Packaging Science Bachelor of Science Degree

• Keeping products safe from damage during transportation, especially in e-commerce.
• Maintaining food freshness and safety.
• Implementing eco-friendly, sustainable practices for post-use recycling and reuse.
• Appealing to consumers at the point of purchase.
• Communicating product information.
• Sustaining transportation efficiency.

Explore Our Packaging Engineering Curriculum

Our bachelor of science in packaging science is one of the most unique and well-respected in the country. You’ll study course work that combines technology, art, business, and design in these key areas:

• Design: Size, shape, sustainability, graphics, and color all contribute to creating highly marketable packaging designs that are not only innovative but encourage interactivity and interest for the consumer..
• Sustainability: New developments in materials and processes are a growing way for companies to reduce the environmental impact and the ecological footprint of product packaging. Eco-friendly solutions can protect the environment, encourage biodegradable packaging, and ensure post-use recycling and reuse.
• Engineering: with our packaging engineering curriculum, you’ll combine principles of engineering and physics (such as shock, vibration, and compression) with materials science (paper, polymers, glass, metal and other materials) to develop packaging structures and container systems that can protect and sustain products, medical devices, consumer goods and food products during transportation, distribution, display, and purchase. 
• Marketing: Engaging consumers, understanding their purchasing behavior, analyzing marketing data and intelligence, and using packaging as a marketing tool can all impact the success of a product. You’ll learn the business and marketing side of packaging, through courses in marketing, communication, consumer behavior, and more. 

Hands-On Experience to Gain Real-World Skills

The packaging science degree also includes:

• Extensive laboratory work: Explore packaging solutions and tackle real-life problem-solving in hands-on lab assignments that take place in state-of-the-art facilities.
• Two blocks of cooperative education: RIT’s packaging science degree is the only program in the country that requires its students to complete cooperative education, allowing them to gain real-world experience and broaden their industry contacts through paid cooperative education and internships.

Packaging Science Industry Advisory Board

The Industry Advisory Board contributes professional and technical expertise to the packaging science degree, which strengthens and develops the curriculum to reflect the dynamics and growth of the industry.

Furthering Your Education in Packaging Science

RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

• Packaging Science BS/Packaging Science MS: In this combined accelerated dual degree you will develop a solid background in packaging science, and with our packaging science MS you will dig deeper and do research in packaging development, sustainable packaging and advanced packaging design. This is perfect for students who would like to both solve current packaging problems and develop new sustainable solutions for the future.
• Packaging Science BS/Materials Science and Engineering MS: Propel your career in packaging innovation with the strategic combination of a BS in packaging science followed by a master's in materials science and engineering. This path equips you with a deep understanding of both the design and functionality of packaging, alongside the expertise to create and optimize the materials used. The packaging science curriculum equips you with essential knowledge of material selection, performance, and sustainability. Building on that foundation, the master's program delves into advanced material properties, processing techniques, and cutting-edge research. With this combined expertise, you'll be uniquely positioned to develop next-generation packaging solutions that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also utilize innovative materials that address critical challenges like sustainability and performance. Graduates are recruited at companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Amazon, FedEd, Kraft Heinz, Pepsico, and in a range of industries, including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, among others.
• +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in packaging science as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway can help you add a competitive advantage to your studies.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success. Both MBA options are perfect for students with deeper interest in the marketing, supply chain and business management aspects of packaging.