B.S. Packaging | University of Wisconsin

Packaging is a dynamic, multibillion-dollar industry in need of well-educated people. The projected demand for packaging professionals significantly exceeds the number of future graduates. Our specialized staff has developed a curriculum to prepare graduates to work with both traditional and emerging materials, manufacturing processes and technologies.

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging leads to interesting, challenging and rewarding careers in:

Package design
Business and sales
Package printing
Manufacturing and quality management
Food packaging
Research and development

Our packaging program has been developed to meet the needs of business and industry, and focuses on applying technical knowledge to solve practical problems. We offer:

Excellent employment rate and starting salaries
Required co-op experience
An active industry advisory board
Scholarships and design competitions

Areas of Emphasis:

Package Graphics Design
Manufacturing/Quality
Foods/Packaging
Business/Sales
Package Printing
Package Design, Research, and Development
Packaging Machinery
Plastics
Sustainability

Breakfast beat: Students shine with cereal, coffee packaging

April 5th, 2018. Creating a new type of cereal box and a stand-up coffee pouch garnered two UW-Stout packaging students second places in a national design contest.

UW-Stout is one of only a few schools in the United States (and the only school in the UW System) that offer a B.S. degree in Packaging. The program combines general education with technical and professional studies. You will have an opportunity to apply theory to real problems. Through laboratory and co-op work experiences, you will apply the principles of science, mathematics and communications skills.

98% of Our Graduates are Employed or Continuing Education

Our program includes a highly successful cooperative education program and the Stout Technology Transfer Institute, a nationally recognized center that assists industry in solving problems. As you progress toward graduation, both will provide opportunities for you to gain on-the-job experiences while still enrolled at the university.

Preparing for Packaging

Industry's packaging problems are not only technical in nature. They are also social and economic. Packaging professionals must, therefore, have a broad education.

The first two years of the program includes English composition, speech communications, and other general education offerings as well as calculus, chemistry, physics, computer applications and foundation packaging courses.

As You Progress

The trend in the packaging industry is to hire employees who can function in more than one area at career entry. UW-Stout's Packaging program recognizes this trend by offering the student the opportunity to select an "emphasis" which includes course and lab work beyond the technical core of the program. Students can select from several emphasis areas; package graphic design, package printing, manufacturing/quality, business/sales, foods/packaging, or package design, research and development.

An off-campus co-op experience in the packaging industry of at least six months is strongly encouraged. Today's employers show a preference for the graduate who has completed at least one co-op.

Student professional organizations offer another opportunity to learn outside the classroom setting. The UW-Stout student chapter of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) helps packaging program students begin "networking" with their professional colleagues.

Admissions Requirements

New Freshmen

Minimum ACT composite score of 22
and
minimum ACT math score of 22

If you do not meet all of the academic requirements above you will be admitted as Pre-Packaging. You may then qualify for the Packaging major by completing the appropriate courses at UW-Stout.

Transfer Students

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.6 or higher from the last institution attended;
and
completed CHEM 135 (algebra-based chemistry) or higher with a grade of "C" or higher;
and
completed MATH 153 Calculus I equivalent or higher with a grade of "C" or higher;

If you do not meet all of the academic requirements above, but do meet the requirements for general admission to the university, you will be admitted as Pre-Packaging. You may then qualify for the Packaging major by completing the appropriate courses at UW-Stout.

Career Opportunities

Entry Positions

The packaging industry seeks qualified professionals with a broad-based career entry education. A B.S. degree in Packaging can lead to positions with local, national or international firms. Entry level is determined by several variables, including the emphasis selected, work experience, personal contacts, grade point average and economic cycles.

Typical Job Titles