |
| PACK-471 | Packaging Supply Chain | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 121 | |
Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
*Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions for semesters will be coming soon.
Program Accreditation
Program Accreditation
The BS in Packaging Science is accredited by:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680
Telephone (215) 662-5600